The Happiest Baby on the Block and The Happiest Toddler on the Block 2-Book Bundle pdfdrive com

Those who find that rhythmic rocking doesn’t work are
almost certainly rocking too slowly.
Penelope Leach, Your Baby and Child
For really fussy babies, the swaddle must be tight, the shhhh must be
harsh, and the swinging must be fast and jiggly. Remember, swinging
refers to all manner of rhythmic actions, from patting to car rides to
walking with your baby in a sling.
The three rules of successful swinging are:
1. Start Out Fast and Jiggly
Calming most frantic infants requires small, trembly
movements, like someone with the world’s biggest case of
shivers. This type of motion switches on the calming reflex
and makes your baby think, Wow … that feels really good!
Some babies also like the free-fall feeling their parents

---

give them when they suddenly dip or bend over. But be
careful. If your baby is sensitive, that motion may startle
him and set off his Moro reflex, upsetting him even more.
2. The Head Jiggles More Than the Body
A shimmying or shivering motion triggers your baby’s
calming reflex by switching on motion detectors … in his
head. That’s why it’s the movement of the head, and not
the body, that really turns the reflex on.
As you jiggle your baby, don’t cup your hands firmly
around his head. It’s critical that you allow your hands to
be a little open and relaxed so his head makes tiny wiggles,
like Jell-O quivering on a plate. If you hold his head too
snugly, it won’t wiggle and you probably won’t activate the
reflex.
3. Follow Your Baby’s Lead
How forceful should your jiggling be? The vigor of your
motion should reflect the level of your baby’s crying.
Gentle movements are fine for relaxed, sleepy infants, but
the more agitated your baby is, the faster and more jiggly
you need to be. Wait for his cries to lessen before you
reduce your pace. Then, the calmer he gets, the slower
your swinging can become.
Tamar and Dan realized they had to play “follow the leader” with
their baby: