Find What Works

Babies change so quickly and what works to soothe or entertain them one time may not work the next time.  I've been told many times by experienced mothers (ie: grandmothers) that just when you get a system down the baby changes on you and you have to get a new system.  They worded it better, but you get the drift.  I haven't necessarily found that to be true, but there is some truth to it.  My daughter tends to stick to a routine for a good amount of time before I need to find something else that works, usually.

As my daughter has gotten older and more active, she really does not like being laid on her back to change her diaper.  She will cry, squirm, kick, and buck.  Actually, she's quite the little buck-er when she doesn't like something, whether it be a diaper change or resisting sleep or whatever it may be.  Usually, we will grab whatever toy or trinket is nearby to give to her hurriedly to entertain her while we change her diaper.  For the last week or two, there has been this one specific bath toy, a green sea horse thing, that has worked beautifully.  Well, that's starting to not quite do the trick.  So I started squeaking it at her-- so that it puffs air out at her face making her laugh-- before giving it to her.  That works okay, but! I have found something again that works.

For whatever reason, singing the "Wheels on the Bus" song will stop her mid-cry and get her smiling.  But!  Only when I sing the first verse where the wheels on the bus go round and round all through the town.  If I try any of the other verses involving babies, kids, or whoever else is on the bus, then she starts crying again.  She only wants to hear me sing about the wheels on the bus going round and round.  And no other nursery rhyme can do the trick, just "Wheels on the Bus".  So for now, I've found what works and I'm sticking to it.

When it comes to naptime and bedtime, I have also found something new that seems to work beautifully.  I wrap the arm that is under her head around her, snugging her in close to my chest, and lay my other arm across her body.  Basically, wrapping her up in my arms.  The key to this, though, is laying my head on top of hers.  It mimicks how we sleep at night when she sleeps in bed with us.  I think that is why it works so well, it's comforting to her.  It hurts my neck, laying my head pretty much flat against my shoulder making the muscle on one side of my neck pull and stretch to its limit, but its worth it.  Totally worth it  :)

So to all you mommas out there (or papas!), find what works and stick with it 'til it doesn't.  As parents, we're constantly evolving to keep up with our little ones.  They keep our minds sharp and our hands and feet quick   :)