I don’t understand why anyone would describe helping their child to fall asleep as “putting him/her down.”  It sounds like their child is being euthanized.  Isn’t that how we describe someone euthanizing their pet, “putting them down?”

It kind of creeps me out when I hear it.  I avoid saying this, opting for phrases such as “lay her down to sleep,” or simply, “she finally took a nap.”

Originally written June 12, 2013.

UPDATE October 21, 2013

Since I last wrote this some four months ago, I am less judgmental about people using this phrase, because I have caught myself using it. 

During times when I tried to get Polina to go to sleep and she wouldn’t, and then she finally, after numerous attempts, did go to sleep, I have said, “I tried to put her down several times” and “She finally went down at…”  My use of this phrase is tied to my feelings of desperation at the time I am describing it.

I still prefer not to use it.