I’m really fortunate, so we’ve never had much trouble getting my nephew to sleep. He is one and a half, and has been solidly sleeping through the night since he was about 2 months old. He has a set bedtime each night, and we follow through on his routine. Sometimes, he fights it for a few minutes, but he’s always out like a light in no time. If you’re having trouble establishing a bedtime routine and getting your kid to sleep, check out this article by Lauren at The Military Wife and Mom for a great tip:
All I do is take deep breaths myself, and then he follows. You see, deep breathing is just like yawning. It’s contagious! And it’s a completely subconscious cause and effect rhythm that you can fall into with your child.
When hugging or cuddling in a way that is natural for you and your child, the deep breathing becomes contagious between you. All you have to do is start the rhythm and your child will pick up on it. This technique is something you can use at any age.