Sleep-deprived parents desperate to see their baby sleep instead of scream may turn to sleep aids in their quest for peace and quiet. Although there are several things that lull babies into a blissful slumber, babies' individual preferences will ultimately determine which one is most effective for them. Parents should keep an open mind and try a wide variety of sleep aid options to see which works best.
Motion
Swings, car rides or going for a walk in the stroller may help a baby fall asleep. Carrying the baby around the house in your arms or in a sling, especially bouncing or rocking as you go, may also relax the baby enough to fall asleep, suggests AskDrSears.com.
Pacifiers
Babies have an instinctive need to suck, so using a pacifier to help calm the baby to sleep can be quite effective. Mothers who are breastfeeding, however, should talk to a breastfeeding consultant or doctor before offering a pacifier to avoid nipple confusion. Nipple confusion occurs when a baby gets used to a pacifier and then has difficulty breastfeeding due to the differences between the nipples.
Swaddling
Using a blanket to swaddle your baby can be an effective way to help the baby relax enough to fall asleep. Being tightly bound may remind the baby of being in the womb and can provide a sense of comfort and security. However, be careful not to swaddle the baby too tightly, as this may interfere with blood circulation. If you are having trouble keeping your baby in the swaddle with a regular blanket, consider buying a blanket specifically designed for swaddling. Several swaddling blankets have buttons or Velcro that not only make the swaddling process easier, but prevent the baby from breaking loose from the swaddle as well.
White Noise
White noise from vaccum cleaners, fans, hairdryers, washing machines, static from a radio or TV or using a white noise machine can also be an effective baby sleep aid. This may be because it reminds the baby of being in the womb, which had a constant source of white noise from the mother's blood flow. Individual preferences as to the type or intensity of the white noise vary from baby to baby, so you may need to adopt a trial and error approach to determine what works best for your baby.
Don't Help Too Much
While it is true that swaddling, pacifiers, white noise and moving may help with the process of getting a baby to sleep, it is important not to rely on sleep aids exclusively. If your baby becomes dependent upon these things, he may have difficulty falling to sleep on his own without them, warns Parents Magazine. Learning to fall asleep without props or sleep aids is an important skill for a baby to learn, and as a parent you will need to find the balance between helping your baby get to sleep so she does not become overtired yet still provide opportunities that will allow her to figure out how to fall asleep on her own.
