My boys are asleep within 5 minutes...I am not kidding......

[MommasCooCoo]

The first time that I had success with this technique...I was shocked.  The second time, I was stumped...The third time...I wanted to tell everyone.  I waited, for it to be time tested and mother approved.  LOL  

 It has been 3 weeks and I have used this method consistently....It has only failed once!  Pretty good stats ..huh?

Massage is the answer!  Too simple to believe?   

I started massaging my sons' hands, then their feet...within 5 minutes my two little wild men where off to sleepy time land..and I was doing cart wheels.  It has been amazing! 

We have struggled for years at nap and bed time.  It would generally take them 1-21/2 hours to settle down and go to sleep...Now ..5 minutes!  I should write a book...everyone else does! LOL

I have taken massage classes, but anyone can do a simple massage of the hands and feet.  I start by circling every finger or toe and then massage the sides.  I work my 'circling" fingers into the center where I do some deep compressions. 

Try to make your movements rhythmic and slow. 

No talking..just focus on your breathing as my kids usually fall into the same breath patterns as I have.  It is almost like hypnosis! 

Please try it out and let me know how it goes.  I hope everyone has the major success that we have celebrated!

[bleu313]

Well I tried it tonight. Just in the past 15 minutes. I don't know if he's asleep yet but he's certainly less restless, I haven't heard anything. I usually put him to bed and he plays quietly, sings, talks for 30 minutes to an 1 hour. So I haven't heard much of anything. Granted while I was messaging each hand, and each foot  he was giggling and acting silly. I reminded him if he wanted me to continue he needed to stop acting silly, he complied since he'll do anything to drag out bedtime.  I did everything else that we normally do before the message read the book, said our prayers/good wishes  and then I followed it up with the message, with the lights out  in relative silence.  I don't know it seemed to work we'll see...

[bleu313]

OMG- he's asleep! This might work. We'll see tomorrow. I was skeptical...but this gives me pause... who knew!?

[MommasCooCoo]

I was shocked at first too!  I am sooo glad that It worked for you too! 

Quoting bleu313:

OMG- he's asleep! This might work. We'll see tomorrow. I was skeptical...but this gives me pause... who knew!?

[MaineMomx2]

I agree with you...massage/deep pressure work great with kids.  The deep pressure from the massage works by sending calming messages thru the receptors in the muscles/joints to the central nervous system. 

We use a weighted blanket with our son in addition to a warm bath and a firm towel rub before bed - we had trouble finding a blanket that worked well for him so I just made one with fleece, flannel, and poly pellets; it was my first ever sewing project but it works great!  On rainy days when he isn't able to run around as much outside, a mini trampoline has been great as well.  We also have therapy/exercise ball that we roll over his arms and legs to make a "pizza" - he gets a kick out of it and it gives the same input as massage.

[tysmom1313]

Thanks for all the information about massage, I am going to try it tonight!!! My son usually takes at least an hour to calm down, so we will see what happens. 

Also thanks for the trampoline idea, I just wrote it down on the Christmas list!  With all the snow we will be getting soon, that will be a perfect indoor activity.

Thanks again,

Dena