Put Your Baby To Sleep

Sometimes, close relationships are forged under intense, emotionally distressing circumstances. And nothing illustrates distressing circumstances more than a father’s sleep deprivation and an infant’s middle-of-the-night wails of discontent. Yes gentlemen, you cannot forgo your responsibilities, which includes, but limited to, soothing a crying baby during the dead of night. The sole proprietorship cannot belong to your wife. Therefore, prepare yourself to man the night shift when the time beckons. And don’t wait until your honey asks for assistance; retrieve your little one during the first distress signals if possible. Soothing your baby in your arms will soon form an intimate bond of trust and protection. Prepare for restless nights that will most likely include: pacing & rocking, humming & singing, falling asleep in awkward positions with the dead weight of your little pinning you down, and feeling like you’re going to go crazy because your baby won’t stop crying. Gentlemen, it is a part of fatherhood, so here are few tips to keep in mind:

• At this young age, a baby only has one form of communication when upset – crying. So pack your patience and understanding. Ensure that you rest when you can, maintain a proper diet for peak energy, and clear your head of negative clutter. Shaken Baby Syndrome and other forms of abuse are real. If you are overwhelmed; walk away until you are calm and mentally prepared to tend to a crying child.
• Repetitive sounds can be helpful. Invest in a white noise machine. Make sure it is not too loud or too close to your baby. It may have an adverse effect regarding hearing. Lullaby toys or even a lullaby channel on YouTube can be helpful. If you’re near a laundry room, the sound of the washing machine can be mesmerizing as well. And then there is also smooth jazz music. Kenny G rescued me many a night.
• Your baby could have gas. The digestive system hasn’t fully developed, so painful gas bubbles could be trapped in his or her stomach. A soft pat on the back may help. With Ava, I would lay her down and perform little leg raises, pulling her knees towards her chest to help pass the gas. Another trick to help pass gas: Straddle your child belly down on the inside of your forearm; the child’s face should be in your palm. Gently massage or pat the back.
• If your baby is still a newborn, try swaddling your child. Make sure your nurse provides the proper instruction before you leave the hospital with your kid in tow. The key is to recreate the environment of the womb – nice and cozy. Don’t swaddle too tight, as there may be a risk of hip dysplasia.
  

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