Recommended age for technique:
From birth and up.

Description of technique:
Children of all ages benefit from having time to relax before naptime and bed. Infants, toddlers and pre-schoolers often become overstimulated and restless, making it difficult for them to get down to the business of sleep. It? important to minimize stimulating activities before you expect your child to take a nap or go to bed. By introducing a ?wind-down time? parents can help their children fall asleep more easily. For infants, this could mean singing a lullaby or gently rubbing their backs as you hold them before you put them in their crib. An older child may enjoy reading a story or listening to some mellow music after a warm bath.

Other comments or suggestions:
How you choose to help your child wind-down and the amount of time they?l need will depend on the age of your child as well as her temperament. For example, you can expect that it will only take a few minutes to calm an infant who is ready for a nap compared to the amount of time it may take a toddler to settle down. It? also interesting to note that at about nine months, babies develop the ability to fight sleep. Learning to recognize signs that your child is tired will help prevent her from becoming overstimulated.