Parents in need of a quick way to get their babies to sleep now have a simple formula that scientific research indicates should be a success.
A study about the method was published Tuesday in the peer reviewed journal Current Biology.
First, parents or caregivers are advised to carry infants for five minutes. Then, they should sit down and hold the infants for five to eight minutes before placing them in a crib or sleeping surface.
Ideally, caregivers should attach the infants snugly to their body and support the baby’s head. For the carrying portion, they should walk on a flat and clear passage and at a steady pace, preferably without abrupt stops or turns.
Carrying babies can soothe them via the transport response, which study authors described as a coordinated set of vagal [referring to the vagal nervous system] activation and behavioral calming in mammals that need aid to mature after birth.