Tips for a happy baby « Back to Group Discussions

[Sunshine_Amy]

I thought I'd share some of my favorite tips for keeping baby happy and getting good sleep in the early months, and invite others to share theirs!

My husband and I loved the DVD "The Happiest Baby on the Block", and I always buy it for pregnant friends. He gives "5 S's" for how to sooth a crying baby, most of which mimic the environment of the womb, to send fussy baby into instant, womb-like bliss state.  It's totally worth renting, buying...libraries often have it!  UPDATE: scroll down, Choco Mom has linked to this DVD, you can watch it on YouTube!!  

The three S's that we used the most were:

• Swinging: movements that get the head to jiggle will lull them. Nothing beats the foot-activated bouncy seat!!  Best soother ever, and she'd lull right to sleep and took most of her naps in it!
• Swaddling!!  We loved the velcro-closed swaddles (like SwaddleMe) that bind the arms, and let you change the diaper without unswaddling. My girl would often sleep through night time diaper changes with this, and as Dr. Karp said in the DVD, she'd generally sleep an additional 2 hours when swaddled!
• Shhhh-ing: anything that reproduces a loud, womb-mimicking sound, whether verbal or electronic. We would loudly "Shhh" in her ear to sooth her when awake, and found an ambient sound noise maker to be a  great investment for bed-time.

(The other 2 S's, for those curious:

• Side position: This is a trick he demonstrates in the video. It does work, but it's far easier to see than to describe here. You hold them on their side, leaning very slightly forward.
• Sucking: giving a finger or pacifier to suck on, to sooth.)

The last tip I want to share, which I got from other moms, is to avoid eating gassy foods (onions, broccoli, beans, cabbage...) early on, because they give the baby gas pains, which can be the cause of crying and fussing (hours after you've eaten and nursed).  I did find the above methods very effective in getting my girl out of such fussiness, but she slept so much better at night when I avoided the gassy foods, that it was worth the effort.  I was getting 4 hour stretches of sleep in the first month, between the swaddling and the gas-avoiding tips!  

How about you all... Any favorite tips for baby care? For good sleep in the early weeks?

Edited by Sunshine_Amy - 1/24/13 at 5:40am

[Chloe'sMama]

Not really advice, but I had super low expectations for sleep... I knew I would be waking often. I am glad I didn't expect much because friends of mine that thought their 2,3,4.5 month old should be sleeping 4 or more hours straight were so stressed and doing sleep training or scion and I felt fine and little resentment about it. I really like to see what works best for my babe. Co-sleeping made night nursing very easy and my babies always would fall right back to sleep.

[loveandgarbage]

I'm also a fan of the 5 S's, especially swaddling, co-sleeping, and avoiding gassy foods. Other than that baby wearing I guess?

[Cat77]

I borrowed the book from my local library and found it very helpful! Just wanted to share this in case anyone can't find the book/afford the DVD, or like me want a version for a very time-poor DH:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvaaYXz6IuU

[LadyCatherine185]

I also have very low sleep expectations.. lol. My first two didn't sleep longer than an hour at a time until they were older... like 18 months? We also went through months of 15-30 minute stretches at night. Thankfully in the last few months, they both miraculously started sleeping through the night several nights a week (they are 4 yo and 2 yo).

They both did have colic/reflux/food allergies (dairy being the biggest issue with both of them), and pretty sure DS2 had "leaky gut" from a partial round of antibiotics at 3 months old (I had the Flu, DH had pneumonia, and both kids got RSV and double ear infections.... February was a VERY long month that year!) and he had a lot of issues with foods I ate for a long time. This time, I gave up 90% of my dairy intake at 38 weeks (just started this week) in hopes to avoid at least some of the gut issues. I'm still having butter, and cream in my morning coffee (neither of which have protien, which is what they say the baby reacts to), but other than that, no dairy until DS3 is older and I will slowly introduce it.

The only thing that saved me was cosleeping and nursing laying down. White noise also seemed to help, at least with them not waking at every slight noise/movement. Every baby is different, and you have to find what works/helps them. Neither of mine would sleep in a swing or bouncy seat, and they both hated to be swaddled. ;)

[Sunshine_Amy]

Originally Posted by Choco Mom 

I borrowed the book from my local library and found it very helpful! Just wanted to share this in case anyone can't find the book/afford the DVD, or like me want a version for a very time-poor DH:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvaaYXz6IuU

Oh wow, ChocoMom, you found it on YouTube!!   Awesome!  

It's so amazing to see these chronically fussy, screaming babies become miraculously soothed with these simple 5 techniques.  I love Dr. Karp!

Catie, I'm sorry you've had such sleep difficulties with your first two. I know you're not complaining, but wow--my heart goes out to you!   I hope you find ways to get longer sleep duration early on with your third one. 

Edited by Sunshine_Amy - 1/24/13 at 5:55am

[LadyCatherine185]

thanks, it was definitely a rough time for us but I hardly remember it now. :) Thankfully they are both amazing kids and it was well worth it. :)

[HouseofPeace]

Originally Posted by Sunshine_Amy 

I thought I'd share some of my favorite tips for keeping baby happy and getting good sleep in the early months, and invite others to share theirs!

My husband and I loved the DVD "The Happiest Baby on the Block", and I always buy it for pregnant friends. He gives "5 S's" for how to sooth a crying baby, most of which mimic the environment of the womb, to send fussy baby into instant, womb-like bliss state.  It's totally worth renting, buying...libraries often have it!  UPDATE: scroll down, Choco Mom has linked to this DVD, you can watch it on YouTube!!  

The three S's that we used the most were:

• Swinging: movements that get the head to jiggle will lull them. Nothing beats the foot-activated bouncy seat!!  Best soother ever, and she'd lull right to sleep and took most of her naps in it!
• Swaddling!!  We loved the velcro-closed swaddles (like SwaddleMe) that bind the arms, and let you change the diaper without unswaddling. My girl would often sleep through night time diaper changes with this, and as Dr. Karp said in the DVD, she'd generally sleep an additional 2 hours when swaddled!
• Shhhh-ing: anything that reproduces a loud, womb-mimicking sound, whether verbal or electronic. We would loudly "Shhh" in her ear to sooth her when awake, and found an ambient sound noise maker to be a  great investment for bed-time.

(The other 2 S's, for those curious:

• Side position: This is a trick he demonstrates in the video. It does work, but it's far easier to see than to describe here. You hold them on their side, leaning very slightly forward.
• Sucking: giving a finger or pacifier to suck on, to sooth.)

The last tip I want to share, which I got from other moms, is to avoid eating gassy foods (onions, broccoli, beans, cabbage...) early on, because they give the baby gas pains, which can be the cause of crying and fussing (hours after you've eaten and nursed).  I did find the above methods very effective in getting my girl out of such fussiness, but she slept so much better at night when I avoided the gassy foods, that it was worth the effort.  I was getting 4 hour stretches of sleep in the first month, between the swaddling and the gas-avoiding tips!  

How about you all... Any favorite tips for baby care? For good sleep in the early weeks?

WOW!  love this list!  we totally use the first 3 religiously, and the 2nd two w/out even thinking.  my husband is the MASTER of the foot-activated bouncy.  he can even work and do whatever else while doing it.  i'm so impressed w/ his skills in this.  when i try and feed the baby again (what, you're awake?  more sucking) he usually tries this method to give me a break.

and i also avoid dairy during the first 6 months of nursing due to keeping the baby so much happier.  all of my babies did give me one 3-4 hour stretch in the night (BLISS) when they slept.  so amazing!

BABY-WEARING for sure- so Jean nailed that one.  

I've learned to live in a semi-wake state for much of the recovery process.  i don't even try to think or be a completely aware human, i kinda just join the baby in a hazy state of snuggle, eat, poop and sleep.  we both have some recovery to do!  

i wish i had something to add, but just enjoyed this list so much!

[Jenny01]

Originally Posted by Choco Mom 

I borrowed the book from my local library and found it very helpful! Just wanted to share this in case anyone can't find the book/afford the DVD, or like me want a version for a very time-poor DH:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvaaYXz6IuU

Thank you for posting that!!

[Cat77]

NP ladies