We’ve been working on altering the girls bedtime routine.
For about 9 months now it has been
Get into PJs and nappy.
Drink of milk in bed with sippy cup while Mum/Dad reads the story.
Lights off.
Lords Prayer.
Goodnight Sweethearts and go to sleep (well we hope go to sleep).
Now that there is no longer any sippy cup I want to shift the girls drink of milk out of their bed.
So the new routine we are trying is
Drink milk in loungroom while sitting with Mum/Dad and reading a story (or two).
Finish milk and go to bedroom – stopping on way to use toilet and then brush teeth.
Get into PJs and Nappy.
Lights off and Lords Prayer.
Goodnight Sweethearts and go to sleep.
Its sort of working, so far we’ve modified the routine to move story and drink to the lounge room but I’m skipping toilet and teethbrush until the girls are settled into the new story / milk routine.
All this working on the girls bedtime routine made me pay more attention to mine.
I find it very difficult to go to bed without doing the following things first.
Put all dirty cups / plates beside the kitchen sink.
Make sure all sharp knives, scissors etc are out of reach of the children, just incase they wake up during the night and go wandering without waking me.
Check all windows are closed, blinds/curtains shut and doors locked.
Remove anything that is blocking exits in case of a fire – prams in the hallways, laundry baskets beside door ways.
Make sure things that should be switched off are – microwave, oven, kettle, lights etc.
Until I started thinking about it I never realised how much I fuss about the safety of the home before bed each night.
I know unlocked doors drive me batty, when hubby arrives home at night after work I have to get up and double check the door, if I don’t then I just lie in bed and stress about it until eventually I get up and check the door 
Am I the only crazy person out there who makes sure fire exits are clear before going to sleep? What are your bedtime habits?
8 responses so far ↓
Karen // May 23, 2008 at 6:39 am |
No, you’re not the only one. I do a tour of our house before bed too making sure windows are shut, doors locked, sockets, ovens etc turned off, fridge door shut and that the door keys are in a safe (out of sight in case of break in) but reachable place if we need to get out in a hurry. So much the same as you really. I also have a tidy up so that coming down in the morning is a pleasure and not an OMG look at this mess! experience lol.
lightening // May 23, 2008 at 10:17 am |
I used to always ask DH if he’d locked the doors. Some nights he’d get up just to make sure. Now I don’t seem to need to ask. I just know that he understands how important it is to me and trust that he does it.
I grew up feeling very insecure because my parents NEVER locked doors at night (well, rarely). As a teenager I used to do it but as a child I didn’t get that I could. Of course, there was never any guarantee someone wouldn’t use the door and NOT lock it. I HATED that!!!!
Jayne // May 23, 2008 at 11:13 am |
Our routine is to have everything switched off at the powerpoint,hide the compost and chook food scrap containers away from the cats, tuck the dogs into bed and listen to the trivia challenge at midnight on ABC radio lol.
Our front and back doors are locked all the time with keys in the security doors, hallways clear of any obstacles, just in case.
Kendra // May 23, 2008 at 1:34 pm |
I usually shut down the computer then check the doors, make sure the dog’s crate is latched (or else he makes a nest on the couch in the middle of the night when he can get away with it), turn on the night light in the kitchen, and turn off the side door light outside. Hubby…he usually just gets up and goes to bed. Hmph.
Chiloe // May 23, 2008 at 5:07 pm |
I always feel uncomfortable when Chuy put stuffs in our entrance for the night ( like clothes to be ironed … on day …
)
Trish // May 23, 2008 at 9:46 pm |
I like the picture routine chart – we just started a new routine too but the list is for me and DH – I need to make one for the boys.
I am a bit like you check doors are locked and have been known to make DH get up too.
I need a bedtime routine LOL – thanks for the reminder.
Bettina // May 24, 2008 at 9:49 am |
I get a bit compulsive about checking that the oven is off if I have been using it.
Barbara // May 24, 2008 at 7:17 pm |
I also do a child-safety check before going to bed, at the very least. It never occurs to DH, so that’s one more reason I don’t like to go to bed before he does. If I’m on my game, I also put away all the clean dishes, set out all the stuff we need to make breakfast and lunch (except what has to remain in the refrigerator, of course), and say goodnight to all our pets.