My friend and parenting expert, Julie King, had a rookie baby who would not sleep once he reached the toddler age. Once he figured out that better things were going on in the other room, he resisted.
Together with her friend and co-author, Joanna Faber, they created Asher’s Dance and Rest Tape to trick the savage toddler into napping.
Julie told me:
Joanna came up with the concept and then made the tape for me (and Asher) years ago, when I was having trouble getting him to calm down and nap (and I had his new baby brother to juggle). As a classical pianist who only listens to pop music when someone force-feeds me and have no idea what I’m hearing, I was at a loss when it came to picking actual music, so she came to my rescue.
It has about 30 to 45 minutes of music, and it goes from very lively dance music, to calmer dance music, to soothing, ending with Gregorian Chants.
I would always do it with Asher (or else he wouldn’t do it), and we would start off with wild dancing, and then get slower and slower, and by the time the Gregorian chants came we’d be lying on the floor on a blanket, and he would take his nap on the floor.
Inspired by your comments last time I posted this scenario, I created a Rookie Mom’s Dance and Rest Playlist on spotify. It starts with fast songs (like the move it, move it song) all the way through sleepy songs and chants.
I’d love to hear your feedback if you try it. I tested it on my seven year old and about halfway through, he got bored, so, there’s that.
Oooo…Heather, I’m totally in!! I also have a challenging
napper who is currently responding well to stars drawn all over his body, but the novelty will wear off quickly, I imagine.
We have a Rockabye Baby Radiohead album (look on Amazon, there are all sorts of bands!) that is all Radiohead done in glockenspeil – it is an amazing naptime album, and I put it on repeat every afternoon when I put Charles down for a nap.
I have naptime play lists for my two year old and I love the Rockabye Baby series.
The picture is so cute but I have heard it discouraged to use ear buds for little ones… or anyone for that matter. Because hearing damage can happen even at modest volumes… I dunno if that is true.
The best purchase i ever made was the CD “Mommy, I Can’t Sleep”. I bought it six years ago and it still get played every night for bedtime. It is a wierd combo of childrens songs done instrumentally combined with noise (mooing cows, rain, thunder). Sounds so odd but it is so relaxing and has put my kids (and me on far more than one occassion) out like a light in now time at all!
Here is the link on Amazon… http://www.amazon.com/Mommy-Cant-Sleep-Cat-Entertainment/dp/B000CA2JJI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1267059711&sr=8-1
I love the song that goes “I get knocked down, but I get up again. You’re gonna keep me down!” That’s very upbeat and dance-y
LOVE this idea. Yo Gabba Gabba has a let’s get the wiggles out song- Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle GO, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle STOP type thing. They also have a sleep song that my husband loves for when the music should get slower.
I’m game! What do we need to do?
My toddler loves Single Ladies (Beyonnce), Let’s Go Crazy (Prince) It’s Oh So Quiet (Bjork) and Hey Ya (Outkast) to get moving. I have a Party Time CD and a Sleepy Time Cd, but I really like your idea of upbeat music progressing into a sleepy music. I think I may have to make a new mix!
Spice Girls and Michael Jackson are our two current household favorites.
AWESOME!! can’t ait for the finished list. I did yoga to music when i was preggy and nearlyMabel still chills out when she hears Deep Forest – Sweet Lullaby and a chanting one we used to hear all the time that just went ohhhhhmmm ohhhmmmm. we love to go crazy to sneaky sound system -UFO and Linkin Park when we really need to burn some frustration
I’ll help! This is an awesome idea!
This is a fab idea, both the one for toddlers and the one for mums. I frequently use music to wear the kids out, so actually creating a playlist might work excellently for kid 2 (kid 1 no longer does naptime).
My son loves “no surprises” by Radiohead. We used to just play that on repeat until he passed out. It still stops him cold in his tracks when he hears it.
“I think I’m in Love” by Beck. Another favorite of my two year old.
My daughter loves “Hey Mickey”.
My toddler & I love Jack Johnson, and bare naked ladies is the car and James Taylor is great for sleepy time….
I’ve been meaning to do this for my kids for ages. I have a bunch of music but need to get it in order.
Both of mine love the Barenaked Ladies’ Snacktime CD of Children’s music. It has both fast and slow songs on it.
[...] for when I have to worry about a toddler, there’s a whole conversation about this topic here: Creating a toddler playlist. April 1st, 2010 | Tags: kids music, playlist | Category: for little [...]
I love this article! It’s very interesting and useful!
“Morning Yearning” by Ben Harper is a good soothing song that my son mellows out to.
[...] love all the tips, tricks, and helpful advice given from these Rookie Moms. There are activities for kids and for [...]
This is such a great idea! My two (soon to be three year old) son LOVES music, but dreads nap time. This will definitely be a useful article! Thank you!!
We too listen to jack johnson and bnl in the car. I love them both, but need a new cd. Any recos for a new car cd?
As for dance songs for the nap cd we love black eyes peas (some songs edited out for lyrics though). For the winding down I love the lullaby song the dixie chicks sing (sample lyrics, tomorrow there’ll be so much to do. So tonight I’ll drift in a dream with you…. how long do you want to be loved? Is forever enough? Is forever enough?”
@rookiemoms that’s what this little fella needs! http://t.co/J2I8lXv35h
This really doesn’t pertain to nap time, but with my three year old twin boys we always watch Mr. Rodgers (on Amazon instant video) with the lights dim in the living room before or story time and bed time. So relaxing and educational too – just a perfect way to calm down and unwind from a busy day.
Nap not happening RT @bayareaglutton: @rookiemoms that’s what this little fella needs! http://t.co/b6F0z6u5Eo
My son (almost 3) and I have been singing the “Ho Hey!” song by The Lumineers in the car. He loves yelling Ho! and Hey! and then (sort of) sings along with the chorus… ‘I belong with you, you belong with me, you’re my sweetheart’
Last Saturday, I kept our four-month-old asleep for about 90 miles by playing … Johnathan Coulton. He’s also showing an affinity for Nat King Cole, particularly Cole’s rendition of “Ramblin’ Rose.” But he also busts a big grin when I sing Sandra Boynton’s “Snuggle Puppy.” Eclectic kid.
[...] are both laying horizontally and still. This is an exercise in patience, for sure. Heather’s toddler music playlist will take you from sixty to [...]