The Oompa Loompa Method to Put Your Baby to Sleep

The Oompa Loompa method became famous by the parents who started it 5 years ago. Although many people use it to put their babies to sleep, consult your doctor before trying it at home.
The Oompa Loompa Method to Put Your Baby to Sleep

Last update: 15 November, 2018

The Oompa Loompa method is one of the most current methods for putting babies to sleep. As many parents point out, it can work perfectly.

Putting babies to sleep can be difficult, especially when they’re more energetic than normal. Different experts recommend different methods to make this task easier.

What is the Oompa Loompa method?

It’s normal for babies to sleep between 16 and 17 hours a day. Sometimes it’s not hard for them to fall asleep, but in other cases it can be a real challenge.

Within these hours, babies wake up many times. This means they can interrupt your normal sleep hours.

As time passes, babies start to regulate their own sleep, at around week 6. They also start to sleep for shorter periods during the day. Meanwhile, they start sleeping more at nighttime.

However, it’s important that parents know how to put their baby to sleep. In that sense, the Oompa Loompa technique is very helpful and effective.

This method isn’t very complex, and it’s not very scientific. Two parents invented it while trying to put their baby to sleep. They started rocking him on his knees. To their surprise, it worked perfectly.

The Oompa Loompa Method to Put Your Baby to Sleep

How to apply the Oompa Loompa method

This technique is very effective for babies who don’t fall asleep easily. As we mentioned earlier, it’s a fairly simple method.

Its inventors saw it for the first time in the movie “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” We’ll explain it step by step here:

  • First, place the baby on your knees. Rock him gently without making any sharp, sudden movements.
  • Then, when the baby is moving, start singing “Oompa Loompa, Oompa Loompa.”
  • Hold the baby under his arms with your thumbs in his armpits. Use the rest of your fingers to support his head to prevent it from shaking.
  • At the same time, move the baby up and down and side to side.

“The Oompa Loompa method is a relatively new technique. It was invented by parents who started using it five years ago.”

Does it really work to put babies to sleep?

When they noticed the effectiveness of this technique, the parents uploaded the video on YouTube. The success was tremendous! They managed to reach more than 7 million visits since they uploaded it.

Some claim that this technique didn’t work for them. However, others said it worked great. Expert Adolfo Gómez Papí, author of several parenting books, weighed in.

He posted on Facebook, “babies love this method because they feel safe and are moving. It’s just like when you rock them and they fall asleep.”

Although some specialists accept the Oompa Loompa method, not all do. Others, like Jodi Mindell, associate director of the Sleep Disorders Center at the Philadelphia Children’s Hospital are against it.

Mindell thinks it’s wrong to rock babies every night. She claims they’ll get used to it and won’t be able to sleep without it.

The Oompa Loompa Method to Put Your Baby to Sleep

The technique is in the movements

It’s important to emphasize that parents must be very gentle when rocking their baby. Consult your pediatrician before trying out this technique with your child. 

Although many parents use this method, all babies are different. It’s important to make sure that your baby won’t get hurt through this method.

As mentioned, you need to rock your baby softly and delicately. Be careful not to move them forcefully or abruptly. This is because babies’ brains are still soft and developing.

In addition, it’s important to hold your baby’s head properly. Otherwise, you risk injuring the brain. This is known as shaken baby syndrome.

In short, there are many techniques to help put your baby to sleep. Almost all of them are widely approved by experts in the field.

The Oompa Loompa method, although controversial, is one of them. However, don’t forget to consult your doctor before trying anything new.


This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.