One of the best ways to get your baby to sleep is sometimes called “wearing down.” This is a two-fold idea.  On one hand, “wearing down” refers to the practice of wearing your infant on a baby sling for an hour or two before bedtime.  One the other hand, “wearing down” is also just a fancy way of saying that if you encourage your baby to be active during the day, they are likely to be tired at nap-time and bedtime, and will tend to sleep easier and better.

 

There’s nothing fancy to this baby sleep tip at all.  In terms of “wearing” your baby in a sling, this is a proven method that is almost certain to help your baby relax and fall asleep.  This method is discussed in a previous baby sleep tip.

 

The idea is just to tire your baby out by making sure that they have plenty of opportunity to play - whether that be lying down and grabbing toys for young babies, or crawling around and pulling up on things for older babies, or walking around during playtime for toddlers. One sure way to make it difficult for a baby to sleep is to confine or restrict their activity level during the day.

 

Sure, it may be easier to leave your baby in a swing or leave them in a walker for long periods of time during the day - I’ve done it myself as a father - but it’s important to remember that will all of these things that restrict a baby’s mobility and activity, they are best used in moderation because they will make it harder for your baby to sleep later.

 

So, like everything else in life (and parenting), it’s probably best to exercise moderation. You don’t need to run your baby into the ground with so much activity that they’re exhausted by noon, but on the other hand, you want to be careful not to limit their activity so much that they haven’t burned off their energy by nap-time or bedtime.

And, with the other meaning of “wearing down” you might find that “wearing” your baby in a sling for an hour or two every day actually helps them relax and fall asleep easier.

 

Andrew Dolbin-MacNab

Pediasleep LLC

 

---

 

     About the Author:

 

Andrew Dolbin-MacNab is a father, sound-engineer, and the founding member of Pediasleep LLC, a leader in the production of white noise and other soothing sounds to aid the healthy sleep of infants, cosleepers, and parents. Having successfully survived his daughter's early sleep problems with the help of white noise, he is also an expert on infant sleep problems and their solutions. Pediasleep can be found online at http://www.Pediasleep.com.