Raise your hand if you’re a parent of a baby or toddler who turns bedtime into a nightly circus. If you were to visit my home on any given evening, you’d find me teetering on the edge of a breakdown, trying everything from gentle shushing to reading, singing, rocking, pleading, and bribing just to coax my children to sleep. It’s a long, grueling process and might just be the reason for my premature gray hairs. And I know I’m not alone in this struggle. According to the National Sleep Foundation, toddlers and preschoolers require a solid 11 to 13 hours of sleep each night. But getting them to that point? Good luck, right?
Putting kids to bed is one of the most challenging aspects of parenting. We feel immense pressure to ensure our little ones get the rest they need for their growing bodies and developing brains. But let’s be real—we also just want our kids to go to sleep so we can enjoy a moment of peace, am I right?
Enter Science
Neuroscientists and researchers from Mindlab International, Marconi Union, and the British Academy of Sound Therapy joined forces to create what they believe is the ultimate relaxing song. The outcome was a track titled “Weightless,” released in 2011. But they didn’t stop there—they also produced a playlist of what they claim are the world’s most sleep-inducing melodies, which you can check out here.
So what does this mean for parents? Well, with its deep bass sounds and heartbeat-like rhythms, “Weightless” might just have the power to lull your child to sleep.
But does it really work? I gave the song a listen and came to a few conclusions. First, it kind of sounds like that ’90s hit by Enigma—remember that? I’m pretty sure it was an anthem for half my high school when they first tried *that* experience. Second, it’s pretty darn boring—exactly what you need to relax a child to the point of slumber. And third, I’m actually starting to yawn, which is a good sign.
Next up were my kids. We queued up the track on YouTube, dimmed the lights, and tucked them in. They were chattering and giggling, clearly not in the mood to be hypnotized into sleep, but if science says it works, I’m game to give it a shot.
The song runs about eight minutes and relies heavily on nature-inspired sounds at a slow pace. After reminding my kids to be quiet and listen carefully for the heartbeat and gentle wind sounds, they too started to yawn. All signs pointed toward sleep—thank you, science!
The accompanying video is also somewhat soporific, honestly. I’m not sure I can stay awake long enough to watch it all the way through. It features a mystical lake with something resembling a pigeon Patronus drifting around in slow motion. No kid can possibly stay awake for this—at least, that’s the hope.
If these claims sound familiar, it’s because every few months, an expert comes out with a supposed miracle solution to get kids to sleep. Remember that bestselling book that claimed to put even the most restless little ones to bed? Yep, me too. I also remember it didn’t work.
So, how did my kids fare? After about 20 minutes of enforced quiet while listening to this incredibly dull track, they actually fell asleep. Did I really need a song to achieve boredom? How much of this was due to the scientific elements and how much was just pure monotony is up for debate. Science is great at many things, but putting kids to sleep might be a miss. Tired kids avoid science just like they avoid bedtime.
Desperate times call for desperate measures, though. I’ll try anything. So will you.
For more insights on parenting and related topics, check out this guide on home insemination kits and explore valuable resources such as this one on female infertility.
Summary
Scientists have created the relaxing song “Weightless” with the hope of helping children fall asleep. The track, with its calming sounds, has shown some effectiveness in putting kids to bed—though parents may still need a touch of patience. Ultimately, it’s a mix of science and boredom that might just do the trick.