musical toy to send 4 week old to sleep, when do you start playing it?

[Gemzooks]

So have this bloody frog which plays Brahms Cradle Song. DS screamed whenever it was played, so gave up. Now have 4 week old DD, who like most 4 week olds doesn't settle that well at bedtime.

I had a musical teddy as a kid and it still sends me to sleep just hearing it, so thought I'd at least try with the musical toy this time.

My question is, at what point should I start playing it? During last 10 mins on breast, or when I've put her in the cot, or what? all the books say they will get an association with it, but what point? any tips welcome...

i would start it as she looks sleepy. you want her to be falling asleep to the sound iyswim?
so as her eyes start dropping (while feeding or whatever) but she is still awake to hear it

I agree. you want to develop the association with sleep so start playing it wherever she nods off. During a feed. In the car. In the buggy. Then, transfer iot to the cot asnd play it every time she goes into the cot. I did this with DD and DS. It worked well, but then they were just born fab sleepers. (DD is a horrible eater if that makes you feel better) Anyway, my top tip is to use a music device that is small and portable and can go on holday with you. We used a Baby Tad, but the box can be taken out if you don't want to lug the whole Baby Tad frog on hols with you.

This association is not limited to sound. You can do the same thing with a smell. In fact, I think the smell association develops earlier. So maybe associate a scent with bedtime as well.

thanks! will try. She is not a bad sleeper, goes down at 8 pm, I wake her at midnight, she goes down 1.30 and sleeps till around 5.30-6 when she wakes for a feed, then I wake her at 8 am... It's just that I thought why not try the music thing... But then what if it breaks and they then can't get to sleep without it? The scent thing is a good idea, I might try that too..

Just nuy some commercial widely available toy that you know you could replace if you lost it. It is especially useful when you sleep somewhere other than home and the baby might need some bit of familiarity to nod off. So, when everything else is different she will still have her music/scent. We had a little elephant infant toy that was scented (just for this purpose). But, it came from the states so don't know if you can get it here.