How to help baby feel secure

When you first bring baby home from the hospital it is a life changing event for the both of you. Baby is used to the tight headquarters of the womb and it really does calm them down when you swaddle them. It makes them feel safe and secure since it is the only thing that they know.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Swaddling baby has been used for years and years as a way to calm baby and make them feel safe and secure. Swaddling a baby is simply the art of wrapping him/her nice and snug in a blanket to help them feel comfortable. When babies are in the womb they are used to not having much room to move around in, and swaddling baby gives them the same comfort that they are used to. It is a simple thing that you can do and it really helps your baby to relax. Here are steps in swaddling your baby...
   
   * Lay the blanket of your choice down on a flat surface.
   
   * Fold one corner of your blanket down, placing your baby on his/her back in the middle of the fold you created with his head above the edge of the fold.
   
   * Pull the left side of the blanket snugly across your baby's chest, make sure that his right arm is wrapped close to his body as well. Next lift your baby's left arm and securely tuck the blanket under his/her body.
   
   * If your baby likes to have his/her arms free you can do it with the arms out.
2. My youngest son was a thumb sucker the moment he came into this world and I could not tuck his left hand into be swaddled without his throwing a fit, so I only tucked his right hand in. Once you do this a few times you will get the hang of it and see how your baby likes it the best. Swaddling typically only works the first few weeks of babies live since after about a month or so they enjoy to be mobile and it can interfere with that.
3. These days you are sure to get a lesson at the hospital from your nurse and or doctor before you are discharged. If you ever have any questions there are many hot-lines that you can call for any questions that you have. You can even call your baby's doctor office and ask them if you want to.
   
   Swaddling is a great way to give baby the security of the womb that they are so used to. So perfecting this art for the first few weeks of life for baby is a great way to help them relax and calm down.
4. You can also make baby feel safe and secure by loving them and taking the best care of them that you can. Massaging baby is another great way to relax baby, and it has been used for years and years. Make sure that you choose a time in the day where you and baby are relaxed and you can give baby your undivided attention. Also make sure that the room is at a comfortable temperature so baby does not get cold.
5. * Undress your baby completely and lay them on a soft area with a blanket or towel underneath them. I always had a washcloth near, in case they begin to urinate so you can catch it before it goes everywhere. (Especially for baby boys!)
   
   * Using baby lotion first apply it to your own hands and rub together to make sure your hands are soft and warm.
6. * Next starting at the top of baby and working downward gently rub lotion all over baby. Make sure you get every inch of baby's delicate skin. Gently massage baby as you are doing this in light circular motions.
   
   * As you are rubbing the lotion onto baby talk to them and see how they interact with the massage. This is a great bonding experience for the two of you that you will treasure for years to come.
7. * Take your time with he massage for baby and do not let anything bother you while you are doing it, like the phone or T.V. etc. Devote this time solely to baby and you. If baby wants to change his/her position allow them to do so and then go back to the other position later on.
8. Besides the swaddling of baby and the baby massage there are a few other things that you can do to ensure that baby is safe and secure. Here are a few tips....
   
   * When your baby seems to over stimulated make sure to calm things down for him/her.
   
   * Make sure baby's diaper is dry.
   
   * Make sure baby has eaten and is not hungry.
   
   * Check that baby is not to hot or cold.
9. * Get baby on a regular routine as soon as possible. This means the nap time and bed time, bath time etc. Do things at the same time or pretty much close to the same time daily to get baby on a routine.
   
   * If baby has a hard time soothing themselves give them a pacifier. The sucking motion may soothe baby and help them to fall asleep.
   
   * Don't rush to baby's side every time they make a noise. Allow them to make a few noises and simply see what happens from there, soothing themselves is important for them and for you. If baby continues to be fussy you can then help them by picking them up and comforting them. Just them knowing that you are still there may be enough for them, so you can try to just pat them so they see you instead of picking them up.
10. * Always take help when you can. If baby was up all night then that means so were you! Taking naps when you can even when baby does throughout the day can help you not lose your sanity. If a friend or family member offer s to help you out in any way, then say yes!
    
    Keep in mind that baby is getting used to his/her new life. They are not doing this to drive you crazy! It is an adjustment for the both of you! Make sure that you cherish the moments when baby is small because they grow up before you know it!