Wearing Down to Sleep

Its 9:00 Pm and you’re tired but baby isn’t. Nestle baby in the sling and stroll around the house until he falls asleep. This is what we call wearing down.
First time parents may have been led to believe that the way a baby goes to sleep is that at some preassigned time they put the half-awake baby into the crib, kiss him on the cheek, turn out the lights and leave the room. Baby peacefully drifts off to sleep without much bother. This happens only in books and movies, or for everybody else’s baby but seldom in real life. Most babies want to or need to be nursed (comforted) down to sleep in a caregiver’s arms. Babywearing allows the infant to make the transition from an awake state to sleep more easily. When you feel that baby is ready to go to sleep, or you are ready for her to go to sleep, wear her in the sling in the position that you have found to be the least stimulating and most sleep inducing. Walk around the house.

Try breastfeeding while moving. When your baby is in a state of deep sleep (recognized by a motionless face and limp limbs), lower yourself onto the bed until she is lying down and you can gently slip yourself out of the sling. Allow baby to remain on the bed in the sling, using it as a cover. If baby sleeps best on her side, tuck the sling between baby and bed to keep her from rolling over. Although asleep, baby may still seem restless while you are wearing her down (this is called REM – or rapid eye movement – sleep, a lighter state of sleep in which baby is likely to awaken if you put her down and try to sneak out of the room). If this happens, keep your baby in the snuggle hold and lie down with her on your chest while she is still in the sling. The rhythm of your heartbeat and breathing motion will lull baby into a deep sleep, after which you can roll over and slip yourself out of the sling, and your baby will usually stay asleep.

Wearing down is particularly useful for the reluctant napper. Sometimes it helps to leave baby in the snuggle hold on your chest so you can both drift off to sleep together. This can be done during naptime on the floor, the couch, or anyplace where baby and babywearer can comfortably get an hour’s sleep.

From The Baby Book
By Dr William & Martha Sears