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For nine months your baby is nurtured in the ideal world of the womb. From this calm environment your baby emerges into a busy sensory world. Your baby’s brain acts like a sponge, absorbing all the new sensory information of the world outside the womb. In the early days, your baby is very susceptible to overstimulation, which can result in fussing and an unsettled baby who won’t sleep.
By keeping your baby’s world calm and mimicking the world of the womb, your baby will be calmer and the transition from womb to world will be a smooth one.
1. Sensory environment
Develop sensory eyes to read what may be causing your baby to be overstimulated, such as a loud and busy room or the smell of strong perfume. Remove your baby from the stimulus or simply move baby to a more calming environment.
2. Self soothing
Give your baby the space to develop his/her own self calming tools, such as sucking her hands or clasping them together.
3. Swaddling
Tightly wrapping your baby in a stretchy blanket has been proven to significantly calm young babies and help them sleep well.
4. Soothing touch
Baby massage is a fantastic tool for calming baby and it helps baby sleep well at night.
5. Sling or pouch
Movement is very calming for your baby. By mimicking the womb environment, you can soothe baby very effectively.
6. Sounds for calming
White noise (e.g. the sounds of waves or radio static) absorbs other sounds and is very calming for your baby. Lullabies and nature music help with calming and sleep.
7. Stick to one strategy for five minutes
The last thing an overstimulated baby needs is a lot of quick changes. Each intervention you use is a stimulus for a short time, until your baby gets used to it. So try any of the above strategies for at least five minutes before trying the next.
Want to know more? Book your spot at the 2014 Johnson’s Baby Sense Seminars. You’ll get some of the most up to date parenting and baby care information from some of South Africa’s best-loved experts.
For more information or to book online visit www.babysense.com/talks-and-workshops
