Do you also face trouble in putting your little bundle of joy to sleep easily? Are you new to parenthood and feeling exhausted with sleepless nights? Don’t worry, you are at the right place.
Although the baby’s arrival is a special occasion in your life, being a first-time parent has its own challenges. From excessive crying to countless diaper changes and nighttime feeding to putting the baby to sleep, each task is tough and requires patience.
Many parents find it difficult to get their babies to sleep, especially when they’re overtired. To make things easier, there are a few tried-and-tested methods that can help get your baby to sleep quickly and peacefully.
Read on to learn some of the very common yet best-tried and tested tips and tricks on how to put a baby to sleep in 40 seconds. You can now say goodbye to sleepless nights!
The Science Behind Baby Sleep
Do you wonder how to make a baby go to sleep instantly? If you want your baby to fall asleep quickly, then you first need to understand the true science behind baby sleep.
Most babies, especially newborns, sleep around the clock. As their digestive system is not fully developed, they get hungry often and wake up for feedings, generally after every 2-4 hours.
Babies have an underdeveloped circadian rhythm or internal clock. Hence they don’t have a sense of night and day. It means they can get hungry, wake up, or poop at any time.
Sleep is also very important for the growth and brain development of babies. If you want your baby to have a good night’s sleep, then it is important to crack the perfect sleep schedule for your baby.
The best way you can develop a healthy bedtime routine for your baby is by looking out for sleep cues, so you can set a sleeping schedule for your little one. When they get tired after playing a little, you can clearly see a noticeable difference in their actions. When the little one is sleepy, they may:
- Have difficulty focusing
- Stare into the space instead of being playful and cheerful.
- Become fussy and crying
- Have jerky arm and leg movements
- Pull ears
- Rub eyes
- Yawn
The key rule is to get your baby to sleep as soon as you notice any of the above cues. Don’t wait for the tot to get entirely exhausted because it can trigger a stress response, and it becomes difficult to soothe the baby. Therefore, when you notice any cues, try to calm their senses to make the baby fall asleep.
Now, there are a number of ways that can get babies to fall asleep easily like
- Patting
- Humming
- Shushing
- Swaddling
- Rocking
But not every trick works on all babies every time. You have to find the best tricks for your baby and stick to them to provide your little one with a better baby sleep.
Quickest Ways On How To Put Baby To Sleep In 40 Seconds
Every baby is different, having a different feeding and sleeping pattern. A trick that may prove beneficial for one baby may not be helpful for another baby. Out of the number of ways, the tried and tested quickest ways to learn how to put a baby to sleep are as follows:
Use A Security Blanket
A security blanket can work wonders in comforting your baby. The soft touch and familiar scent can provide a sense of safety and calmness, making it easier for your little one to relax and fall asleep. Choose a cozy and breathable blanket that your baby can snuggle up to, creating a soothing environment that mimics the warmth of your embrace.
One of our favorite blankets for restless little ones is Plushible’s Blankie Bestie. If you haven’t heard of Blankie Besties, they are embroidered plushies that unzip to reveal a removable blanket. These blankets are insanely soft. In terms of coziness, calm, and safety, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better security blanket for your little one.
As your baby grows and their need for security gives way to sensory experiences, the plushie has a mix of different soft (and safe!) textures to explore. Also, the fact that the Blankie Bestie unzips makes it a great toy once kids reach toddler age! Kids love storing their favorite things inside these things.
Swing, Saddle & Rocking
While most of you might disagree, this old-school method of swinging, swaddling, and rocking puts the majority of babies to sleep in no time. The simple trick consists of rocking a baby back and forth, wrapped in a blanket, while holding them near your heart.
It is a simple and tested way of putting a baby to sleep in no time. Babies feel an extra sense of security with their mothers, and holding them this close calms their senses, letting the baby fall asleep quickly.
The White Noise Machine
If your baby is having a hard time relaxing and sleeping, then white noise in the background may be helpful. White noise consists of different frequencies that can diminish other loud sounds that stimulate the baby’s brain.
A white noise machine is leading the baby industry due to its modern technology and amazing features. Some machines eject a similar noise to what is felt in a mother’s womb and camouflage the other environmental noise putting a baby to sleep instantly.
Baby monitors have become essential for new parents. Therefore, while investing in one, look for the model that has a white noise option in it so your little ones that have a hard time falling asleep can calm down in less than a minute.
If you don’t have a white noise machine, you can produce a noise similar to this machine using your hair dryer or a washing machine.
The quiet rumbling of the washing machine and the blowing of a hair dryer creates a familiar environment with the soft music of the white noise device, lulling the babies into a deep sleep. All you have to do is make sure that the washing machine is in the next room and the dryer is not in the baby’s reach.
Running Water
The sound of running water reminds the baby of the womb, and it instantly calms down the fussy baby. You can set the rain noise on the white noise machine. Otherwise, you can record your own sound of running water from the tap or rain to play near the baby until they fall asleep.
Use Touch to Relax them
They say the best place for a baby is her mother’s lap. The best sleep that you can provide your baby with is when you cuddle with them and allow them to fall asleep in your arms.
Just hold your baby close to your chest, no matter whether you are sitting on a rocking chair or walking with them in your hands, and notice them falling fast asleep immediately. Blowing in baby’s face also has a soothing effect. Cuddling with moms is soothing for babies, specifically for tiny tots. It calms them and puts them to sleep in no time.
The Tissue Trick
Every parent has asked the question in their parenthood of how to make a toddler fall asleep instantly. The easiest trick that comes in handy while putting a toddler or an infant to sleep is the tissue trick.
All you have to do is take a dry tissue and gently stroke your little one’s face with it and witness them falling asleep immediately.
As weird as it sounds, it has been tried and approved by millions of people after it gained popularity on social media platforms through different reels and TikToks.
Humming Or Singing Lullaby
Singing lullabies to babies never gets out of style. Babies love when parents interact with them, rocking them in their arms. The best way to make a baby go to sleep is by humming or chanting lullabies to them whilst swinging them in your arms way close to your heart.
This effective technique is very ancient yet works in less than a minute whenever put to use.
Stroking and Patting
For better baby sleep, patting a baby in a rhythmic motion can do wonders. Gently stroking and patting your baby puts them at ease, giving them a better and more peaceful baby sleep.
In case the baby wakes up at night, then try patting them while breastfeeding to make them fall asleep again comfortably within your embrace.
Cozy Posture
To ensure a comfortable and peaceful baby’s sleep, always make sure that your baby is in a cozy posture in a comfortable cot or a bed with enough space to move easily.
Most babies feel comfortable sleeping with their butts in the air, so make sure the cot is well accustomed to letting babies sleep however they want.
The baby’s crib should be all set with a cozy mattress and a blanket to assist the baby in sleeping straight and comfortably, which is essential for a healthy slumber.
However, avoid putting on any cute pillows or fluffy blankets to prevent any risk of SIDS “Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.”
Silent and Dark Environment
Should babies sleep in the dark? We say the answer is Yes. Out of the many things that are done to facilitate the sleep training of babies to go to sleep, a silent and dark environment is essential to set a peaceful sleeping environment.
Provide your baby with a warm bath, give them a relaxing massage with some calming lotions, and set a whole sleeping mode in a silent yet dark environment to let them doze off as soon as they hit the crib.
A well-set sleeping environment would ensure that the babies sleep longer and grow healthy.
Make Sleep Training Fun
Research has shown that having a consistent bedtime routine is important for babies, especially toddlers, to have a better sleep. If you can not figure out how to put a toddler to sleep in 40 seconds, then turn sleep training into a game.
When you make the toddler lie in bed to sleep after the initial bedtime routine, set a timer for about 1-2 minutes, and if the baby sleeps before the timer rings, then appreciate him in the morning.
Also, point out strengths each time that “you did so great and didn’t move in the blanket.” This appreciation will motivate the child to sleep early and quickly.
Shorten the Daytime Naps
If your toddler has been an ace sleeper, but lately, they have been throwing tantrums at sleep time, then it is possible that it could be 2-year-old sleep regression. It means disruption in their nighttime routine, making them sleep late or wake up at night. We will tell you a tip that will tell you how to put a 2-year-old to sleep in 40 seconds.
Shortening the duration and frequency of their daytime routine helps. When a toddler has enough morning activity and less sleep in the daytime, then they will sleep instantly at night when put to sleep.
Things To Avoid When Putting Your Baby To Sleep
Research shows that sleep plays an essential role in the physical and cognitive development of a newborn baby. The first few months after the birth of a baby is very important for a well-rested child.
It can be tiring and overwhelming for new parents to function in their lives with sleepless nights, but if you want your baby to develop a healthy circadian rhythm, then this is something you cannot avoid.
We have penned down a few tips to make things a little easier for you guys.
Disregarding Sleep Cues
Babies can’t say, but they can express. Newborns, when tired, show a number of sleep cues. Your baby might have some special sleep cues, but the most common ones include yawning, fussing, crying, and waving. What you have to do is look out for those sleep cues and make sure you never disregard those signs your drowsy baby shows. Put them to sleep as soon as you get the hint, or you will end up overtiring the baby, which would be a lot more difficult to handle afterward.
Not Letting Them Drift
Another important mistake that most parents make when playing with babies is not letting them sleep when they are tired.
Infants enjoy sleeping every few hours, so make sure you are providing your baby with the adequate sleep that they need, or you will end up with a fussy baby for the rest of the day.
Not Having A Regular Sleep Schedule
Babies have an irregular sleep pattern in the first six months, but with time you can set a perfect bedtime routine for your baby with baby sleep training.
You might find it a little challenging initially, but with your consistency in the task, you will crack a perfect nap schedule for your baby to grow healthy. Not having a regular sleep routine would make it difficult for you to put your baby to sleep every time.
Uncomfortable Sleep Environment
Babies can sense stress and even the slightest of commotion easily, so make sure the baby’s sleeping environment is very comfortable and silent with a little night light and a perfectly made crib.
Having an uncomfortable sleep environment, white would wake up the baby way earlier than their scheduled time, making them all cranky.
Conclusion
How to get a baby to sleep quickly is something that every exhausted parent wants to know, specifically the parents who are new to this whole deal. The answer is simple: try various techniques to put a baby to sleep and find the best-suited one for your baby.
We are sure you will find your best pick from the above-mentioned ways in no time. In case none of the ways work for you, then it’s better to go to a pediatric sleep consultant before things go out of hand.
