How to Rock Your Baby

Author:Erin Bried
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hachette Books

• You may not win any Grammys, but that’s not the point. Singing softly, whatever the song, is. And luckily, he can’t yet understand the words, so the pressure’s off to come up with brilliant lyrics.

Make Peace

“You know that saying ‘Put your own air mask on before you put on theirs?’ Well, when we get ourselves calm, that’s when the baby starts getting calm.”

—ROSEMARY GIUNTA

HOW TO SOOTHE A CRYING BABY

Step 1: Pick her up. If your baby starts fussing, she may simply want you. Cuddle her in your arms, rock her, or even strap her on in a baby carrier. Feeling your touch, smelling your skin, and hearing your heartbeat could be all it takes to calm her. However, if it’s not, don’t worry. It’s not because you’re a lousy parent; it’s because she’s simply trying to tell you something and doesn’t have the words for it. You’re doing fine. Just run down the checklist step by step, and you’ll both feel better in no time.

Step 2: Check her diaper. Nobody likes sitting in wet (or worse, poopy) pants, and crying is one of the only ways your little peach can tell you so. If it’s dirty, yeah, you know what to do.

Step 3: Burp her. Gas is often a likely culprit, so rub her back in an upward motion or give it some gentle pats. (For more tips on burping, see page 87.) Oftentimes, she’ll let one rip and then immediately quiet down. If you suspect the gas is traveling downward, help her toot it out by laying her down on her back and bicycling her legs. (For more ideas on calming a gassy baby, see page 93.) If you think she just has an upset tummy, hold her facedown, or on her left side, across your forearm, to help aid her digestion.

Step 4: Check her skin. Babies will fuss if they’re either too warm or too chilly. Are her fingers and toes ice cubes? Is her forehead moist with sweat? Add or remove a layer accordingly.

Step 5: Assess her environment. She could be overstimulated, especially if her three-year-old cousin, who just happens to love, love, love babies, is all up in her grill. If that’s the case, take your baby into a quiet room and let her have some space and downtime. Or, conversely, she could be understimulated. If you suspect she’s bored out of her mind, talk to her, play with her, read her a book, or give her a toy. Finally, she may just be in need of a dose of fresh air. Take her for a short walk, even if it’s to the end of the driveway. The change of scenery may be all she needs.

Step 6: Check if she’s hungry. If you missed all of her early cues—smacking her lips, chomping on her fingers, opening her mouth, and looking for boob or bottle—she’ll give you a signal you cannot ignore. Crying is her last-ditch way of telling you she’s hungry, so offer her something to eat.

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