Parents wait all day for that blissful break from diapers, dishes and other demands. Sometimes baby’s bedtime can’t come soon enough.
The last thing you want is a child who’s not ready to unwind when you are.
While you can’t force a child to fall asleep at your command, there are things that soften the bed, so to speak.
Why rocking + lullabies really can work
“Making children feel sleepy requires decreasing their level of cortisol, the hormone that keeps them revved up and ready to go,” says pediatrician Maureen Ahmann, DO. “To decrease cortisol, calm their senses.”
Rocking your baby and singing a lullaby may be the best-known calming techniques, but any type of sensory soothing can work, says Dr. Ahmann. Try:
Swaddling (for infants).
Massage.
Any light, repetitive movement, like swaying or swinging.
Feeding (not until babies fall asleep, but just until they become drowsy).
Dimming the lights.
Playing soft music or tranquil sounds from a white noise machine or app. (Turn off the TV.)
“The key is removing stimulation and signaling the body that it’s time to rest,” says Dr. Ahmann.
