5 Foolproof Tricks to Get Your Infant Charge to Fall Asleep
Babies spend a lot of time sleeping, but they’re rarely fans of napping on command. Even the calmest routine can go sideways – usually on the days when it’s most inconvenient for you as a nanny! But if you’re stuck with a baby who won’t sleep, don’t worry. The whole Smart Sitting community of nannies and babysitters is here to help!
By combining clear sleep foundations with these 5 time‑tested soothing moves from our experienced pros (plus a bonus tip!), your charge will soon be deep into dreamland, and you’ll be sailing toward gold stars from grateful parents.
Begin With the Basics
Sleep routines are powerful because they link a predictable series of cues to the act of falling asleep. Infants, even as young as a few months, thrive on consistency, making it easier for you to step in as a non-parent and still be super successful.
Run a quick check: fresh diaper, comfortable clothing, full tummy, and a method in line with the parents’ chosen sleep approach. Then, placing a baby drowsy but awake in a cool and dark room helps the brain lock that connection and reduces future waking. (Catch early sleepy signals such as slower movements or soft whimpers; once overtired, the stress hormone cortisol rises in the little body and settling can take much longer.)
Master the 5 S’s: a Proven Sequence to Calm and Sleep
Basics taken care of but no sign of the Sandman in your charge’s little eyes? It’s time to pull these aces out of your sleeve. We call them the 5 S’s (plus the bonus bum-bump) – and they’re sure to pull those eyelids down, heavy like a night sky.
1. Swaddle
Cozy, cozy! A snug, hip‑safe wrap tames the startle reflex and has been shown to cut newborn crying time by up to half during stressful events. Just like being held tight in the womb. Some babies sleep better with an arm out, so check in with the parent if they have the inside scoop. (Once the baby starts trying to roll over, it’s time to discontinue swaddling, though, so this one is for the littles!)
2. Side Hold
(for soothing, only)
Holding a swaddled baby on their side or tummy along your forearm can release trapped gas and ease persistent crying, a real super trick if nothing is working. (Always transition baby to lie on its back when putting down for safest sleep.)
3. Shush
A steady “Shhh”-ing or using a broad‑band white noise machine mirrors womb sounds. Some babies love a rhythmic shh-shh-shh sound, especially if you’re combining it with a rocking or swinging motion in the same rhythm. If using a white noise machine, keep the volume around shower level and place the device several feet from the crib to protect baby’s hearing.
4. Swing
Small, rhythmic rocking lowers baby’s heart rate and speeds sleep onset compared with still positioning. It’s a great way to settle the baby and ramp up the first few stages of falling asleep. Always support the neck, keep motions shallow, and relocate the infant to a firm mattress once sleep deepens.
5. Suck
Gone are the horrified warnings that binkies are bad for babies. Non‑nutritive sucking, such as with a pacifier, soothes the nervous system and is linked to a lower risk of SIDS. And any nanny knows that for most kids, it’s the onramp to the deep sleep highway. You’ll just want to wait to introduce a newborn to pacifiers until after feeding is established, and then it’s worth giving it a try.
Need one more tool? A classic for generations is using a gentle, rhythmic pat on the baby’s (clothed) bottom – works when you are holding the baby but is also often a great way to keep the baby from startling or waking up while in its crib.
Adjust the pace to the infant’s cues, stay within safe‑sleep guidelines, and most little ones will drift off before you finish the final “S.”
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