Rock-a-Bye Baby by Penny Warner Read Free Book Online Page B

for botulism.)

    FENG SHUI
    Ancient Chinese wisdom recommends that parents use feng shui to help their babies sleep. You might find that a few small changes to the placement of your baby’s furniture make all the difference
.
    â€¢ For proper feng shui, have your baby sleep with her head pointing south.
    â€¢ Place the bed so your baby can see the door, but not so she is directly across from it, or you may obstruct the smooth flow of chi. The best position for the bed is diagonal to the door, and her feet should be aimed in that direction.
    â€¢ Avoid having your baby sleep under a window, to prevent a bad impact on her chi.
    â€¢ Don’t place pictures of water in the room; they cause insomnia and attract bad luck.
    â€¢ Don’t hang mirrors in the bedroom, because reflections disturb the healing process when your baby’s body is at rest.
    â€¢ The bed should not be placed under a beam, which can cause headaches and tension.
    â€¢ Don’t keep electronic items like TVs, music systems, or computers near the baby’s bed. The electromagnetic radiation may disturb sleep, so unplug or cover them at night.
    â€¢ Place an aromatherapy candle on a plate with flowers in water in the northeast corner of the room to ensure a good night’s rest. ( NOTE : Never leave a burning candle unattended.)
Tibet
    In the Buddhist tradition, parents lay their babies in the crib with their heads pointing south for a more refreshing sleep.

American Indian
    Native Americans wore their babies in baby boards—flat boards made of compressed wood, beaded and decorated, and padded for comfort. Baby boards are traditional in most Indian cultures to provide security and protection for baby while he nods off to sleep. They’ve been used for centuries and are still in use today. Babies are wrapped and tied in, which simulates being held and cuddled. A donut shape is added for head support and to prevent the head from flattening.
    Some add wild rosewood to protect the baby from bad spirits, and shells and beads fringe the board to create a soothing, quieting effect when baby is rocked.

Universally Appealing
    In many countries, parents give their babies a few sips of warm tea with chamomile or mint and sugar to get baby to doze off.
    In some cultures, parents lay the baby in a quiet area, open a window, or turn on a fan, and hang some wind chimes for the baby to listen to.
    Many cultures rub baby’s belly gently with warm olive oil to release gas buildup and calm her.
    Often parents around the world, including in the United States, feed the baby cereal or fruit to help fill her up, hoping she will go to sleep when her tummy is full. While doctors believe this doesn’t really work, some parents swear by it.
    Some parents run water from the faucet so baby can hear it. As the water drips into a pot, the sounds change, lulling the baby to sleep.

Chapter 7

If All Else Fails

    â€œFatigue is the best pillow.”
—Benjamin Franklin
    Once in a while, it may seem like everything you’ve tried just won’t work and you’ve reached the end of your rope. This will wear you down quickly, and we all know sleep deprivation can make ordinary irritations seem even worse. Luckily, I’ve still got a few tricks left. When you think you’ve tried it all, it’s time to step it up a notch and try these tips, which worked for other desperate parents. Your baby may be sleepless, but the situation is never hopeless!
Hire Help
    It may sound like cheating, but if you’re running low on patience and energy, hire a sitter to come in and try to get your baby to sleep while you take a break.

Sleep Smells
    Lay your baby in the crib with the robe you wear when breast-feeding, so your baby is reminded of you and will relax to sleep. Or buy some similar fabric, express a little milk on it, and put it in the crib with your baby.

Bedtime Snack
    There’s an amino acid called tryptophan in foods like