A mum has shared the genius way she sends her baby to sleep in minutes.
Nicole Jackson, 28, sets up her son Louie’s buggy in front of the television and plays a video of a sunny park walk, allowing him to go on a virtual stroll without leaving the house.
Each time Nicole plays the video, the 18-month-old nods off in a few minutes without fail.
The mum and children’s photographer came up with the idea after struggling to get clingy baby Louie to settle for his mid-morning nap.
With little Louie going through a phase of demanding Nicole’s constant and undivided attention, the mum was struggling to do housework, get dressed, or even find time to shower.
On the tot’s more mischievous days, Nicole faced such a ‘battle’ to get them both ready and out of the house that the sun would have started to set and Louie would sleep through their outing.
Determined to find a solution, Nicole decided to try sending Louie on a virtual walk in the park and was left stunned when he fell asleep almost immediately – giving her time to shower, get dressed and even blow dry her hair.
Since then, Nicole uses the trick every day and says it has changed her life.
Nicole, of Basildon, Essex, said: “Louie is so clingy, he’s a nightmare. I cannot get anything done.
‘I have got no idea how these Instagram mums do it. They’ve showered, done their hair and makeup, got dressed, got their kid dressed and are out by 11am.
‘Some days I can’t get out the house at all and other days by the time I do get out the house, the sun is going in and Louie is fast asleep so has no idea we’ve even been out.
‘I have this constant battle trying to get ready. I love Mrs Hinch and I would watch her and think “how has she got her herself clean, her baby clean and her house clean?”.
‘I just couldn’t get the balance so one day I decided “it’s not going to be like this anymore” and I got up and got in the shower.
‘But I ended up with the TV remote, a fire engine and my slippers thrown in the shower with me thanks to Louie. It is awful, he just doesn’t leave me alone.
‘The weather was miserable and Louie won’t nap in his cot so I wheeled his new buggy into the living room and searched “sunny walk in the park” on YouTube.
‘I found this video of a nice slow walk around the park, got it on the TV and put Louie in his buggy. Summer vibes for him and a virtual walk in the park.
‘I went and made a cup of tea and by the time I came back, he was asleep. I couldn’t believe it. It felt like I had discovered this miracle.
‘I went and had a proper shower, blow dried my hair and by the time I was ready, Louie was awake and we went for a nice day out together.
‘We do it every day now, it’s how he goes down for his nap. It’s our little routine.’
Baby Louie used to go down for his naps with ease but since he started walking, all he wants to do is run around and play with him mum non-stop.
While Nicole loves to spend time with her son, she says her trick has helped give her time to do day-to-day tasks.
Louie watches the same video every day, but Nicole reckons the same trick would work with any video of a gentle stroll on a nice day.
Since using her naptime hack, Nicole and Louie haven’t only been going for more actual walks in the park but they’ve also joined more playgroups as they can finally make it out of the house in time.
Nicole said: ‘I absolutely love being a mum. It’s brilliant and Louie is brilliant. He’s doing really good.
‘He wants to play all the time and run around. And he wants me all the time. He’s always on the go. If I try to do anything while he’s awake, there’s no chance.
‘Being a first-time mum you do wonder how you are going to cope and get through all the things that need to be done in a day but having this little trick is helping.
‘People might wonder why not actually go for a walk in the park but we do go out to the park and now he’s actually awake to enjoy it and play.
‘We’ve managed to join loads of playgroups too. It’s really benefiting him. Plus when we get home now, he’s actually tired for the evening.
‘Before my mother-in-law would have to come over if I had any photo shoots but now I’m managing to get through a whole client and Louie is still sound asleep.
‘It’s helping my business and it’s given me some of my life back.’
Do you have a life-changing trick you fancy sharing? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.
MORE: Mum celebrates divorce by trashing her Alexander McQueen wedding dress with paint pistols
MORE: Mum spends over £10,000 on daughter’s seventh birthday party
source https://metro.co.uk/2020/02/01/mum-discovers-video-virtual-park-walk-sends-clingy-baby-sleep-minutes-12165002/
0 Comments