New Zealander Jordan Watson has been crushing the ‘dad advice on YouTube‘ game since 2015. While this video is made for laughs, it’s actually pretty instructive.
As he says, it’s never usually as easy as asking, “Do you want to go to sleep?”
Watson shows a few methods that I know to be effective. It’s Bedtime 101 to name a blanket blanky so your child becomes attached and comforted by it.
I also endorse the ‘Shoosh Train’ (combined with rocking them when they’re little). The shoosh comforts the baby by simulating the internal bodily sounds of being in the womb (amazing if you think about it). Rocking them to sleep multiplies this effect.
Another solid tip from Watson is ‘Method Acting’. Show them how tired you are, close your eyes and disengage. It’s important to be as boring as possible. Take care with this method as it’s incredibly easy to fall asleep yourself, leaving the washing up and other chores not done as you passed out with the baby soon after dinner.
Here’s some tips of my own that have worked with my son, a ridiculous night owl with boundless energy.
- Develop routines that become a precursor to winding down for sleep. We have a shower. Get into pyjamas. Brush teeth. Make sure we’ve gone to the potty. Have a drink of water. Then into bed.
- When they’re younger than 18 months, a bottle of warm milk before bed will usuall see them nodding off. Let’s call this move the ‘Under The Influence’
- Read stories. Nice long stories that don’t have too many pictures to look at. This is to phase them down, not keep them engaged. My author of choice is Roald Dahl and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has become our favourite. If the Dahl isn’t working, I step it up to whatever boring ass book I’m reading and he’ll be out within the first page or so of Sun King: The Life and Times of Sam Phillips, the Man Behind Sun Records.