Self-Soothing at Bedtime
Parent guides baby through a calming bedtime routine, putting baby down drowsy but awake to practice self-soothing skills. The agent coaches the parent to observe sleep cues, self-settling attempts, and independent sleep initiation — building foundational self-regulation and sleep independence.
Opens a guided voice session in TogetherTime.
What you'll need
Baby in parent's arms for feeding in a quiet, dimly lit room. Crib or bassinet prepared nearby with safe sleep environment (firm mattress, no loose bedding). Best done at baby's typical bedtime when showing early sleep cues.
How it works
- 1~45s
Start feeding your child as you normally would for bedtime. As they feeds, talk or sing softly to them — keep your voice gentle and calming. Watch for those early sleep cues: eye rubbing, yawning, slower sucking, or zoning out. The goal is to keep your child engaged enough to stay awake through the feeding, but relaxed enough to be getting sleepy. Tell me what sleep cues you're noticing.
Watch for: Baby shows clear sleep cues during feeding — yawning, eye rubbing, decreased activity, or glazed eyes.
- 2~60s
Now, when your child is drowsy but still awake — maybe when they slows down feeding or starts to drift — gently end the feeding. Hold them upright for a minute to prevent spit-up, then slowly move to the crib. Place your child down on their back while they is still awake. Does they stay calm? Does they look around, suck their fingers, or make any self-soothing movements? Tell me how your child responds to being put down awake.
Watch for: Baby attempts self-soothing when placed in crib drowsy but awake — sucking fingers, rubbing face, or making calming movements.
- 3~90s
Now step back slightly but stay nearby. Watch your child for the next minute or two. Does they continue self-soothing? Does they start to drift off? Look for signs like eyes closing and opening slowly, less movement, or rhythmic sucking. If your child fusses but isn't crying hard, give them a moment to try to settle before intervening. What do you observe about their sleep initiation?
Watch for: Baby responds positively to bedtime routine and shows ability to transition toward sleep with minimal distress.