Rock-a-Bye Baby (20 page)
Authors: Penny Warner
Parents often give their babies oil baths to relax them. Just add a little baby oil to the bathwater and massage him with the oily water.
Another popular technique is a leg cradle. The parent stretches out on the floor or couch, sets a pillow on top of her legs, places the baby on the pillow, and rocks her legs back and forth.
Mothers wrap their babies in towels and tie them to their backs, then walk around doing their chores while humming. (Just be sure the towel is secure, so the baby won't fall out!)
The Scots mix a little oatmeal gruel with honey to get Baby to sleep. (
NOTE
:
Today it's not recommended that children under the age of one have honey, because of the risk for botulism. So if you want to try this one, use oatmeal without the honey, or add a hint of sugar if you must
.)
Parents offer their babies buttermilk half an hour before bedtime to soothe their tummies for sleep.
In Chinese culture, parents pat their babies' backs and repeat the soothing sound “oho”softly.
Some parents put their babies in a cart called a
yaoche
, hold one end, and gently shake it.
Other mothers place their babies on their outstretched legs and rock the legs back and forth.
Chinese parents chop ginseng and orange peel, mix them with honey, and feed the mixture to baby to get her to sleep. (
NOTE
:
Today it's not recommended that children under the age of one have honey, because of the risk for botulism.)
Ancient Chinese wisdom recommends that parents use feng shui to help their babies sleep. You might find that a few small changes to the placement of your baby's furniture make all the difference
.
⢠For proper feng shui, have your baby sleep with her head pointing south.
⢠Place the bed so your baby can see the door, but not so she is directly across from it, or you may obstruct the smooth flow of chi. The best position for the bed is diagonal to the door, and her feet should be aimed in that direction.
⢠Avoid having your baby sleep under a window, to prevent a bad impact on her chi.
⢠Don't place pictures of water in the room; they cause insomnia and attract bad luck.
⢠Don't hang mirrors in the bedroom, because reflections disturb the healing process when your baby's body is at rest.
⢠The bed should not be placed under a beam, which can cause headaches and tension.
⢠Don't keep electronic items like TVs, music systems, or computers near the baby's bed. The electromagnetic radiation may disturb sleep, so unplug or cover them at night.
⢠Place an aromatherapy candle on a plate with flowers in water in the northeast corner of the room to ensure a good night's rest. (
NOTE
: Never leave a burning candle unattended.)
In the Buddhist tradition, parents lay their babies in the crib with their heads pointing south for a more refreshing sleep.
Native Americans wore their babies in baby boardsâflat boards made of compressed wood, beaded and decorated, and padded for comfort. Baby boards are traditional in most Indian cultures to provide security and protection for baby while he nods off to sleep. They've been used for centuries and are still in use today. Babies are wrapped and tied in, which simulates being held and cuddled. A donut shape is added for head support and to prevent the head from flattening.
Some add wild rosewood to protect the baby from bad spirits, and shells and beads fringe the board to create a soothing, quieting effect when baby is rocked.
In many countries, parents give their babies a few sips of warm tea with chamomile or mint and sugar to get baby to doze off.
In some cultures, parents lay the baby in a quiet area, open a window, or turn on a fan, and hang some wind chimes for the baby to listen to.
Many cultures rub baby's belly gently with warm olive oil to release gas buildup and calm her.
Often parents around the world, including in the United States, feed the baby cereal or fruit to help fill her up, hoping she will go to sleep when her tummy is full. While doctors believe this doesn't really work, some parents swear by it.
Some parents run water from the faucet so baby can hear it. As the water drips into a pot, the sounds change, lulling the baby to sleep.
If All Else Fails
