Quick guide

How to turn a lullaby into a bedtime cue

A lullaby works best when it becomes a signal. Play the same one at the same point of the evening and, night after night, your baby starts to link it with slowing down. It is routine, not magic, and that is exactly why it helps.

1. Keep the order the same

• A short routine is enough: bath or nappy change, pyjamas, feed, dim lights, then the lullaby.
• Let the music be the last step before sleep, every time.
• For daytime naps, use a shorter version of the same routine.

2. Get the room ready

• Lights off or very low. A warm bedside lamp is fine if you need one.
• A comfortable temperature and light sleepwear, without piles of blankets.
• Put your phone on Do Not Disturb so a notification never cuts through the music.
• Safe sleep first: baby on their back, in their own crib, with no pillows, bumpers or loose toys. The phone or speaker never goes inside the crib.

3. How loud is too loud?

The music should be quieter than a calm conversation. If you have to raise your voice to talk in the room, turn it down. Kneel where your baby’s head will be and listen for a few seconds: it should sound soft.

In a 2014 study in Pediatrics, researchers tested 14 infant sleep machines at full volume. At 30 cm every one of them went above 50 dB, the level recommended for hospital nurseries, and three went above 85 dB. Their advice: keep the device well away from the crib, the volume low and the playing time short.

4. When to switch it off

• Most families leave it on while their baby drifts off, then let a timer stop it.
• If your baby stirs when the music stops, lower the volume a little each night instead of cutting it suddenly.
• If a melody seems to keep them awake, try white noise or water sounds, which have no tune to follow.

Other sounds

Source: Hugh SC et al. “Infant Sleep Machines and Hazardous Sound Pressure Levels”. Pediatrics, 2014. PubMed. This page is for general information and does not replace advice from your paediatrician.