My Bag of Tricks for Getting Babies to Sleep

There’s nothing sweeter than a sleeping baby. But what if baby won’t sleep? It can be so frustrating! Especially if you could use that sleep time to get things done or some much needed rest yourself. Well, between my professional childcare career and mommyhood, I’ve picked up a few tricks about how to get little ones to sleep. I’d like to share what I’ve learned with you. These ideas are not fool proof, but they are a good place to start.

1. Feeding

This may be an obvious one, but you might not think of feeding in those late sleepless nights. There’s nothing like a full tummy to ease a baby to sleep. Whether formula or breastmilk, feeding a baby right before putting him/her down might just get the job done. But make sure you are watching your baby’s cues. I have seen parents continually try to feed a baby who clearly does not want it, simply because it’s part of their usual routine. If the baby continually pushes the milk away or cries, do not push it. Time to try something else. 

2. Swaddle

I’m a big fan of swaddling, and not just for newborns. I’ve worked in a daycare-like setting where lights were bright and there was a lot of noise. It’s pretty hard to put a baby to sleep in that situation. However, I have learned that swaddling can help drown out other distractions and give the baby a sense of comfort. Some babies prefer to keep their arms in the swaddle, others don’t; just watch your baby’s cues to know for sure. It is likely the safer option to keep your child’s hands out of the swaddle as they grow. I’ve generally found babies will let you know they are growing out of the swaddling phase when they stretch out more or push their blanket away when you swaddle them. Older babies can generally get themselves out of a swaddle, so keep this in mind when making the decision to swaddle. 

A few notes about swaddling:

• After a child is out of the newborn stage and they prefer to stretch out, do not swaddle their legs up in the fetal position.

• If you do decide to swaddle an older baby, make sure you don’t include the bottom of the blanket where their legs hang down as part of the swaddle. It may impact their growth. I would say to stop doing this around 6 months old, possibly earlier. Instead, just wrap two sides of the blanket around the torso to swaddle.

•While I like the swaddling, it’s not for everyone. Keeping your child safe and doing what’s right for you is the most important thing. Do your own research, talk to your pediatrician, and decide for yourself. 

Here’s a video of how to swaddle from Naturally Thrifty Mom:
 

3. Sing

I have always sung to my daughter, Nini, for naps and bedtime, Now she is a toddler, she enjoys singing along with me. It has become a source of bonding for us. 

You may or may not like singing, but your child will love it. The sound of your voice can be very soothing. Song choice isn’t a big deal, as long as it’s slow and soft.

4. Rocking

Rocking is a great way to get your little one to sleep. That steady motion and close proximity is very soothing for a baby. But I would suggest sitting while rocking a child, rather than standing. As a baby gets older and heavier, it becomes more uncomfortable to stand. Make a habit of sitting while rocking. Your arms will thank you later, trust me!

5. Patting

Patting is along the same lines as rocking. Give your baby a gentle, rhythmic pat on his/her back or bum and watch the magic happen. Your child will likely calm down and drift off to sleep. And the upside to patting is it can be easier than rocking, especially if you don’t have a rocking chair handy. An extra tip, if baby is really struggling, patting the bum and back at the same time can do wonders!

6. White noise

If you haven’t heard of “white noise,” I define it as soft, even, background sounds. White noise is very comforting for baby. There’s a few ways you can produce white noise for your little one. You can get a machine that simulates white noise. Another option is to make the sound yourself by buzzing or humming. 

7. Stroke face

Some babies love the feeling of their face being stroked. I’ve seen this work wonders. An upset baby can become calm very quickly if they enjoy it. If your child is not a fan of having his/her face stroked, you’ll know pretty quickly; move on to the next idea. 

8. Hold tight

If all else fails, try “fighting it out” with your baby. Hold him/her tight and close to your body. The baby will likely cry and possibly struggle a bit until he/she falls asleep. Be cautious with this trick, however. Make sure the baby can breathe and you are not hurting them. Just read your baby’s cues. I also suggest when holding the baby tight, you use one of the other ideas on this list at the same time.

I hope this gives you some good pointers about getting your baby to sleep. I encourage you to make your child’s sleeping routine as easy on yourself as possible. I suggest only using methods you will be willing to continue as the baby grows. Another tip, if one of these tricks doesn’t work, try doing a few at the same time. I have been known to hum, rock, and pat together. I hope this helps. Good luck!  

What tricks or tips do you have for getting baby to sleep? Let me know in the comments!

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