Dutch sleep routine

A couple of months after L. was born I discovered the marvellous world of Teaching a Child to Sleep on its Own. Thanks to a kind neighbour who lent me a book that changed my life. I only wish it were available in English and Portuguese! What a difference it would make in so many lives. I know it did in ours!

The book is based on the following principles, among many others (and it shows you how, giving concrete examples):

• A child needs a predictable routine in order to sleep well - which in turn will make him a happy and peaceful child (very true indeed!)


• A baby needs to learn to fall asleep by himself and needs to take 2 or even 3 naps a day until he's about a year old. Naturally, the number of naps diminish as the baby grows older.


• The daily routine includes: eats/drinks as soon as he awakes - plays 2 hours - naps 2 hours - eats/drinks as soon as he awakes - plays 2 hours - naps 2 hours - and so on until bedtime.


• The book goes on to explain how important it is for a baby to always sleep in the same bed (even during the day), to be put into bed while he's still awake and to tuck the baby in very tightly so that he's snug and comfortable.


• Once baby's in bed at night, he should not be taken out (unless there's some emergency of course!).


• The first time you try this method the baby will probably cry when left in bed, especially if he was previously used to be being rocked to sleep in your arms. But no matter how hard it is for the parents, the baby should be left to cry for at least 15 minutes. The next night he'll probably cry for only 5 minutes. And the night after that he won't cry at all!


• If the baby cries in the middle of the night, do not take him out of the bed. Comforting him by stroking his head gently and whispering a few loving words is enough. Then walk firmly out of the room.

We put this theory into practice with L. when he was about 2 months old. The result was a more peaceful and happy baby - and more peaceful and happy parents! Of course I have to admit that this transformation may also well have to do with other factors, such as his feeding, which we also changed around the same time.

At 8 months L. still takes 3 naps a day for 2 hours at a stretch and then sleeps 11 hours at a stretch at night. It's a blessing.

This is what L.'s sleep routine at night looks like:

• At 19:45 L. takes a warm, relaxing shower with his dad


• At 20:00 we put L. into bed and (1) put him in the sleeping bag, (2) making sure his feet touch the bottom of the bed and then (3) tightly tuck him up to his stomach under a blanket (in winter) or a cotton sheet (in summer). All three are essential for him to feel snug and secure and not to move around the bed at night.


• Hand him his comforter dog and pop his pacifier in his mouth


• We read to him from the same book every night for a minute or two.


• Kiss him, say “Boa noite” (Good Night) and then firmly walk out of his room, closing the door behind us.

He goes to sleep on his own - with real pleasure!