Does anyone sing their DC to sleep and how did you get into the routine?

[BertieBotts]

It's sort of always something I'd hoped I'd do with DS but ended up just BFing him to sleep instead! That always worked for us and was lovely - he's since outgrown it and doesn't need help to get to sleep any more.

If it works for me please tell me how you've done it. I love music and would love to be a bit more conscious about things next time around.

How old is he? I'd sing to myDDs in bed until they were 8 or 9.

He's 9 now but would probably laugh if I tried to sing to him now! I am thinking for next baby.

He'll be welcome to listen

That's a shame.

I always sing to mine. I sang to dd until she was 8 or 9, ds is 5 and he has to have twinkle star, incy windy spider and over the rainbow in that order every night. I sing a lot round the house anyway so it was easy to get into a routine. Dd is 15 now and sings all the time too. Dp was joking at the weekend that she's either singing or swearing at us and nothing in between. We both sound terrible by the way. The neighbours must hate us.

I did when they were tiny or poorly. They’ve each got a particular song/nursery rhyme that is special to them individually but also all start drooping eyelids at the first few bars of Kumbya or Cotton Jenny. I always sung to them as babies when carrying them around and we always had tapes (how old am I) in the car with children’s songs and rhymes or times tables. Rhymes are so good for language and mathematical development. We still sing sometimes if we’re peeling veg together or with friends around the Khadai bowl in summer.

I love singing and always sang to DC from one day old, especially at nap and bedtime. Now I have to do it. I made up a song and that is the song that ALWAYS sends them to sleep. My record is 7 minutes.

If DH is on bedtime duty it can take an hour! He tries to sing the bedtime song but it doesn't work for him.

Sing whilst you BF!

Just sing as often as possible. My kids think its average.

Still sing every night to my 8 and 5 year olds but even my 12 year old asks me to sing when he's struggling to sleep.

We always read every night and then lights out and I usually cuddle my youngest and sing the same four songs. Once I'm singing they should be quiet. Youngest often asleep before I finish.

Trying to remember how I got it all started. But it's hugely helpful for soothing babies in car seats on long journeys or the first night somewhere unfamiliar when travelling. The association with sleep and comfort to the songs is so strong.

Feeding to sleep stopped working so we introduced story followed by song in the rocking chair once DS has had last feed of the day. Works a treat and I love reading and singing to him, it's lovely he relaxes into me and snuggles down. DH does it most nights but I look forward to it when he's away and it's my turn.

After bed time stories we always used to have a cuddle while I sang some 'sleepy sings' before popping her down to fall asleep.

It must be getting on ten years since I last sang them before bed but DD still starts yawning if she hears eg Somewhere over the Rainbow