I Have Nipples Too!: Secret Sanity Tips from the early years of Baby

Some more of my secret sanity tips.

This time from the early years.

Tip #1

Sound Machine.

We found out about the benefits of having a sound machine next to your child the hard way.

When our daughter was born she was sent to NICU (neonatal intensive care unit), she wasn't a premie or anything like that. She was born with an issue. I'm not going to go into everything, but as a result she was having seizures and needed tests and she was monitored at the NICU for almost 2 weeks. To keep all the babies from crying at once, most if not all the babies had sound machines next to them. This cuts out distracting noise and allows for deeper, calmer sleeps.

These "Conair" sound machines have 10 settings everything from a heart beat to white noise to a flowing stream.

They are available at most stores: London Drugs, Wal-Mart, Superstore and are less than $25.

We continued to use it at home and bring it on vacations. It has been indispensable.

Best part? Child doesn't wake up for parties at your house!!

Tip #2:

Swaddling your baby. This is essential for a great night sleep for you (and your baby).

Benefits of swaddling your baby:

Babies sleep longer!! Your baby is used to being tightly snuggled in the womb, swaddling brings this comforted sensation back to your baby.

Less Crying! Free moving arms and legs cause the baby to wake up or startle. This upsets them and causes over stimulation. Babies cry to block out the stimuli. Swaddling cuts down on movement and stimuli resulting in less crying and unnecessarily waking up.

Fewer Scratches! Newborn babies are like "Wolverine" from the X-men! Their nails are extremely sharp and grow fast! When a baby is swaddled it is less likely to scratch it's own face and body.

How to properly swaddle your baby.

Thanks to the "Aden + Anais" website (http://www.adenandanais.com) for this simple step by step guide.

Aden & Anais are available in Canada with Free shipping from Babybot (http://babybot.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=aden+and+anais)

How to Swaddle Your Baby

STEP 1
Lay the swaddle in a diamond shape and fold the top corner down to form a triangle. Place your baby in the center of the folded area with their head just above the fold of the swaddle. Ensure that your baby’s shoulders are still below the fold.

STEP 2
Place your baby’s right arm slightly bent at the elbow flat against their body. Take the left side of the swaddle and bring it across your baby’s chest. Ensure their arm is securely under the fabric. Tuck the edge of the swaddle under their body to ensure a secure swaddle.

STEP 3
Fold the bottom of the swaddle up & over your baby’s feet.

STEP 4
Finally, place your baby’s left arm slightly bent at the elbow against their body, take the right side of the swaddle & bring it across your baby’s chest. Tuck the excess fabric underneath your baby to secure the swaddle.

Tip #3

If the baby is crying the baby is breathing.

I got this advice from a single parent mom who raised her child on their own from the age of 17.

What this advice means is that there are times when you are going to get stressed, you are going to get frustrated and there are going to be times when you don't know what to do.

If the baby is crying uncontrollably and you are getting in those can't figure what to do and stress is running high stages. Put the baby down safely in their crib and take a moment. Catch your breath and remind yourself that if the baby is crying the baby is breathing!!

(Also another tip for those nights is watching a video called: "Happiest Baby on the Block" which gives you tips to settle babies down and prevent those types of nights.

http://www.happiestbaby.com/

TIP #4

Read this book.

"Go the "F" to Sleep"