Self-soothing should not be confused with self-settling. These two are very different processes. Self-soothing is defined as the ability to regulate one’s emotions. A lot of children start developing this skill from about 6 months old and it continues to develop throughout childhood. You might notice your child doing certain, sometimes strange behaviours before going to sleep. This is their way of calming and relaxing as they prepare to nod off. Some of the behaviours that they might engage in are:

• Thumb sucking

One of the well-known methods of self-soothing is thumb-sucking. Sucking triggers the calming reflex. In the absence of a dummy, some children will find comfort in their thumbs or fingers.

• Fiddling

Some babies find comfort in fiddling with the material of their sleeping bags or PJs. If your baby is old enough for a lovey, you may notice they use it to chew, rub or stroke their face.

• Singing moaning crying

Some babies are very vocal, which means that they may make noises that sound like they are singing or they may moan or cry. This acts similar to a mantra which helps them release energy and relax.

• Body rocking, head rolling, head banging

These are some of the lesser-known and more unusual forms of self-soothing. They can also be quite confronting to witness. A lot of babies find the rhythmic motion of these activities very soothing. In most cases, they won’t be hurting themselves. But if you are ever concerned about your baby, talk with your GP.

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