My favorite tips for soothing a "FUSSY" baby

Both of my children were what most would call a "fussy" or "colicky" babies. As one of my favorite parenting resources, Dr. Sears, puts it... I have been blessed with "high needs" children. LOL. I would like to share some of my favorite tricks and tips that I have found that worked for us!

• Breastfeeding on demand: Whilst very time consuming for Mommy, and sometimes tiring, I've found that offering the breast at every sign of fussiness really helps! It doesn't always work... But most breastfed babies find that comfort nursing is very, well... comforting! :)

• Babywearing: The best thing my husband every gave me, was my Moby Wrap! I swear, I could not live without it! There are so many proven benefits to babywearing! If you don't believe me... Try wearing your baby for a day and see how much happier he/she is! Not to mention that you can get so much more done with two free hands! You can even nurse with baby in a sling!

• Swaddling: With my first child, swaddling was something that I hadn't really figured out. Nowadays, they make most blankets too small for swaddling any baby over 7lbs! Ha ha. With my second baby, I am a pro! My favorite blankets for swaddling are sold at Target by Aden and Anais. They are really big, and a really thin, woven, cotton so baby doesn't get too overheated.

• Sleep Sharing: I found that with both my kids, I get much more sleep with baby in the bed with me. The second they stir, I have a breast ready and waiting! Much faster and easier for getting them right back to sleep! And "high needs" babies seem to do better when they know Mommy is close. Please see my post on SAFE sleep sharing!

• Reflux: Some babies who are fussy are simply suffering from reflux. Reflux babies don't like to lie flat, so try some of the tips that most of the parenting guru's recommend... 

1.  Make sure you properly position your baby during feedings, with their head elevated. This can sometimes be tricky while nursing. I found that using the "football" hold was helpful for this. If your baby does indeed suffer from reflux you may want to avoid a "side lying" hold as it is more difficult to prop baby's head. If you share sleep with baby and find it easier to use this position to nurse for nighttime feedings you may want to try propping your baby's head up on your arm (this takes some practice).
2.  Make sure you efficiently burp your baby after every feeding. Excess gas can make reflux worse for your baby!
3.  Hold your baby upright for 30 minutes after each and every feeding. This gives baby time to digest the milk beyond their stomach. In a baby under 6 months, the valve that seals the top of the stomach closed doesn't fully function yet, so the goal is keeping the milk down in baby's tummy!
4.  Invest in a Nap Nanny it is a great contraption! It is a piece of foam shaped into a baby sleeping device. It keeps baby's head elevated to a 30 degree angle, optimal for reflux baby's! Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions! It is only for use on the floor, not inside a crib or on elevated surfaces!

5.  If all else fails, try talking to your pediatrician about trying some medications for reflux. Both my kids spent some time on Zantac, which really helped!

• Routine: I found that with both my kids, trying to have some sort of a routine for them to rely on really helped. My daughter LOVES bath time. So I try to have a bedtime routine of playtime, bath time, massage, feeding... BED! She knows when we take a bath, sleep is not far off!

• Lay baby down when DROWSY, not when fully asleep! Starting at 6 weeks, you should make sure that you rock/nurse baby only until he/she is drowsy NOT when fully asleep. That way they learn how to fall asleep on their own. So they are not dependent on you every single time. It really works! For more sleep tips, you should really read "The No-Cry Sleep Solution" by Elizabeth Pantley. It's great!

SAFE Sleep Sharing

There has been a lot in the media lately about sleep sharing, formerly known as co-sleeping, that has cast a negative light on the issue. I fear that this negativity is taking something that many parents the world over practice, and outlawing it. Well you know what happens then? Parents are still doing it, but perhaps are doing it in an unsafe way! That is when terrible things happen. Instead, why don't we teach parents the SAFE way to share sleep with their infants?
I personally practiced sleep sharing with my son until he was 8 months old, and am currently sharing sleep with my 5 month old daughter. It is something that has worked well for our family and for many others as well. The only safe place to share sleep with your baby is in your bed! Not on your sofa, or couch. The bed should be free of fluffy bedding, pillows or anything else baby can become entangled in. Your clothing should also be free of any ties or strings baby could get entangled in. You should dress your baby warmly, but not too warm, keep in mind your body heat will also help to keep your baby warm. If your spouse is also in the bed, do not place baby in the middle! Dad's are not as physiologically in tune with baby as Mom's are and may roll over or thrash around too much. Same goes if you also share sleep with an older child (My 3 year old sleeps in the bed also from time to time). Never ever go to bed with your infant if you have been drinking or taking any medications that may alter your state of mind. That includes things like cough medicine that may make you drowsy. If you are a very heavy sleeper, you may want to consider a different sleeping arrangement.
The way I have slept with both my children is with myself laying on my side and my baby laying with their head in the crook of my arm. This is convenient for night time feedings and I always know where baby is during the night. A breastfeeding Mom is very connected with her baby and it has been proven that Mom's and baby's who share sleep on a regular basis tend to be on the same sleep cycle, entering light sleep at the same time so that when baby wakes, Mom is ready! It's quite incredible :) If it is possible, it helps to move your bed so that it is against the wall. That way you have: wall, baby, Mom, then Dad (if Dad still stays in the bed). You must however make certain that your mattress is flush with the wall so baby cannot get trapped in between. I have found that sharing sleep with my baby who is still young enough to need night time feedings enables both myself and baby to get more rest. I know the instant they stir so I can promptly respond instead of baby having to wake all the way up screaming before I realize what's going on. This means baby goes back to sleep more easily and I don't even have to get up and fully wake up myself in order to meet the needs of my baby.

Here is me and my first child, he was 2 months old:

For more information on safe sleep sharing please visit these links:

askdrsears.com - SAFE CO-SLEEPING
kellymom.com - The Family Bed