Total Serious Happy Thread

Ghoulish Delight · 02-25-2010, 11:05 AM

It's swaddling. It's something very very old that us advanced modern folks are just now relearning (fell out of favor in America around the time of the Revolution - wouldn't want to restrict your baby's freedom now would you?)

A lot of people think their baby hates it because, especially the first few times you do it, they seem to get pissed off while you're wrapping them up. But once you figure out how to do it, and combine it with a couple other things (get them in the right position, rock them just right, shush them in a white-noise sort of way), it can literally be like an off switch for an inconsolable baby. The working theory being that infants have a reflexive response to stay calm in womb-like conditions since throwing a fit in the womb would be generally bad. What's are womb-like conditions? Wrapped up tight, kinda lying on their side, jiggling around as mom moves, and the constant white-noise-like din (about as loud as a vacuum cleaner) of blood rushing around. Recreate that as closely as possible, and you have a calm baby.

Of course, "primitive" cultures, without the benefit of knowing WHY it works, figured that out all on their own. Wrap 'em in a papoose, strap 'em to your back so they bounce while you walk. It's been working for millennia.

Kevy Baby · 02-25-2010, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarTopDancer

Swaddling

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

It's swaddling.

They talked about swaddling when Susan and I took Foster Parent Training several years ago (no, we never did). This is especially helpful for drug babies.

lindyhop · 02-25-2010, 08:25 PM

The first thing I want to do with a swaddled baby is unwrap it. I want to see and touch the baby. Dylan was born in the summer so warmth wasn't an issue and he was pretty calm in general. The nurses would bring him all wrapped up and they would take him back (this was pre-rooming in days) completely deconstructed but Mom would be happy.

In the photos of my grandson at the hospital you can tell when Grandma's gotten to him because there's a foot poking out and the blanket looks like it was thrown up in the air (possibly along with the baby). I needed to see that baby (and also tickle him to wake him up).

02-25-2010, 11:05 AM	#1
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	It's swaddling. It's something very very old that us advanced modern folks are just now relearning (fell out of favor in America around the time of the Revolution - wouldn't want to restrict your baby's freedom now would you?) A lot of people think their baby hates it because, especially the first few times you do it, they seem to get pissed off while you're wrapping them up. But once you figure out how to do it, and combine it with a couple other things (get them in the right position, rock them just right, shush them in a white-noise sort of way), it can literally be like an off switch for an inconsolable baby. The working theory being that infants have a reflexive response to stay calm in womb-like conditions since throwing a fit in the womb would be generally bad. What's are womb-like conditions? Wrapped up tight, kinda lying on their side, jiggling around as mom moves, and the constant white-noise-like din (about as loud as a vacuum cleaner) of blood rushing around. Recreate that as closely as possible, and you have a calm baby. Of course, "primitive" cultures, without the benefit of knowing WHY it works, figured that out all on their own. Wrap 'em in a papoose, strap 'em to your back so they bounce while you walk. It's been working for millennia. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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02-25-2010, 08:25 PM	#3
lindyhop Swing Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Long Beach Posts: 997	The first thing I want to do with a swaddled baby is unwrap it. I want to see and touch the baby. Dylan was born in the summer so warmth wasn't an issue and he was pretty calm in general. The nurses would bring him all wrapped up and they would take him back (this was pre-rooming in days) completely deconstructed but Mom would be happy. In the photos of my grandson at the hospital you can tell when Grandma's gotten to him because there's a foot poking out and the blanket looks like it was thrown up in the air (possibly along with the baby). I needed to see that baby (and also tickle him to wake him up). __________________ Hyperbole is the best thing ever!
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