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

How to Be the Best Cuddler on the Block
Although the Cuddle works better than anything else for calming colic,
it may not feel natural at first. Many new parents find it’s like riding a
bicycle; it initially seems complicated and intimidating. Some parents
give up after a few tries, thinking, This may work for some kids but our
baby hates it.
I certainly understand this frustration. It’s excruciating to try to quiet
your baby’s shrieking when everything you do seems to make it worse.
But, like riding a bicycle, once you get the hang of doing the Cuddle it’s
really a lot of fun. Soon you’ll feel like you’ve been doing it your entire
life.
And if the Cuddle isn’t working perfectly, it’s probably just because
you need a little technique tuneup. The most common reason this
ancient method fails is because it’s not being done properly. In fact,
incorrect swaddling, swinging, and shushing may even make your crying
baby more upset! So, like the song says, “If you’re gonna do it, do it
right, right.”

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Let’s recap the important pointers to get each of your “S’s” in gear:
Swaddling
Parents often abandon swaddling because their babies strain against it.
They misinterpret this struggling to mean, “Let me out. I hate this. It’s
unfair!” But please don’t give up on this crucial first step. To be
successful with wrapping, you must:
Keep your baby’s arms straight down at his sides.
With each fold of the swaddle, tuck and snug the blanket as
tightly as possible.
After swaddling, don’t allow the blanket to loosen and pop
back open.
Remember, swaddling is not meant to calm your baby! Its purpose is to
stop his flailing and to help him pay attention to the other “S’s,” which
will soothe him.
Side/Stomach Position
Lying on the back is fine when your baby is calm. But if he’s sensitive,
being rolled toward the back may upset the position sensors in his head
and trigger a “red alert,” making his crying even worse.
When your baby is on his side, keep him rolled at least a bit
toward his stomach. Some babies are so sensitive they will
have difficulty getting calm if they’re rolled even slightly
toward their backs.
Make sure your baby is not hungry. If he’s eager to eat,
holding him in a way that touches his cheek may trigger his
rooting reflex and make him think you’re offering food. You
can imagine how this could confuse and frustrate a famished
baby.

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Shhhhing
The shhhh sound is easy to make, and most parents find it natural to
do—softly. Therein lies the problem: Most parents shhhh too quietly and
too far from their baby’s ear.
Crank up the volume of your shhhh until it’s a bit louder than
your baby’s screams. Remember, the sounds in the womb are
louder than a vacuum cleaner and your infant’s ears naturally
muffle sound for the first few months.
If you’re using a machine to make white noise, place it one to
two feet from your baby’s head so it’s loud enough to trigger
the calming reflex.
Swinging
Gentle swinging may keep a quiet baby content, but it’s much too mild
for screaming babies. The most important tips for successful swinging
are:
Move your fussy baby in quick, teensy, shiverlike wiggles.
Slow, wide moves may keep a baby asleep, but they’re not
vigorous enough to calm a crying infant.
Support your baby’s head and neck, but hold his head a little
loosely so it can jiggle a little like Jell-O in your hands.