Dozefan

Newborn bedtime routine: a printable checklist

By Andrew Boyko, developer of Dozefan · Updated · 3 min read

General information, not medical advice. Talk to your paediatrician about your baby’s sleep and hearing.

Newborns do not follow a schedule — and that is fine. A short, repeatable routine helps your baby (and you) learn that sleep is coming. Print this page (use your browser's Print or “Save as PDF” option) and stick it on the fridge.

Bedtime routine

  • Feed (and burp)
  • Change the diaper
  • Dress for sleep (one layer more than you'd wear, not overheated)
  • Dim the lights and lower your voice
  • Cuddle, sing or read a short book
  • Start a soft, steady sound at a low volume, speaker across the room
  • Place baby on their back, awake or drowsy, in an empty crib or bassinet
  • Set a timer with a gentle fade-out

Safe-sleep reminder

  • On the back, every sleep
  • Firm, flat sleep surface with a fitted sheet only
  • No pillows, blankets, bumpers or soft toys
  • Sleep space in your room, not your bed
  • Sound low and far: about the loudness of a quiet conversation

Based on AAP safe-sleep guidance and Children's National Hospital advice on sound machines. Not medical advice.

Make it your own

Keep the order the same each night, but change the details to suit you. Consistency matters more than perfection. If your baby's sleep worries you, talk to your paediatrician.

Sources

Dozefan — 24 live-generated sleep sounds, sleep timer, safe-volume indicator, no ads. Not a medical device.

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