Calming Babies

Occupational Therapy Recommendations to Calm Fussy Babies!

Calming input to help "calm down" Moro reflex for better sleeping patterns such as: 1. Swing from a single point in a hammock swing or toddler swing for 15 minutes before naps and 15 minutes minimum before bedtime with soft lights and soft white noise.

2. Brush or massage daily as needed to calm

3. Once a baby can lift their head on their belly, it is safe for them to sleep on their belly. If you feel comfortable, let babies sleep on their belly as the Moro reflex is not elicited easily in this position and makes them feel more secure. You may need to use a heavy blanket or quilt laying over his lower back and legs to help calm as well in this position. Never place blankets near an infants face.

4. No lights in infants room, no flashing lights or sudden lighting in their room. Dark drapes over their windows and close the door if there are lights in the hallway.

5. No sudden sounds in baby room, such as music, crickets, etc. Use white noise that is a consistent sound that doesn't change. May need it to be louder than you would like, to "filter out" any noise changes in the rest of the house. When in the room all you should hear is the white noise.

6. A good bedtime routine and nap time routine are vital, so the baby knows what is coming next and what is expected of them in that consistent routine.

7. Many infants that aren't good sleepers after 6 months of age still have a heightened Moro or Startle Reflex:

Integration of the Moro Reflex after 6 months of age: do as much swinging as possible, if you can swing a baby with them laying on their back such as on you in a hammock or on a porch swing. Do the therapy ball activities, where their head goes back gently. You want the neck to go into extension and then flexion positions as much as possible. A lot of infants like to play on your lap, and you can let their head go back and then bring them up while holding them as well. Also, gentle rough housing is great, where a 6 month old or older infant can do gentle flips, sudden movements of the head, and dancing around holding the baby in different directions such as changing from football hold to sitting, to upside down while dancing to music is a great and fun way to work on this reflex. Rolling a lot is helpful also, you can roll them back and forth from one parent to another on the bed or floor. The key again is to go from flexion of the head to full extension patterns. Never keep doing anything if baby doesn't like it...but always try it again another time.

8. May need Food Allergy testing if it is a chronic problem!