Hello!

May 7, 2025

19 Comment

When it comes to getting a baby to sleep, many of us would try literally anything for a few extra hours of shut-eye. And thanks to TikTok, mum groups, and some slightly unhinged midnight Google sessions, we’ve come across some seriously strange sleep hacks.

From sticking butter on a spoon to flipping your baby like a pancake, these tricks sound completely wild, but thousands of exhausted parents are saying they actually work. Are they witchcraft? Mum magic? Or just a sleep-deprived fever dream?

Let’s take a look at the six most viral baby sleep tricks we’ve come across.


The Butter Hack

Feeding baby butter to help sleep through the night

Mums on TikTok swear that giving their babies a spoonful of butter before bedtime helps them sleep through the night. The idea is that the fat keeps baby’s tummy fuller for longer, so they’re less likely to wake from hunger.

Parents online are divided, some call it a miracle, others are not so sure. If you’re tempted, definitely chat to your GP or child health nurse first.

Read more about the butter baby sleep hack


Psychic Limes

lime in kids rooms

This one comes straight out of the “you can’t make this up” file. A psychic medium claimed that placing limes under a child’s cot helps them sleep peacefully through the night.

According to Aussie medium Jessica Lynne, the citrus fruit absorbs bad energy and creates a calming sleep environment. Weird? Yes. But hey, some mums say it actually worked. Bonus: your nursery will smell amazing.

Check out the lime baby sleep tip here


The Flip Trick

baby flip sleep through the night

This method looks chaotic but has gone viral for a reason. A mum shared her baby-flipping routine that apparently resets her bub’s body and calms them instantly before bed.

She gently rolls the baby onto their belly, gives them a cuddle, then flips them back, like a little bedtime reset button. Some swear it’s the key to longer sleeps. Others… are still confused.

Watch the baby flipping sleep hack here


The Egg in a Sock

Technically this one’s more about teething, but since teething = sleepless nights, we’re including it. This clever mum places a hard-boiled egg inside a sock and hangs it above the baby’s cot.

The theory centres around absorbing carbon dioxide. Strange? Yep. But parents are loving how it chills out cranky, sore little ones before sleep.

See how the egg sock hack works here


The Magic Hold

Magic baby hold

A nurse revealed her ‘magic hold’ for calming babies in under a minute, and it’s seriously impressive. The technique involves a specific arm placement and gentle movements to instantly relax a crying or overtired bub.

Parents say it’s like watching a baby turn off like a switch. Definitely one to have up your sleeve for those witching hour meltdowns.

Learn the magic baby sleep hold here


The Sleep Song

song to get baby to sleep

Desperate times call for lullabies. A specific song on YouTube has gone viral for its sleep-inducing powers, and mums everywhere are adding it to their nightly routine.

It’s soothing, repetitive, and apparently works like magic. Some babies drift off before the second verse. Others? Still vibing to The Wiggles. But it’s worth a try!

Try the sleep song here


So… Should You Try These Baby Sleep Hacks?

We’ll say this: desperate mums have tried stranger things. Whether you go full psychic lime mode or just test out the sleep song, these viral tricks might be worth a shot, especially if you’ve tried everything else.

Just remember: every baby is different, and what works for one might not work for another. Always chat to a healthcare professional before trying anything totally out there.

Got your own weird-but-wonderful sleep hack? Drop it in the comments. We’re all ears (and eye bags).

  • Of course when we are sleep deprived we will do anything for our babies to sleep for sure ! But the most important tip hidden in this article is that we should seek professional advise. Your child and medical health nurse, General Practitioner or Paediatrician should be the first to go to and they have a wealth of experience and advise.

    Reply

  • If you have a baby that wont sleep you will be happy to try anything and everything in order to get them to sleep so that you can sleep also.
    I wonder if the truth behind this is that Mums relax more thinking that this trick will work so it does

    Reply

  • Yes sleep is important for everyone, for the baby and everyone else in the house, especially the mum when she is the main care taker as sleep deprivation impacts your immune system, your mood and flexibility and takes a toll on your body too. It’s most important for mum’s to ask for help and seek professional advise for their babies.

    Reply

  • When one is so terribly sleep deprived after having had a baby, any and every hack should be tried and whatever works should be the norm. Not only is mum sleep-deprived, but so is bubs and this in turn makes the bubs fretful and even worse to get to go off to sleep. Thanks for sharing these tips and one hopes one of them will work for you.

    Reply

  • No I haven’t tried any of these sleep hacks on my children. There is no research that proof that these work and I would not consider these, except holding the baby on their belly and using calming music and songs (but not the specific song they refer to in this article)

    Reply

  • I never tried any of these – I don’t recall hearing them when my kids were very small – but I agree that sometimes you’ll try almost anyting to get your baby to sleep! I’m not convinced by any of these but at least they don’t sound like they’d do much harm.

    Reply

  • Well, there are certainly some very different ideas out there. I wonder how they come up with these things in the first place. I am sure that we all get desperate enough at some stage to try them. I am not at all keen on the butter one. Not a safe way to find out your child has a dairy allergy.

    Reply

  • It is an interesting article to read and I do hope that parents that are experiencing sleep difficulties with babies and toddlers seek professional support. It is important for parents to receive appropriate support and strategies from a professional. Sleep deprivation can be incredibly hard on babies, toddlers and parents.

    Reply

  • I think the only two on there that seemed viable was the special hold the nurse was showing and also maybe the song, although I am sceptical that would work for everyone- babies would have different tastes in music too right? The butter hack seems downright dangerous and could lead to obesity and the limes is just cray cray!

    Reply

  • Yes I agree, it is also important to consider the age of the baby as babies certainly shouldn’t have butter before they are six months old. It it also important to introduce butter gradually and in moderation as some babies may have a intolerance or allergy for diary products. I would also look at the salt content in butter

    Reply

  • Sleep is such a game changer and deal breaker, isnt it? I guess especially when it’s night after night, we’ll consider any suggestion no matter how wacky-sounding. Some seem a bit bonkers, but so long as they are safe, where is the harm. A sleep-deprived parent is enough of a hazard.

    Reply

  • I can remember being so sleep deprived i might have tried any of these except maybe the butter one. Don’t think giving a baby butter is ideal. I can understand it filling up their tummies but surely something like avocado would beva better option? Although under 6 months i wouldn’t try either.

    Reply

  • I can understand the special hold and the sleep song working. The others are a little out there but if they work that’s great.

    Reply

  • Each to their own, if it’s working for them, great but personally I think some of these are just a bit too far fetched. Each child is different so if something you are doing is working that’s fantastic. You have to try everything if you have a child that doesn’t sleep.

    Reply

  • Some of these are strange to me and certainly not something I have done or would ever do. But the magic hold doesn’t sound so strange to me and in fact many of our babies prefer a certain hold. And the lullabies are not strange either as we all know that sounds can be soothing and impact our nervous system.

    Reply

  • The egg and lime hacks are so bonkers. Love it for the mums and bubs it works for, there are times j think we would all give in to some magic and sorcery if it meant bub would settle. I like the butter idea only because I like getting extra fats in to my little guy. For me it’s 4 story time books, a red light machine with music playing (cannot wait to post my review of the latest machine I’ve been lucky enough to try, it should be given to every mum as they leave the hospital!!) and getting some play in right before bed

    Reply

  • Ive heard a few of these hacks before on social media but i cant say ive ever tried them though. But hey, if it works for you, then great! With our second we went straight to sleep training as soon as we could after a few months and that made the biggest difference.

    Reply

  • Some of these ideas are flat out ridiculous. Some more harmful than others. Like, I would never give a child a spoonful of butter! But lines under a cot, I’d try that, sure.
    Some of these hacks are intriguing though. I think the ‘flip trick’ in particular may have some scientific evidence to back it, being that motion like rocking, swinging has been associated with settling the nervous system.
    It’s a journey… We all take different steps.

    Reply

  • Mine was just to sing for my son any melody that comes to my mind.
    Other one was: I had to slightly half-lie down on him, holding his arms and tapping his shoulder or caressing his face and singing. I think he felt like he was still in the womb.

    Reply

Post a comment

To post a review/comment please join us or login so we can allocate your points.

↥ Back to top

Thanks For Your Star Rating!

Would you like to add a written rating or just a star rating?

Write A Rating Just A Star Rating
Join