Parents will try everything to keep their little bundle of joy in the happiest mood possible and minimize the crying babies do when in discomfort.
It's more than a full-time job keeping your little one happy, from constantly changing their diaper to feeding them every hour and pulling funny faces to make them smile.
Although, one of the most challenging and unforgiving issues most parents have to overcome with a newborn baby is how to put a baby to sleep as quickly as possible.
It's not always as straightforward as it seems because as babies grow, some of the tricks that help you to put your baby to sleep may not work after a few months.
However, if there is one trick that is tried and tested - it is the tissue trick!
Want to know more? Read on to learn how to put a baby to sleep in 40 seconds using a single tissue and other expert tips on putting your baby to sleep in no time.
Tips for Putting Your Baby to Sleep in Less Than a Minute
Now, let's face it, every baby is different, and the time for a baby to fall asleep using some of these tricks may differ from baby to baby. But, for any parent desperately in need of a few tips and tricks that will help put your baby to sleep quickly, give these tested tricks a go.
1. The tissue trick
It's incredible what a single piece of tissue paper can do, and the tissue trick is one of the most successful tricks you can do to put your baby to sleep in less than a minute.
All you need to do is gently and slowly drag the tissue over the child's face repeatedly until their eyes start to close. It's as simple as that and works every time!
It's worth noting that the tissue needs to be dry, so don't think of using a wet wipe, as it won't work and creates more discomfort, making your baby less likely to fall asleep.
2. The white noise machine
For any new parent, a video baby monitor is essential, and opting for one which comes complete with a white noise option is magic and will have your baby sleeping in less than a minute!
The theory behind this trick is that white noise resembles an environment similar to a woman's womb, and since the sound is familiar and comforting to a baby, it helps them sleep instantly.
If you don't have a white noise machine, you can create white noise with your household appliances, such as a washing machine or hairdryer.
Place your baby's crib in the next room or close to the washing machine while it rumbles away. The white noise it generates will calm your baby immediately, and before you know it, your child will be sound asleep.
The hairdryer, on the other hand, works the same. You can use the hairdryer while drying your hair or just switch it on for a minute to create the white noise effect. Of course, you must make sure it's not blowing in the baby's direction.
3. Running water
The sounds of rain and running water are also invaluable for putting your precious baby to sleep. Now, if there is no rain and your baby's crib isn't close to a tap, you can simply make your own recording of running water or rain, and play it for a minute or two until your baby is fast asleep.
4. Shh, swing & swaddle
The Shh, swing, and swaddle technique is a combination of motion and sound that makes newborn babies feel secure.
It's a simple trick involving wrapping your baby in a soft blanket and holding them close to your chest on their side while gently swinging or rocking back and forth while whispering gentle' shh, shh, shh' sounds.
Once the baby is fast asleep, gently place your little one in their bed cot on their back, without the blanket.
5. Use touch to relax them
Using touch to help your baby sleep in the middle of the night when they wake up will relax them. Gently stroking their cheeks and palms before they sleep at night and when they wake up will have a soothing effect that will soon put them back to sleep.
You can also try this before putting them to sleep at night. Give your baby a nice warm bath (around 100 degrees Fahrenheit) and gently massage them, bathing them in the warm water, then place a soft blanket on the radiator to keep it warm and dry your little one with the warm blanket before changing them.
Breastfeed or use a bottle with formula while gently patting their back in a heartbeat motion, and this will keep them calm and comfortable while they dose off to sleep.
Another trick is to position your baby flat on your stomach so the motion of your breathing and heartbeat resembles a similar environment to the womb.
6. Chanting
Babies love to hear their parent's voices, and chanting is the best way to comfort them when it's time to sleep.
Make 'ooommm' sounds repeatedly, try singing, or even humming a melody while they're in their bed on their back or whilst rocking them in your arms at the same time as chanting. It's a simple but effective technique that gets fast results in less than a minute.
7. Use calming lotions at bedtime
After a nice warm bath, it's a good idea to massage baby lotions into their skin to relax them. Clinical studies show that using calming lotions with lavender helps newborns sleep easier, and it can be used before bedtime, nap time, or anytime your baby struggles to nod off.
Things to Avoid When Putting Your Baby to Sleep
We understand that for any new parent, knowing what to do and what not to do can seem overwhelming and can be a struggle at times, especially when you have your own family and friends giving you different information.
Here is a short list of things you should avoid doing if you want your precious baby to be happy and less fussy than usual. It's not rocket science, but following a few simple rules will make all the difference between a happy baby and a crying baby.
1. Letting them nap too late
Having a set schedule for your baby is crucial for them when it comes to sleeping. All humans have their own body clock, including babies. So once you get your baby into a rhythm of sleeping at certain times during the day, it's best to stick to that schedule every day.
Allowing them that extra half an hour or hour can make your baby grumpy when all they want to do is rest.
As a rule of thumb, babies under four months enjoy sleeping every few hours.
2. Extending bedtime or ignoring sleep cues
Just because your little one may not seem tired at their usual bedtime doesn't mean you should extend it.
Your little bundle of joy just wants to stay awake to see you for as long as possible but will fall asleep as soon as you start performing their nighttime bath, feed, and sleep.
Paying attention to your child's sleep cues is also important! Sometimes your little one can be grumpy and might just need a quick nap after being fed if they have been awake for a certain amount of time.
3. Not having a regular bedtime routine
Implement a sleep schedule by putting your child to sleep at the same time every evening. Some like to sleep earlier at 5 or 6, and some like to sleep later at 8 or 9. If you frequently change this time, you may find it challenging to put your little one to sleep.
4. Not being consistent with your partner
It is vital that you are consistent with your partner!
Sharing the nighttime duties is important for a stress-free relationship and keeping your child happy. While both parents may work at the same time as bringing up a child, make sure you both stick to the same sleep routine.
It's common for new parents to use different sleeping schedules, but this can be detrimental to your child's sleep routine and ultimately make it more difficult for them to drift off to sleep.
