- Turn on some white noise. The womb was a very noisy place. Remember the sounds you heard on the Doppler stethoscope? Not so long ago, your baby heard those 24 hours a day. Therefore, your baby sometimes can be calmed by "white noise" - that is, noise that is continuous and uniform, such as that of a heartbeat, the rain, static between radio stations, and your vacuum cleaner. Some alarm clocks even have a white noise function.
- Let music soothe your baby. Soft, peaceful music is a wonderful baby calmer. That's why lullabies have been passed down through the ages. You don't have to be a professional singer to provide your baby with a song; your baby loves to hear your voice. In addition to your own songs, babies usually love to hear any kind of music. Experiment with different types of tunes, since babies have their own favorites that can range from jazz to country to classical, and even rock and rap.
- Swaddle your baby. During the first three or four months of life, many babies feel comforted if you can re-create the tightly contained sensation they enjoyed in the womb..
- Massage your baby. Babies love to be touched and stroked, so a massage is a wonderful way to calm a fussy baby. A variation of massage is the baby pat; many babies love a gentle, rhythmic pat on their backs or bottoms.
- Let your baby have something to suck on. The most natural pacifier is mother's breast, but when that isn't an option, a bottle, pacifier, Baby's own fingers, a teething toy, or Daddy's pinkie can work wonders as a means of comfort.
- Distract your baby. Sometimes a new activity or change of scenery - maybe a walk outside, or a dance with a song, or a splashy bath - can be very helpful in turning a fussy baby into a happy one.
Reading your baby's body language
Many times, you can avoid the crying altogether by responding
right away to your baby's earliest signals of need, such as
fussing, stiffening her body, or rooting for the breast. As you
get to know your baby and learn her signals, determining what
she needs will become easier for you - even before she
cries.
About the author: Elizabeth Pantley is the author of
several books, including
Gentle Baby Care : No-cry, No-fuss, No-worry -
Essential Tips for Raising Your Baby,
The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help
Your Baby Sleep Through the Night,
TARGET="_new">Kid Cooperation (with an introduction by
William Sears, MD),
HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0809228475/sheknowscom03-20"
TARGET="_new">Perfect Parenting, as well as her latest
The No-Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers and
Preschoolers and is also president of Better Beginnings,
Inc. She is a popular speaker on family issues, and her
newsletter, Parent Tips, is seen in schools nationwide. She
appears as a regular radio show guest, and has been quoted in
Parents, Parenting, Redbook, Good Housekeeping, American
Baby, Working Mother, and
Woman's Day magazines. Visit Elizabeth's web site
http://www.pantley.com/elizabeth.
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