Move a Sleeping Baby to Their Crib Without Waking, Thanks to This Hack

So you’ve finally managed to get baby to sleep after a mix of rocking, feeding and everything else under the sun. Now comes what should be the easy part: putting baby to bed. Unfortunately, it’s rarely that simple. For many parents, the moment they go to place baby in their bassinet or crib, their sleeping sweetheart instantly stirs, and the whole process has to start again. If you’re exhausted from the transfer cycle—and let’s face it, what parent isn’t—it might be time to try something new.

In a now-viral video, baby sleep consultant Alice Bloomfield shares a simple suggestion she often gives parents struggling with baby waking up during a transfer. No fancy routine or gadgets needed—Bloomfield simply suggests focusing on laying baby down feet first.

This slow and intentional motion can make all the difference in preventing baby’s startle reflex from being triggered, Bloomfield explains. The Moro Reflex, aka the baby startle reflex, is often activated when baby is startled by a sudden movement, loud noise or, in this case, a quick change of position—particularly if their head falls backward. The key to this hack lies in not only ensuring they’re feet first but, perhaps more importantly, in supporting baby’s head as you slowly roll them down feet, to bum, to stomach, to neck, to head. Throw in a good swaddle, and you’re on your way to a startle-free sleep.

In the comments, parents flocked to thank Bloomfield for her advice, lamented that it wasn’t shared with them sooner and even dropped their own tips. “This better work, I’m going to try it tonight,” wrote one mom. “This would have been useful information 8 years ago instead of sleep when the baby sleeps,” added another. “I just keep baby pressed to my chest and bend myself until they’re on the mattress and lift off them, and it works every time,” one mom advised.

Like all baby sleep hacks, one size doesn’t necessarily fit all. “Just tried it, he stared me dead in the face like ‘you better f not,’ so I picked him back up,” joked one parent. “My baby said, ‘nice try, but no dice bro,’ then proceeded to laugh at me,” added another dad. “You should always lay their feet first. And no, doesn’t work every time,” another summed up.

Looking for more sleep tips? Check out this guide to putting a drowsy baby down and these swaddle tips for a sleepy, startle-free baby.