melody*made

Singing Babies To Sleep

I just wanted to share how singing can help babies to fall asleep. I made up a really simple song to put little Ryker to sleep ever since he was a wee little one. I mean, really really simple. It went like this:

Ryker, Ryker, 

mommy loves you, Ryker

(repeat)

I told you it was simple :o) Perhaps I'll video later.

When I had to drive and he was sleepy, I would sing this song while driving, and it'd help him to fall asleep. Or I'd sing at home while bouncing on a birthing ball. That birthing ball was miraculously helpful. 

I just want to share this thought of singing b/c it seems to have a magical way of not only calming our babies, but also calming the mommy. I know that I personally need to be in a loving space in order to sing a lullaby, so maybe that's the trick.

While I was driving the other week, Ryker was cranky and tired and started to cry. I sang some fun songs to get his attention so that he'd stop crying. I sang, "Trot trot to Boston" because he loves that from our Parent/Toddler class with Mrs. Shahbazi. Then I started singing the "Gentle Fairy" song which is a soothing gentle song, also from the Parent/Toddler class. I didn't even have all the words, just made it up and kept the melody going. He soon fell asleep! 

Hope this helps someone.

Bedtime Routine 101

Does your child stay up until 11:00 or midnight to fall asleep? Do you drive around in your car hoping that your baby or toddler will fall asleep? Are you simply too exhausted from lack of sleep?

I want to share with you that you don't have to be this way!

Besides the obvious advices of following a routine of dinner, bath, and a bedtime story, there are some things that you can do that will make a huge difference.

Are you ready?

1) Start the bedtime routine earlier. Our inclination is to put them to bed later hoping that they'd go to sleep out of exhaustion, but this isn't so. If your child seems too tired and if there's resistance at 9:00, start at 7:00. Children under age 10 can go to bed at 7:00 when the sun has gone down. Babies and toddlers can go to bed as the sun sets around 6:30 or even 6:00. Young children start to get their second wind after 7:30 and it'll be much harder to have a peaceful bedtime if they're hyped up or too cranky.

2) I'm sure you've heard about turning off the lights and even bathing in candle light. Put the whole house to sleep.

3) Cut out media. We don't realize how much stimulation babies and toddlers get from tv and stereo. Try turning off the tv and the stereo and be in silence for the day, or for days. Young children need time and space to process what they absorb during the day, and sleep will be affected by what they see and hear on tv.

4) Young children mirror ourselves so we need to be calm and have peace within us so that we can invite them into the space where they can relax and drift off to sleep. It will not work for us to be stressed out and demand them to go to bed. I'm sure if you're a parent, you know that you can't ever force a child to do anything!

I hope that this is helpful to someone. I'd love to hear other's bedtime routines and share what has worked for their family.

I have to go to sleep myself, but I'll write more later.

Good night!