June 5th, 2008
Doing 3 things at once and the baby starts crying?
You know how it goes, you think baby isn’t up for feeding time yet, so I could get dinner ready, work on my computer, or vacuum the crumbs underneath the table?….but just in the minute you start to concentrate on doing something else he/she starts …first it’s only a few grunts and squeals but then it turns into a piercing scream from who knows where and no one knows why!
What I found out which really works pretty well is to:
first step -
put him or her in a position where she/he is very close to you and where she can observe you (in highchair, bouncer, or swing).
second step -
talk or even better sing to him or her
if you can’t think of any good songs, doesn’t matter..
sing a description of what you’re doing at the moment or what your going to do next..
For example:
“Just putting the wash in the washing machine..oh now gotta see what program? oh how hot or how cold? Now we gotta turn it on….” and on to the next thing you do!
Inbetween don’t forget to look at her (eye contact) and answer her when she quacks
Saying his or her name inbetween (while singing) is also very good.
Note: You might feel like a lunatic but who cares, when you’re alone with the baby no one else knows and the other kids in the house find it funny and join in on the fun most of the time!
Extra tip: for moms with a partner …babies like to get in on the action .. often when my husband and I are having “Discussions” baby likes to sit right in the middle (in her highchair) as we jabber back and forth at each other! At first she seems to find it fascinating to hear both of our voices discussing a little bit louder than normal and then she just sighs, totally relaxes, and falls asleep. If I don’t let her in on the action she does nonstop protest screaming in her baby bed.