Shushing a baby to sleep: why it works and how to do it
A long, steady "shhh" is one of the oldest ways to calm a baby. It works best when it starts loud enough to be heard over the cry, then gets softer as your baby calms.
Why shushing works
A steady "shhh" sounds a lot like the constant whooshing a baby heard in the womb. Pediatrician Harvey Karp made shushing one of his well-known "5 S's" for calming newborns, alongside swaddling, side or stomach position while held, swinging and sucking. The idea is to give your baby something familiar to focus on instead of their own crying.
How to shush
- Get close to your baby's ear, but not right against it.
- Shush long and steady, one breath after another. Short, choppy shushes don't work as well.
- Match the cry at first. A quiet "shh" is lost under a loud cry. Start strong enough that your baby can hear it.
- Step it down as they calm. As the crying slows, make your shush softer and slower.
- Fade out. Once your baby is calm or asleep, let the sound trail off.
Most parents find it works even better combined with a swaddle and gentle rocking.
The problem with shushing at 3 a.m.
Shushing works, but it's tiring. Your voice gives out and you may be doing it several times a night. That's where a recording helps, as long as it follows the same pattern of rising, holding and softening, instead of blasting one level all night.
How Shushy does it
Shushy's signature sound is a soft, whispered shush with gentle breaths, closer to a parent's voice than to a harsh hiss. When it hears your baby cry, it brings the shush in softly and rises over about 15 seconds, like a parent leaning in. It holds while your baby settles, eases back to a low level, and fades out once things are quiet. Then it goes back to listening.
Keep it safe
- Your own shush close to the ear is fine for a short time. A speaker or phone should stay at least 2 m (7 ft) from the crib.
- Don't keep any recorded sound loud for long periods. About 50 dB at the baby's head is a good target.
- If your baby can't be calmed, has a fever, or cries in a way that worries you, call your pediatrician.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. If you're worried about your baby's sleep, hearing or health, talk to your pediatrician.
Sources
- NPR: interview with pediatrician Harvey Karp on calming crying babies
- Spencer JA et al. "White noise and sleep induction." Archives of Disease in Childhood, 1990
- Hugh SC et al. "Infant sleep machines and hazardous sound pressure levels." Pediatrics, 2014