Researchers have come up with an innovative way to put any newborn back to sleep, if he wakes up and starts crying at night, and is unable to fall asleep again.
The results of field research, published on Tuesday in the journal “Corrent Biology”, indicated that the best way to “put any crying child back to his bed” is to hold him and walk with him for five minutes, then sit for five to eight minutes, before putting him to bed again.
The results showed that the way of walking and sitting while carrying the baby, is effective and “works even during the day.”
The researchers reached their conclusion by comparing 21 infant reactions to four scenarios: mothers holding them while walking, holding them while sitting, lying in bed with them, and placing them in a rocking bed.
The research team found that the babies calmed down and their heart rates slowed within 30 seconds of walking and carrying.
Researchers said that all the children stopped crying during this exercise, and half of them slept, and their heart rates slowed when they were lying in a rocking bed.
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“A method to soothe and promote sleep in crying infants utilizing the transport response” https://t.co/iSw5F8kiQ4
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However, when mothers tried to put their babies back to bed after walking – without sitting with them – a third of the babies realized it within 20 seconds and were back in tears.
According to the study, children’s heart rate rises and they continue to cry when they are carried and sitting only, without carrying them and walking with them.
While this method suggests positive results, it is not the only way to get babies to sleep, and it may not work for everyone, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
This authority says that parents can put their children to bed directly if they appear drowsy, and advised not to push them to sleep again if they wake up.
In addition, researchers say that about 20 to 30% of children cry “excessively and have difficulties sleeping”, without a known cause.
Therefore, the team that conducted the research decided that more study is needed to determine whether this method can improve sleep in the long term.