Making bathtime a wind-down

Bathtime can double as the first cue of your bedtime routine, telling your baby's body that sleep is coming. The warm water raises core temperature briefly, and the cool-down afterward triggers melatonin release — a natural bridge to sleep. Warm the bathroom ahead of time so the temperature drop after bath doesn't shock baby. Dim overhead lights, use a calm quiet tone, and skip any loud music or bright screens. Consistent post-bath steps — same lotion, same pyjamas, same lullaby — reinforce the pattern. Once this routine is anchored, most babies will show sleep cues (yawning, calm gaze, quiet body) even before they leave the bath. That's a signal to keep the momentum moving straight to the crib rather than delaying with play.