Babies love rhythm. Rhythm is one of the great de-stressors and babies need great de-stressors in their little lives. It’s amazing that many of us wish we could be babies again – when everything is new and easy. Yet for our precious little ones, life is a series of challenges and new experiences. The wealth of these experiences and new sensations can certainly overwhelm them and stress them out.
This is a good time to point out that stress is too often associated with negative impact such as preparing for a critical interview or worrying about the boss disapproving the budget. Stress is the body’s reaction to events – positive and negative. A vacation to Disney World can stress you out – even if you have one of the best times ever! So yes, babies can stress and when they stress – it’s up to us to help them cope.
Rhythm Can Do It
Babies like rhythm. They like to be rocked from side to side or front to back. They enjoy a rocking chair and if your baby was like mine – they’ll love it when you bob up and down while holding them or while sitting on an exercise ball.
Rhythm can soothe the baby – it’s why many babies will fall right to sleep in the car. The gentle vibrations of the vehicle coupled with the comfort of the car seat hugging them closely adds to the comfort. Discovering what rhythms sooth your baby can save both of you several hours of crying and frayed nerves.
The Problem with the Car is the Car Seat
Some moms worry that if you use the car and the car seat too much, the baby will have trouble sleeping anywhere else. Don’t – babies go through phases just like every other stage of childhood. If the baby is asleep in the car seat, set the seat down in the crib and keep them buckled in until they wake up. Sometimes you may tuck them in and buckle them up and then rock them in the car seat to mimic the rhythm of the car.
What’s important is what soothes the baby’s nerves and provides them with satisfaction and relief. In time, you and your baby will both learn what makes them feel better.
What rhythms soothe your baby?