2. Learn what your baby needs: A great system for this is the Dunstan Baby Language System. It teaches how to understand the five cries your baby uses to tell you what they need. This is the most amazing discovery EVER and it truly helps eliminate frustration especially in those early months when you and baby are still getting to know one another.
3. Music-Rockabye Baby: I was thoughtfully given this as a gift when we first found out we were pregnant, by one of our really good couple-friends. MY husband is in a band (The Mission Veo
) so it goes without mention that we are rather interested in music. This lovely couple purchased the compilation CD of instrumental versions of favorite rock songs. It is beautifully orchestrated so that baby will be soothed into slumber, and also fun for adults to try and guess which band is being covered. There are many of these CD's where each one is devoted entirely to the songs of one band, and thus your baby can jam out to the gentle tunes of Nirvana, U2, Pink Floyd, or my favorite- The Cure. Nobody wants a baby with poor music taste, so let your kids get ahead of the peer group.Rockabye Baby! Good Day, Goodnight: The 5 Year Anniversary Compilation
4. Moby Baby Wrap/ Baby K'tan: Wearing your baby has more benefits than one would think.
According to Dr. Sears, babies who are "worn" are smarter, more attached, less fussy and learn human interactions better than those who are not.
While baby-wearing has gained popularity in Western cultures recently, it is an age old tradition in many areas of the world. I grew up in South Africa, where it is customary for the black women to strap their babies onto their back whilst they work or go about their business. We had a cleaning lady/nanny who was like a second mom to me, and I remember being very young and being strapped to her back, abd how soothing it was to hear her singing and the vibrations her voice made. I would fall asleep to the constant rocking motion. Some more information on baby-wearing around the world: (Courtesy of www.slingbabies.co.nz)
- For instance Mexican people use the Rebozo, which is a square of woven cloth tied over one shoulder with baby usually on the back- sometimes called a Chal, depending on the length.
- Peruvians have a Manta which sits over both shoulders like a cape, and baby sits high on mother's back.
- Guatemalans use Parraje- similar to a Rebozo.
- European mothers used a mixture of pouches, wraps and short cloth carriers.
- Alaskan/Canadian people have the Amauti which is a very thick arctic jacket with a baby 'pocket' in the back, baby even fits under the over-sized hood!
- Papua New Guinea mothers use a Bilum- a net bag held at the forehead with baby hanging at the back (very strong necks!)
- Indonesian mothers use a Selendang which is a long ornate wrap.
- Aboriginal mothers used to keep their babies in carriers made of bark, similar to the cradleboards used by Native Americans but without the cloth covering.
- Asian mothers use a variety of carriers including Mei-tai /Hmong/ Bei(China), Onbuhimo (Japan), Podaegi (Korea) plus many use a 'carrier' of long straps which go under baby's armpits and thighs for back carries.
- African mothers use a 'Khanga' which is a short-ish piece of cloth tied around the torso, so baby sits low on the back.
And the K'tan: $49.99-59.99.
Baby K'tan Original Baby Carrier, Black, Small
I would love to hear what your favorite baby products are, so send me an email, or post a comment.
And keep your parenting as simple as possible!
Love and lightness,
Kerry, the Momster
