The 'Silly Voice' Hack Can Put Toddlers to Sleep Fast; Expert Testifies It Works

A parenting expert shares this 'silly voice' hack to get toddlers to bed with just one warning, and parents already love it.

Every parent would testify to how difficult it can be to put a toddler to sleep, how they can be filled with so much energy at night when they are supposed to be tired of the whole day's activity and should already be crawling sleepily into their beds.

One parenting expert knows this sleeping challenge so well. Thus, she offers a solution.

Pediatric sleep specialist and CEO of Rocky Mountain Sleeping Baby, Kandra Becerra, posted a video on her TikTok account introducing parents to the "one warning system," which she testified to be the best way to get the kids ready for bed in no time. And the system needs parents to use a "silly voice" to be effective.

Put on a silly voice

Becerra gave parents step-by-step instructions on implementing the "one warning system."

Toddlers seem to be at their busiest when it is already their bedtime. They do not want to leave the bathtub or resist wearing their pajamas because they are running around and playing. When they are not listening to what their parents are instructing them to do, the certified sleep consultant wants the latter to talk calmly and nicely to the kids and tell them to either put on their pajamas or go to bed.

If they still resist and refuse to listen, the second step is to engage them in a fun and interesting way. This is where the silly voice enters. Parents should playfully ask bizarre questions using their silly voices to get the children's attention.

"Ask in a silly voice, try to be funny about it. Ask something like 'how do you think a puppy dog gets his pajamas on?' Whatever you think might be motivating," Becerra instructed in her two-minute video.

@rmsleepingbaby Toddler bedtime tips! #sleepconsultant #toddlerlife #fypage ♬ original sound - Rocky Mountain Sleeping Baby

Once they are engaged and happily interacting with the parents, it will be easier for the kids to follow instructions.

One warning - silence - follow through

However, if the silly voice does not work, it is time to do the "one warning system," where parents should now be firm in telling the kids that if they would still not listen and do what they are being asked to do, they will face a consequence, like losing storytime for that particular night.

After imposing the warning, parents are advised to sit in silence for five seconds. This will give the toddlers the time to process what the parents said. If they still do not follow the instruction after the silence, it is time for parents to follow through, which means doing what they said they would do and giving the children the consequence.

Three simple steps that will surely make an impact on the kids, Becerra said - give one warning, be silent for five seconds, and follow through with the consequence, Mirror reported.

The children will be upset. That is for sure. But parents should keep in mind that the point is not to upset them but to tell them they should listen to their parents because they mean business. It also tells the kids that they were handled with kindness and gentleness. However, they had their consequence because they did not listen despite the number of times they were told and despite the one warning.

The sleep expert further said parents would have a hard time in the first few nights, but she encouraged them to persist as children will start to listen after a while because they would not want to miss another bedtime story or face another consequence.