There is a gadget, app, or toy for every type of baby sleep struggle and we have tried them all. If it plays soothing music, lights up, or vibrates, we probably have it buried under a pile of laundry somewhere in the house.
But my favorite and most-used product is totally free. It’s a YouTube video of a woman shushing into a microphone for 12 straight hours over white noise. That’s it. Just a slightly creepy, soothing “Shhhhhh.”
We use it so much, and it makes nap time easier on us. Lately, though, it has been working too well. Because while I am trying to get the baby down for a nap, the shusher puts me to sleep.
I never plan to fall asleep. I start nap time thinking I’ll catch up on laundry or my favorite trashy reality TV show while he sleeps. The next thing I know, it’s 7:30 at night, and we’re both ready for dinner.
So if you’re wondering what high-tech sleep solution finally worked for us, it’s a random woman on YouTube whispering “Shhh” into the void.
Sharlene Birdsong is a new mom who is a little bit crunchy and a little bit rock ‘n’ roll. You can reach her at sharlene.birdsong@mirrorindy.org.
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