How to Help a Baby Fall Asleep

Ever since the birth of the first baby, parents have wrestled from time to time with the question of how to coax the little one to sleep for the night. Babies require three basic things to allow them to fall asleep: they must feel physically comfortable, mentally calm, and emotionally nurtured and secure. As simple as this sounds, it often takes a while to actually "get" this as a parent. One of the best ways to do this is with an aromatherapy bath using two essential oils, sandalwood and lavender, that together work like a magical sleep inducing potion for babies

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• washcloth or sponge
• favorite toy(s)
• cleanser
• towel
• baby oil
• three drops of essential sandalwood oil
• four drops of essential lavender oil

Help a Baby Fall Asleep

1. Draw your baby a lukewarm bath, making sure that his/her favorite bath toy has been included.
2. Place the essential oils into the bath , allowing them to scent the water. The bath water will automatically dilute the oils, while allowing the fragrance to disperse along the water's surface.
3. Smile at your baby and talk to him or her softly as you place him/her into the bath. This will reassure a cranky baby and help to calm an overactive one.
4. Allow your baby to splash and play as you bathe him/her. While this is taking place, this will further disperse the scent of the essential oils. Singing a lullaby will heighten the effect. Let your movements as you bathe your baby be slow, almost hypnotic in their rhythm. You should see your baby begin to grow quieter and calmer after several minutes. Remove your baby from the bath before the water becomes too cold. Cooler temperatures will wake your baby into full alertness again. Wrap your baby in a warm towel.
5. Mix a little of the sandalwood and the lavender oils into regular baby oil and massage your baby with this oil combination. Try to continue talking slowly and softly or singing a lullaby. Pay particular attention to cheeks, forehead, and temples after applying the oils to his/her entire body. Dress your baby for bed. Hold your baby close and gently rock him/her for several minutes before putting your baby down for the night. By this time, your baby should feel physically comfortable, mentally calm, emotionally nurtured, secure and more than a little sleepy.