Ideas please! Helping my LO to relax

Squirmsmum · Apr 3rd, 2012, 03:44 AM

My LO is always up a height! She literally never ever is still and relaxing, how will she ever be able to fall asleep on her own if she's alwsys on the go! The only thing to calm her down is breast milk and even then the first half of the season is rather frantic ha

Any ideas on relaxation for baby's?

hubblybubbly · Apr 3rd, 2012, 04:02 AM

I use the following to get willow to zone out and calm down for her daytime naps....

A hair dryer...time my showers ready for drying my hair at her morning nap time, two birds with one stone and all that, pop her in her Moses basket and dry my hair next to her.

Tumble dryer, when she's really worked up, I pop her in her bouncey chair in front of the tumble dryer, gives her a few "time out" minutes.

Warm bath, again she zones out and stares at the ceiling!

Pielette · Apr 3rd, 2012, 04:06 AM

Baby massage? It actually didn't chill mine out, he went hyper (nutty baby lol) but the other babies in the class were practically asleep! And you only need to do one or two sessions before you get the idea.
I do baby sensory on a Friday and it's a lot of stimulation - Friday afternoons he's knackered bless him.

Weezie123 · Apr 3rd, 2012, 04:09 AM

I have exactly the same problem. What I try to do now is rock him on my shoulder for a few minutes with my hand behind his neck and head holding it to my shoulder then I lie down with him on the bed and while breastfeeding him on my side I gently but firmly squeeze down his legs and arms with my whole hand over and over. When he feels like he's calming I massage his head and then lastly over his face and eyebrows with my thumb this calms him down. I have to start with the legs then arms as if I went straight to he face he would pull away. Sometimes I have to grab a kicking foot and kind of press my fingers into it kind of rythmically to focus his attension. Even when they are moving a thigh is easy to massage too! Oh and I have to be breastfeeding at the time or he will wriggle even more and get annoyed! I don't faff about with oils as it's a squeeze and release movement down the limb.

Squirmsmum · Apr 3rd, 2012, 04:10 AM

Baby massage sent her loopy. Hair dryer used to work, not anymore, I will have a go at washing machine see if that works.

I don't mind that she's so active but I do wonder how she will ever settle herself down, she tends to get angry when she's tired not sleepy ha

Weezie123 · Apr 3rd, 2012, 04:11 AM

My baby wouldn't stay still in the normal baby massage either x

Squirmsmum · Apr 3rd, 2012, 04:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weezie123

I have exactly the same problem. What I try to do now is rock him on my shoulder for a few minutes with my hand behind his neck and head holding it to my shoulder then I lie down with him on the bed and while breastfeeding him on my side I gently but firmly squeeze down his legs and arms with my whole hand over and over. When he feels like he's calming I massage his head and then lastly over his face and eyebrows with my thumb this calms him down. I have to start with the legs then arms as if I went straight to he face he would pull away. Sometimes I have to grab a kicking foot and kind of press my fingers into it kind of rythmically to focus his attension. Even when they are moving a thigh is easy to massage too! Oh and I have to be breastfeeding at the time or he will wriggle even more and get annoyed! I don't faff about with oils as it's a squeeze and release movement down the limb.

Haha this sounds like Lily. I read that as they get older they will start trying to feed in silly positions too, ha can't wait for that one!!! I will try your calming technique as now she has teeth when she's over excited I sometimes get bitten, glad I'm not the only one with this problem! OH just says we should be pleased we don't have a docile baby lol think he's trying to make light of the situation

fidget · Apr 3rd, 2012, 04:15 AM

Before bed he has his dinner, then a warm bath, baby massage whilst watching waybuloo, then I close the curtains and turn the lights down. Then I take him into his bedroom and read a book before his last feed and then he goes to bed. He's self settles since about six months, it's very rare I have to go in there After our routine, I've done the same very night since he was tiny!

Daytimes are a different story, he naps as and when he feels like it haha sometimes a walk in the park or a cuddle will chill him out a bit because he's a bit of a loon lol

Weezie123 · Apr 3rd, 2012, 04:26 AM

They are intriguing and a joy except when sleep is due!

I've tried the bath, book, breastfeed and I get manic splashing and squeeling in the bath, tears when drying him, then he wants to roll around on the bed, chew the book, I tried a comfort blanket he just wants to fling it around and wave it in the air, tried gentle stroking just got kicked, with singing he joins in and giggles!

It's hilarious how the more tired they get the more energy! Even rocking him on my shoulder sometimes he's reaching out for the pictures on the walls, leaning around to get something or to pull at my face, putting his head back to look at the ceiling, I may be pacing up and down and he turns to look one side to the other! He will sometimes drop off on my shoulder then shake his head or rub it into me to stay awake!

This has some great suggestions
http://tribalbaby.org/Feedingtosleep.html
Good luck! X

Squirmsmum · Apr 3rd, 2012, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weezie123

They are intriguing and a joy except when sleep is due!

I've tried the bath, book, breastfeed and I get manic splashing and squeeling in the bath, tears when drying him, then he wants to roll around on the bed, chew the book, I tried a comfort blanket he just wants to fling it around and wave it in the air, tried gentle stroking just got kicked, with singing he joins in and giggles!

It's hilarious how the more tired they get the more energy! Even rocking him on my shoulder sometimes he's reaching out for the pictures on the walls, leaning around to get something or to pull at my face, putting his head back to look at the ceiling, I may be pacing up and down and he turns to look one side to the other! He will sometimes drop off on my shoulder then shake his head or rub it into me to stay awake!

Good luck! X

That is EXACTLY what Lily is like! It's not luck I need... It's a miracle!!! X

Apr 3rd, 2012, 03:44 AM	#1
Squirmsmum Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Leeds Posts: 775	Ideas please! Helping my LO to relax My LO is always up a height! She literally never ever is still and relaxing, how will she ever be able to fall asleep on her own if she's alwsys on the go! The only thing to calm her down is breast milk and even then the first half of the season is rather frantic ha Any ideas on relaxation for baby's?

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Apr 3rd, 2012, 04:02 AM	#2
hubblybubbly Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South West, UK Posts: 2,101	I use the following to get willow to zone out and calm down for her daytime naps.... A hair dryer...time my showers ready for drying my hair at her morning nap time, two birds with one stone and all that, pop her in her Moses basket and dry my hair next to her. Tumble dryer, when she's really worked up, I pop her in her bouncey chair in front of the tumble dryer, gives her a few "time out" minutes. Warm bath, again she zones out and stares at the ceiling!

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Apr 3rd, 2012, 04:06 AM	#3
Pielette Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Essex Posts: 3,083	Baby massage? It actually didn't chill mine out, he went hyper (nutty baby lol) but the other babies in the class were practically asleep! And you only need to do one or two sessions before you get the idea. I do baby sensory on a Friday and it's a lot of stimulation - Friday afternoons he's knackered bless him.

Status: Online

Apr 3rd, 2012, 04:09 AM	#4
Weezie123 Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Hampshire Posts: 1,090	I have exactly the same problem. What I try to do now is rock him on my shoulder for a few minutes with my hand behind his neck and head holding it to my shoulder then I lie down with him on the bed and while breastfeeding him on my side I gently but firmly squeeze down his legs and arms with my whole hand over and over. When he feels like he's calming I massage his head and then lastly over his face and eyebrows with my thumb this calms him down. I have to start with the legs then arms as if I went straight to he face he would pull away. Sometimes I have to grab a kicking foot and kind of press my fingers into it kind of rythmically to focus his attension. Even when they are moving a thigh is easy to massage too! Oh and I have to be breastfeeding at the time or he will wriggle even more and get annoyed! I don't faff about with oils as it's a squeeze and release movement down the limb.

Status: Offline

Apr 3rd, 2012, 04:10 AM	#5
Squirmsmum Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Leeds Posts: 775	Baby massage sent her loopy. Hair dryer used to work, not anymore, I will have a go at washing machine see if that works. I don't mind that she's so active but I do wonder how she will ever settle herself down, she tends to get angry when she's tired not sleepy ha

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Apr 3rd, 2012, 04:11 AM	#6
Weezie123 Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Hampshire Posts: 1,090	My baby wouldn't stay still in the normal baby massage either x

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Apr 3rd, 2012, 04:15 AM	#8
fidget Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Portsmouth Posts: 1,533	Before bed he has his dinner, then a warm bath, baby massage whilst watching waybuloo, then I close the curtains and turn the lights down. Then I take him into his bedroom and read a book before his last feed and then he goes to bed. He's self settles since about six months, it's very rare I have to go in there After our routine, I've done the same very night since he was tiny! Daytimes are a different story, he naps as and when he feels like it haha sometimes a walk in the park or a cuddle will chill him out a bit because he's a bit of a loon lol

Status: Offline

Apr 3rd, 2012, 04:26 AM	#9
Weezie123 Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Hampshire Posts: 1,090	They are intriguing and a joy except when sleep is due! I've tried the bath, book, breastfeed and I get manic splashing and squeeling in the bath, tears when drying him, then he wants to roll around on the bed, chew the book, I tried a comfort blanket he just wants to fling it around and wave it in the air, tried gentle stroking just got kicked, with singing he joins in and giggles! It's hilarious how the more tired they get the more energy! Even rocking him on my shoulder sometimes he's reaching out for the pictures on the walls, leaning around to get something or to pull at my face, putting his head back to look at the ceiling, I may be pacing up and down and he turns to look one side to the other! He will sometimes drop off on my shoulder then shake his head or rub it into me to stay awake! This has some great suggestions http://tribalbaby.org/Feedingtosleep.html Good luck! X

Status: Offline

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