Every parent that has said the above at one time or another while trying to get their baby or toddler to sleep raise your hand! One, Two, Three, Four… Too many to count; please put your hands down. I have tried so many different methods to get a child to sleep; it took me 10 kids to finally have all the answers I needed (for the time being). Enough of the chit chat, let’s get down to business, here are my top 10 methods:
- 1) BB & B – This one’s easy: Bath, Bottle and Bed. For some kids this is all it takes. You are blessed if this is the only method you have to even consider. Make sure you burp the baby well enough or they may wake up with a belly ache later.
- 2) Frank Sinatra – I would sing or play a tape for my daughter and it worked every time (my daughter, she’s almost 22 so yes it was a cassette tape). It really doesn’t have to be Frank, but find some gentle music your baby or toddler takes a shining to and play it softly while you rock her(him) to sleep. If it’s an infant, swaddle them up snuggly – they love that.
- 3) Walking or swaying your baby while the vacuum machine is on in another room or hallway. Some think this is good for colic as well. Use the “football hold” if all else fails on this one. This worked for me as well.
- 4) Place your baby/toddler in their car seat and take a drive. It’s a great way for the family to spend a little time together listening to music or watching the passing scenery as well as calming the child and making them sleepy.
- 5) Parenting.Com says to watch the baby’s nap times during the day, too much napping during the day could cause it to have a difficult time sleeping. You may want have that last nap a little earlier and not for as long.
- 6) Engage the baby or toddler in some activities in which you know from past experience that will “tire them out”. They’ll just fall into bed!
- 7) If the weather is decent enough, a nice long walk with the stroller in the fresh air can get your baby calm and serene enough to easily lie them down to sleep.
- 8) A nice Baby Massage can sometimes be enough to relax them and get them ready to lie down. Couple it with a book and the soothing voice of the parent, that combination can be just the right thing.
- 9) Using a crib mobile that plays music. It engages the child – tiring it, and at the same time soothes it with a nice melody to the point that in time the baby falls asleep.
- 10) My personal favorite, the riding lawn mower. I would take my toddler son in my lap and would drive around the yard. With the hum of the motor and the motion of the lawn mower; it was no time that he would fall fast asleep. I wouldn’t try it with infants!
Now, any one or combination of these should work for you. If not, this article may inspire you to come up with one on your own. A parent knows its baby, and while I or any parenting expert can try to tell you everything you should know the parent is the best source to find the right thing that works. Good Luck!