The Science Behind Rock-A-Bye-Baby

Dr. Richard A. Friedman, psychiatrist and New York Times contributing opinion writer, wrote about the neuroscience behind rocking a baby to sleep — and pointed out that research shows rocking works for adults too.

Is it the physical movement of rocking, or the repetitive sound waves of the lullaby, that induces sleep? It could be a combination of both.

Many years ago, I recall a friend in my dorm saying her mother used to gently draw zeroes on her forehead, which made her fall asleep almost instantaneously. It was the boring repetition that did it. I've tried this with both my kids — they only get mildly irritated.

I've personally experienced deep sleep on a hammock by the beach in bright daylight. It tells me there may be some truth behind this research.

Friedman writes in the Times about two 2019 studies (one in humans, one in mice) that found rocking caused subjects to fall asleep more quickly and increased their amount of slow-wave deep sleep — the phase associated with feeling refreshed and rested upon waking. They also experienced fewer periods of spontaneous arousal. This held true even for subjects who were already good sleepers. Rocking did not affect the duration of rapid eye movement or dream sleep.

One reader commented that he'd seen adult-size rocking beds in a Shaker village in New England — the Shakers evidently knew something about rest.

So the next time someone tells you rocking the baby is old-fashioned, you can tell them it's neuroscience. And given that poor sleep is linked to irritability, anxiety, and worse long-term health, a rocking chair might be the most underrated piece of furniture in the house.

This article is general information, not medical advice.