Getting baby to sleep

There is some magic in getting baby to fall asleep.

Do not expect sleep.
As we drove to the park for a hike this afternoon, I thought for sure the baby would nod off in the car. Every time I looked back, she‘d look up at me as if to say, ‘sleep? Me?‘
Strapped baby to my back and started the walk, memories of her two baby backpack naps earlier this week twinkling. After 5 minutes of smiling up at daddy, I gave up and let her ride on his shoulders, chasing me down the path. The walk back was no better.

Give up.
Baby slept while we drove home, and for a little while after.

Nurse.
Squeezed another nap out of her before dinner.

Stay put.
I‘m sure it seems ridiculous, me watching Seinfeld reruns in the dark while baby sleeps in my arms, head flopped back, but if I move she‘ll wake up! Not entirely true - I did manage to walk over and turn the light on, eventually, but had I tried to lay baby down somewhere, she would have woken. 4/5 chance.

Slow down. Lights out.
Baby falls asleep best when I‘m feigning sleep. Unfortunately she‘s too interested in what I‘m doing now, I can no longer knit behind her as she nurses in bed. Can read 2/5, works best if I let her work her grabbies out first. And she knows when I‘m frustrated, as it agitates her too and makes the whole thing worse.

Stick around.
Baby may wake within the first half hour of sleep. If you‘re there, 5 seconds of knuckle. If you‘re not, good luck.

Sleep begets sleep.
Contrary to adults, the baby who naps well will sleep well too. My worst days in putting baby down have been the nap-free ones.

Yet today had awesome naps, and so the sleepening was completed in good time.

Good night, baby Goo.