Getting your little ones ready for bed can be simple and fun! Lucky Penny Blog’s Ana Fritsch shares how easy and enjoyable it is to get her daughters Edith and Lilah ready for bedtime.

When do you begin your bedtime routine with the kids?

Bedtime for the kids usually begins around 6:30/7pm, or as soon as we finish dinner. In the winter it tends to be on the earlier side because it gets so dark around 5pm.

How does it often start?

We start bedtime with their bath. Their dad comes home right around the end of dinner and he plays with them for a minute before scooping the girls up to the bath.

Do the kids love their baths? What are their favorite products to use? And what are their favorite bathtub toys?

Aaron loves doing bath time. I usually just hear their squeals of laughter and silly games from the kitchen as I finish up the dishes. We don't really do toys in the bath except for a cup that they each get. It keeps them pretty busy. We love Tubby Todd products. We only use soap every other night because their skin tends to get extremely dry, especially in the winter. For Edith's curls, I just wash her hair twice a week with a special curl shampoo and conditioner and add a leave in conditioner afterwards.

Do you read to the kids before bed? What are some of their favorite books? 

We read every night no matter what. I find that stories really help calm them down and give their body cues that it's bedtime. We are currently reading Rohl Dahl's James and the Giant Peach. We just finished the Fantastic Mr. Fox. Edith is at an age where she really loves to follow a story and predict what the characters will do next. Some other favorites are They All Saw A Cat, Hug Machine, and The Wonderful Fluffy Squishy Itty Bitty.

 

Do they have a security blanket? If so, what is it?

Edith used to have a blanket but now they really love their stuffed animals. I swear they must bring at least 5 to bed with them each night. It's a little out of control but also a battle I chose not to fight.

What are some secrets to getting your little ones to sleep?

I honestly have no idea. Lilah was a great night sleeper from 4 months on and was really great about self-soothing. Edith on the other hand was very high needs until she was three years old (about the time Lilah and her really started sleeping together). I think the best thing I realized early on is, everything is a phase. They won't co-sleep forever, they won't wake up a million times a night forever, they won't need me to lay with them forever, so we just try and do what works for us today.

The best pajamas for the kids are…

Our favorite places for pajamas are Shop Plain Jane and Little Auggie.

When your kids can’t sleep, what do you do?

I hate to be that person, but we really don't have that problem. I really try and listen to their cues so I don't try and put them to sleep until their truly ready (which happens to be at a reasonable time thank god!).

What do you do to decompress after your children sleep?

My husband and I share a huge bowl of frozen blueberries and watch our favorite show. There's nothing like a good episode of Stranger Things or Game of Thrones to really wind down.

Photos by Julia Elizabeth