Sleeping Like A Baby

More and more often, we are seeing sleep trends that mimic the way new parents sleep train their babies. Most of these sleep solutions are rooted in science and experiments that have shown that the way we fell asleep as infants is still the most effective ways for us to not only fall asleep, but to stay asleep.

1.Being Rocked

An experiment conducted by the Department of Basic Neurosciences has shown that participants who were rocked fell asleep quicker than ones left to fall asleep traditionally. A separate study from the Sleep Centre of the University of Geneva, show that not only did their participants fall asleep faster, they slept more deeply and moved less in their sleep. It also showed signs of boosting memory. Want to get in on the rocking action? There is an MP# player-sized device developed by Philips Home Healthcare Solutions that can help with that. It connects to a bone behind your ear by a sensor that sends electrical impulses into the vestibular system. These impulses mimic the effect of being rocked. Or, just capitalize on your hammock time next vacation.

2.Weighted Blankets

Originally aimed toward people who suffer from anxiety, more and more people are signing the praises of weighted blankets. Studies show that participants using these blankets spent less time awake through the night. They also reported feeling better rested in the morning and having an easier time settling in and getting comfortable. Many people have noted that this trend mimics swaddling infants. Swaddling infants helps to keep their unintentional movements to a minimum and preventing them from startling themselves awake. Swaddling also helps infants feel comforted by mimicking the small space they are more used to occupying. Unlimited space can feel intimidating. Maybe being weighted down somehow helps adults stay still and prevents tossing and turning in the same way it helps infants control unintentional movements.

3.White Noise

Originally intended to mimic the sounds of the womb, more and more adults are turning to white noise machines to drown out environmental noises. Light sleepers and people who live in big cities often turn to noise machines to drown out sounds that can interrupt their sleep. How does sleeping with MORE noise help? Our brains are keyed in to the sounds around us as we sleep to help alert us to any potential threats. We tend to register these noises if they deviate from what we are used to hearing. If you live near a train, eventually you’ll stop waking up when it rolls through. Adding a white noise helps keep all other sounds out so that your brain isn’t alerted to every other noise in the night.

4.Other Innovations

Pajamas and bedding that regulate temperature have been mainstays in infant pajamas for years already but are just hitting adult markets. Reality star LaLa Kent says she de-stresses in the evenings by drinking warm milk from a bottle. Baby sleep experts agree that there are a tried and true ways of sleep training a baby known as the 5 S’s. Swaddling, side or stomach position, shushing, swinging, and sucking. Side sleepers are the most common, weighted blankets and body pillows help to mimic swaddling, shushing helps to drown out noise, swinging or rocking helps you fall asleep faster, and sucking can be anything that calms the nerves such as wiggling or tapping your foot. If you’re struggling to sleep, maybe it’s time to start sleeping like a baby.