Exhausted? Ready to pull your hair out? Are you endlessly rocking the night away to Twinkle Twinkle Little Star? Does the thought of singing Hush, Little Baby one more time make you feel like you'll go insane? Thought you had it in the bag with the classical genius of virtuosos such as Mozart and Beethoven only to have a blaring brass section put you back at square one? Let me tell you, I have been there. In fact, I'm still there!!! Now, newborns will be newborns and those late colicky nights leaving you with very little choices are to be expected. (For all you Moms out there whose eyes scream desperate tears of helplessness at the sound of those gut-wrenching wails as your 2 week - 3 month old angels suffer painfully throughout the night, I have two words for you: Gripe Water!! Ask your local pharmacist...all natural...over the counter...I recommend Mommy's Bliss...Trust me on this one!!!)
Bottom line, when you feel stressed, your baby can sense it. If your tense, your baby will feel it and no one can sleep when there is tension in the air. (Least of all, your baby!). So, there you are, on your feet, swaying, crying, bouncing, patting, all the while thinking "I don't know what to do?". This is 100% guaranteed to have you deliriously feeling like a failure! If your infants are anything like mine, by about six months they no longer are soothed into submission by being cradled and would rather be held in more of a hug-like embrace. Because their little brains are becoming more and more active, their new-found curiosity keeps them awake for fear of missing out on learning something new!
So there you are, checking in the mirror every few minutes to see if their eyes are closing just to have them look up at you as if to say "Nice try Mommy but I'm not ready yet!". Not only are you tired, your hips have figured 8'd more times than an Olympic Ice Dancer, and are continually undermined by that one creaky floor board!!! Now every one has their own style of parenting and many follow the "Bath, Bottle, Bed" rule or the "Let them cry it out!" advice. I get it. That's all well and good except baths make my babies perk up as if a party has just started and the Let them cry it out rule works well enough if you could put ear plugs in and try not to feel like your heart is being ripped out of your chest! Not to mention the discovery of the mess they made in their diapers during this hysterical episode upon checking in on them! (No way is my baby sleeping in that!!!!)
So what do you do? Well ladies, I may have found a light at the end of the tunnel.... Listed in no particular order, here are seven songs sure to get your infant to sleep and stay asleep! Best part is, you'll actually enjoy them!!! A break from the typical "lullaby"; by all means do with them what you like! Make a play list and keep it on repeat, pick one you feel works the best and stick to it...Whatever! Just give these a try, let them work their magic, and for goodness sake get some sleep!!! Oh, and I almost forgot...You're welcome;)
Mazzy Star: "Fade Into You"
Released in 1993, "Fade Into You" was the highest charting song off of the album:
So Tonight That I Might See
Enya: "Only Time"
First released in November, 2000...If this doesn't work, its quite possible nothing will!
Emma Burgess: "Your Love"
This one's for you! Emma Burgess is a singer songwriter whose amazing rendition of "Your Love" by The Outfielders will not only put your baby to sleep...but may even become your new favorite song!
The Cranberries: "Dreaming My Dreams (with you)"
Off their 1994 album No Need to Argue, "Dreaming My Dreams" is the perfect lullaby to send your little darling into Dreamland. (And, technically, the only "lullaby" on the list!)
Jeff Buckley: "Hallelujah"
Please DO NOT associate this masterpiece with American Idol or ANY one of the many popular talent shows on television. This iconic song was written by Leonard Cohen, performed by the beautiful Jeff Buckley who sadly, died shortly thereafter, in a drowning accident. He was 27.
Depeche Mode: "Somebody"
One of their more obscure songs, Depeche Mode changed things up a bit on this one with Martin Gore on lead vocals. ...Released in 1984 off of the album Some Great Reward and, in my opinion one of the darkest love songs ever written, this haunting tune works every time! And for Heaven's sake...Its Depeche Mode!!!
The Beatles: "Yesterday"
No explanation necessary...
I also highly recommend Radiohead: "Fake Plastic Trees" but for alliterative purposes am determined to keep my list at Seven!!!
Good Night...And Sweet Dreams! xo
