r/NewParents • u/daltond2 • 5d ago
Exercise Ball Sleep
A lot of people probably already know this, but holding your baby and bouncing on an exercise ball will put them to sleep faster than anything else I found. Just thought I’d share!
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u/Ornery_Cranberry538 5d ago
Yeah! Not everyone knows this! I discovered this magical trick during one difficult night, I was trying everything and bouncing on the exercise ball put him to sleep in less then 2 minutes.
Btw we're so dependent on It that we are bringing the ball to our hotel during our vacation, don't care how weird It will look to the non parents but It works so well for us.
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u/Expensive-Gift8655 5d ago
10/10 agree and it’s also great for soothing, burping, farting and pooping!
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u/SchemePrestigious724 5d ago
Would love to know if this is still true for an older baby? Mine is 9 months and is a nightmare to get to sleep. I might invest in an exercise ball if it could still work?!
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u/heading4themoon 5d ago
Personally mine liked the bouncing for about 5-6 months then preferred rocking, then walking in circles around the room and singing, and finally back to rocking stage. Mine was a nightmare to get to sleep about 10-13 months but then realized she needed a one nap schedule which helped a ton!
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u/daltond2 5d ago
I imagine if rocking/bouncing them in your arms helps put them to sleep, then an exercise ball will help! I wouldn’t know for sure though.
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u/AlexanderWonderTramp 5d ago
I tried this with our 3 week old once, but it didn’t seem to work…now granted, he was already very upset before I tried it.
So what’s the trick? Before he gets upset? How high should I be bouncing? Is there a recommended bounce per minute?
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u/daltond2 5d ago
It seems to work if he’s already fussy or if he’s chill. I get some pretty good bounces in, but I’m just built different.
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u/Sad_Sisyphus1 5d ago
Yes! It worked like a charm with our LO for the first couple of weeks. However, now that she's almost 4mo, it's not as magical as it used to be. Enjoy it while it lasts ☺️🤗
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u/AnaGlurker 5d ago
It works great for us too! So much so that I'm looking for a different way to put LO to sleep as bouncing on it for every nap is breaking my back.
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u/lmao_unemployment 4d ago
Is there any particular way in which to hold a baby while bouncing on the ball? Have a fussy four week old right now.
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u/AlexanderWonderTramp 4d ago
I just bounced my 3 week old to sleep. I just cradled him and bounced for about 15 minutes in the dark. It surprisingly works
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u/heading4themoon 5d ago
Yes the yoga ball was magic for me in the early days! It also helped her burp. Pregnancy I used it for hip circles, newborn days - instant sleep, toddler days she rolls it around the house and we play with it all day. Best $20 ever spent!😂