Authors: Penny Warner
Rock-a-Bye Baby (15 page)
Hang up colored lights around the room for a soothing atmosphere, instead of using a night-light.
âStefany M
.
Lightly spray a favorite blanket or shirt with the perfume you wear to make your baby think you're nearby.
âCarole P
.
I used a Winnie the Pooh ceiling projector to mesmerize our baby while he's lying on his back in the crib.
âAnne G
.
My baby would always scoot to the corner of the crib before falling asleep. I think having something to rest his head against made him feel like he was back in the womb.
âAnn P
.
I have cold hands, and that used to keep my baby from falling asleep. My mother-in-law told me to warm my hands first before I held him, and it worked. He “warmed” to my touch and fell asleep.
âCarole P
.
My baby would doze off during the first half of her feeding, so I would put her down, but then she'd wake up a short time later because she was still hungry. So I tried to keep her awake by playing with her hands, talking to her, etc., so she'd get a full feeding before becoming too drowsy.
âStaci M
.
I didn't realize that my baby became gassy when I ate certain foods (beans, to be exact). Since I was breast-feeding, these kept him from getting to sleep. When I finally figured out what was causing the problem and stopped eating those foods, he fell asleep much more easily.
âSue W
.
I thought I was supposed to warm the bottle for my baby, but one time when I couldn't and just gave it to him cold, he had much less tummy upset and therefore got to sleep better. Try changing the temperature of the milk (if you can) and see what happens.
âBarbara S
.
My doctor said that peppermint has an ingredient that helps relieve gas, and recommended that I give my baby warm, weak peppermint tea. It seemed to help a lot.
âJoAnne D
.
Try running your finger along the inside of the outer ear (not inside!) to put babies to sleep.
âBernadette G
.
Here are some things to do when you're up with your wide-awake baby in the middle of the night
.
⢠Watch an old movie.
⢠Read a book.
⢠Catch up on your magazine pile.
⢠Work off some of that baby weight by walking your baby or using the StairMaster.
⢠Chat on the phone with another middle-of-the-night mother or single friend who is likely to be up at that hour.
⢠Brainstorm new project ideas for your work or favorite hobby.
⢠Invest in TiVo so you can watch shows you don't get to see during regular broadcasts.
⢠Organize your iTunes playlists.
⢠Do a crossword puzzle.
⢠Make a list of tomorrow's plans.
⢠Work on a problem you're having.
⢠Read your e-mail.
⢠Text message friends.
⢠Write thank-you notes or letters.
⢠Plan your baby's future.
