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The Calming Reflex: Nature’s Automatic Shut-off Switch
for a Baby’s Crying
I believe once our ancestors began living in villages and cities, they
forgot that, since the Stone Age, babies were almost constantly jiggled
and wiggled as their moms walked up and down the mountains. Sadly,
many babies deprived of these comforting movements began to startle
and cry at every disturbance. I’m afraid that in order to explain that
crying, modern parents began to mistakenly think that babies were so
fragile they could only tolerate quiet sounds and gentle motion.
This new attitude undermined their confidence in triggering the
calming reflex, because as you are about to learn it can be activated only
by vigorous actions—especially in very fussy babies. Gradually, this
ancient calming tool was forgotten.
As you will recall, reflexes require specific triggers. The triggers for
your baby’s calming reflex are the sensations he felt in the uterus. It is
my belief that this precious reflex came about not as a way of soothing
upset infants but rather as a way of soothing upset fetuses!
This vital response saved countless numbers of mothers and unborn
babies by keeping fetuses entranced so that they wouldn’t thrash around

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and kink their umbilical cords or get wedged into a position that made
delivery impossible. How brilliant of Mother Nature to design this
critical, lifesaving response to be automatically activated by the
sensations fetuses are naturally surrounded by.
Not only are the rhythms of the uterus profoundly calming to babies,
they’re also comforting to adults. Think of how you’re affected by
hearing the ocean, rocking in a hammock, and cuddling in a warm bed.
However, while we merely enjoy these sensations, our babies need them
—and fussy babies need them desperately.
So if you’ve tried feeding, burping, and diaper changing and your
baby is still yelling himself hoarse, it’s time to try soothing him this
“old” new way.