THE 5 SECRET S’S TO SOOTHING BABIES
All babies cry and that’s a good thing. Or we wouldn’t know if our helpless infants were cold, hungry, lonely or in pain. Moms and dads have been encouraged to keep their chins up and wait until the baby grows out of it. But, that’s easier said than done! So, what are the secrets to soothing your baby and why are they so important.
The Basics of the 5 secret S’s Method for Soothing Babies, Swaddle, Side-Stomach Position, Shush, Swing, and Suck.
1. Swaddle
Swaddling recreates the snug packaging inside the womb and is the cornerstone of calming. It decreases startling and increases sleep. And, wrapped babies respond faster to the other 4 Secrets S’s and stay soothed longer because their arms can’t wriggle around. To swaddle correctly, wrap arms snug—straight at the side—but let the hips be loose and flexed. Use a large square blanket, but don’t overheat, cover your baby’s head or allow unravelling. Note: Babies shouldn’t be swaddled all day, just during fussing and sleep.
2. Side or Stomach Position
The back is the only safe position for sleeping, but it’s the worst position for calming fussiness. You can activate this secret soothing tip by holding a baby on her side, on her stomach or over your shoulder. You’ll see your baby mellow in no time.
3. Shush not
Contrary to myth, babies don’t need total silence to sleep. In the womb, the sound of the blood flow is a shush louder than a vacuum cleaner! But, not all white noise is created equal. Hissy fans and ocean sounds often fail because they lack the womb’s rumbly quality. The best way to imitate these magic sounds is white noise.
4. Swing
Life in the womb is very jiggly. While slow rocking is fine for keeping quiet babies calm, you need to use fast, tiny motions to soothe a crying infant. Always support the head/neck, keep your motions small; and move a little back and forth. (For the safety of your infant, never, ever shake your baby in anger or frustration.)
5. Suck
Sucking is “the icing on the cake” of calming. Many fussy babies relax into a deep tranquility when they suck. Many babies calm easier with a pacifier. Bouncers and rockers are great way to help calm your baby and free up your hands, check out our range of entertainers.