The Perfect Nighttime Routine for a New Mama
The early days with a newborn can be a blur, there is no schedule the days and nights are mixed up, and it can feel chaotic. Not much is within your control, you are going with the flow of a newborn. One thing I found to be really helpful was a nighttime routine. This made me feel like myself each evening. It didn’t matter whether I had 5 minutes or 20, I’d always find time for this ritual. Could you fit in a nighttime routine? It doesn’t have to be complicated or long, but something you can do for yourself every night?
Here was my nighttime routine.
All of these items lived in my postpartum bathroom box so I didn’t have to worry about rummaging through drawers or under the vanity. I had easy access to everything I needed.
- Washed my face.
- Applied moisturizer.
- Brushed my teeth.
- Rolled lavender on my feet.
- Got into bed.
- Put in an earphone (only one so I could hear the babies)
- Started a bedtime meditation.
- Put on my eye mask.
I know a lot of these steps might seem simple or obvious. When you are sleep deprived it can be hard to remember to brush your teeth! Trust me, I forgot a few times as I fell into bed those early days. Having a routine to walk through every night was grounding for me. It made me feel refreshed and prepared for the night ahead. The babies fed a lot in the early days and it was physically and emotionally exhausting. My nighttime routine made me feel good. It also gave me a feeling of being centred, which every mama could use in the middle of the night when the baby’s screaming and hungry.
Mama, take some time for yourself. Even if it’s 5 minutes to wind down, and give yourself some self-care. I guaranteed you will feel refreshed and ready to rest.
