WATCH ABOVE: The Rabbit Who Wants To Fall Asleep has topped the Amazon charts for promising to help children go to sleep, and the psychologist author says it’s different than hypnosis. Peter Kim reports.
TORONTO — Behavioural psychologist and author Carl-Johan Forssen Ehrlin says he spontaneously came up with the idea for a book to help children fall asleep, and began developing it by scrawling notes on the back of a napkin.
“I get the child connected to a story of a rabbit who’s going to sleep, so the child will connect and pick up the same emotions and the relaxation to fall asleep,” said Ehrlin.
“The Rabbit Who Wants To Fall Asleep” has been a hit on Amazon and Erhlin says he’s received positive feedback from many parents who’ve been struggling for years.
“Parents who have struggled for many hours each evening, then they try this book and the child falls asleep in minutes sometimes,” he said.
Practically speaking the book asks you to yawn at certain points of the story with the hopes this will influence your child to do the same.
“If I yawn, you’re going to yawn and everyone is going to yawn,” said sleep doula Tracey Ruiz.
“I think it has its advantages. It’s using some hypnotic suggestions. I think the best way to use that book is through an audio download.”
The story also asks readers enunciate in a slow, calming tone and emphasize key words that are italicized.
“I’m not going to lie; it is a challenge,” said mother Khemba McKenzie.
Parents could relate to the difficulties of getting their children to bed and seemed open to the idea of using some tricks of the trade to help with the task.
“If I had other strategies for helping me put him to sleep I wouldn’t mind,” said McKenzie.
The book is 26 pages long and has pictures which aren’t meant to be viewed by the child.
It’s been translated into seven languages and is the first instance of a self-published work topping the Amazon charts.
Ruiz says there’s no harm in using hypnotic techniques in this way, and the book would be most effective as part of a regular bedtime routine for children.
“You know, stopping their screen time half an hour beforehand. Coming upstairs, having a bath and getting their pajamas on,” she said.
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