S loves her books.
She has a small collection of books in her cot and often falls asleep holding one.
A week or so ago, I decided to change our bedtime routine. We've always done stories throughout the day whenever she waved a book at me... but now, on the nights when she doesn't need to be hosed down in the shower before bed, we sit together on the beanbag and read as many books as she wants (as well as through the day as well, obviously).
These days our bedtime routine looks like this: we sit on the beanbag and read some books together. Then I'll say "shall we go and get ready for bed and read some more stories?" To my amazement, every time I say this S will turn around and give me a cuddle, ready to be carried upstairs. Once upstairs, we put her PJs on and she gets into her Grobag, and we read the books from her cot, in whichever order she chooses: Pop-Up Dear Zoo (with mostly empty boxes and escaped animals), Spot Loves His Mum, Peekaboo Baby, Orange Pear Apple Bear, Yak Yuck, Dear Santa. Sometimes Oh Dear if we've brought it up with us. Then I give her a million kisses and tell her I love her, and pop her in the cot. No fuss, no crying, no noise. I go downstairs, and she lays down and goes to sleep. Just like that. She also seems to sleep a lot more soundly than before and doesn't wake in the night so often (touch wood).
I'm definitely buying S lots of books for Christmas this year. Stories seem to be the way forward here!
Dear zoo and spot books are big favourites in our house too. We love peace at last the best though :)
ReplyDeleteI love that special time in the evening when things have quietened down and the boys listen to their story or our eldest reads a story to the youngest. #magicmoments
ReplyDeleteAwww that a really lovely routine to be in, there really is nothing nicer than reading with little ones. (in my opinion)
ReplyDeletethanks for linking up with #MagicMoments xxx
That's brilliant - a double win! A love of books and a good bedtime is a fantastic achievement.
ReplyDeleteBooks are definitely a brilliant thing to have in your daily life. Well done on your new routine. You should be proud of yourself as it can be a daunting thing reading that many books in one go and not enough parents do it in my opinion. Lovely post and great pictures :)
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