CootieBoy’s Routine

CootieBoy like a particular routine at night. He is used to it, likes it, and finds comfort in it. Last night Denis had to put CootieBoy to bed since I was at bookclub. So I took a few moments to type out the routine that CootieBoy and I have in place that guarantees me being back downstairs in ten minutes. Denis wrote back and said it was hilarious and needed to be posted.

So here it is. This is the perfect bedtime routine for putting CootieBoy to bed – it works EVERY TIME and we’ve done it this way for most of the nights since he got his new bed, which was a earlier this year.

1) Let *him* turn on his bedroom light (it’s very important to him that HE turn on the light to show he’s a Big Boy)
2) Close blinds and curtains on his windows
3) Turn on music – instrumental and mellow, with the cd player set to cut off after playing for one hour; and turn on the fan for white noise
4) Help him onto the bed (if he’s not already on it) and get pjs on (if
they aren’t already on)
5) Gather his animals together (Clifford, Giraffe, Kitty, and Blue)
6) Turn off bedroom light
7) Give him his candy bottle and let him shake it a few times while you get
comfortable on the bed
8.) Once he hands back the bottle put two pills in his hand for him to take (the pills are homeopathic pills that help him sleep more restfully at night – it is specifically for kids that have light or restless sleep cycles)
9) I talk about how I am sleeping now, and tired now, and mimic him a
few times (“You’re tired? I’m tired too! You’re sleeping? I’m
sleeping too!”). Usually this starts with him asking, “What are you doing, Mama?” “I’m sleeping.” “You’re sleeping? I’m sleeping, too!” and so it begins)
10) Make up a quick “story” (two or three sentences is usually enough) about Mr. Moofred
the Cow and Mr. Oinkles the Pig having a picnic together (CootieBoy’s preference is that they eat carrots, but sometimes he’ll choose milk)
11) I tell him I am going to go get Daddy. The key with that – he won’t let me leave until HE says, “I want Daddy”, so you may have to wait a few ticks and say “I’m going to find Daddy” again. You’ll know he’s ready for you to leave when he replies, “I want Daddy,” and flips over on his side facing away from you.

At that point I say goodnight, give him a kiss, tell him I love him and leave the room.

Laugh all you want, but when CootieBoy and I are in our stride, this routine plays out EXACTLY like this from beginning to end and I’m done in ten minutes. The only way it changes is if he goes to bed earlier than his usual time. If that’s the case, then I’ll delay turning off the lights and between #8 and #9 I’ll read a book or two and THEN turn off the light and do the “I’m sleeping” bit.