Calming Your Fussy Baby
In 50 Ways to Calm Your Fussy Baby, dozens of parents contributed their tried-and-true advice for calming their fussiest babies. Their valuable tips were then reviewed by a pediatric nurse practitioner before being approved for publication.

Five of these tried-and-true tips appear here. To read 45 more tips (and even a few bonus tips!), order 50 Ways to Calm Your Fussy Baby by clicking "Buy the Book" on the menu bar.

Tip #1: Avoid excessive patting, bouncing and lifting. Reducing the stimulation surrounding your baby is one of the most effective ways to calm him or her. Avoid jiggling your baby – which is quick, jerking movement. Instead, gently sway him slowly in your arms or against your chest.

Tip #2: Play repetitive sounds. Ticking clocks or metronomes calm and mesmerize some
fussy babies.

Tip #3: Do the dishes. Some babies like the sound and vibration of the dishwasher. Set your babe in front of the machine in a bouncy seat or car seat. But make sure he or she isn't in the path of steam, which can burn.

Tip #4: Have "naked baby" time. Some babies are bothered by the feeling of clothing – or, simply, are just happier when they're in the buff.

Tip #5: Change the scenery. No one likes to look at the same four walls all day long. When nothing else will work, simply stepping into a new environment, such as a neighbor's house, a garden, or even the laundry room, may do the trick.

Calming Yourself
Being the parent of an infant truly is the hardest job you’ll ever love. Between rocking, feeding, bathing, soothing, dressing, and entertaining, your days fill up fast. And while it’s important to care for your precious baby, it’s vital that you care for yourself, too.

Whether they’re designed to calm you during a fussy spell, or increase your overall wellbeing, there are specific steps you can take to calm yourself as you're calming your baby. (Not to mention helping you be a better parent and a happier person.)

For 15 different tactics for calming yourself, order 50 Ways to Calm Your Fussy Baby through the “Buy the Book” button at the top of the page. In the meantime, here’s a sneak peek at two of the book’s tips:

Tip #1: Start or join a support group for parents of newborns. There’s power in knowing others feel the same way you do. To start or find a support group in your area, talk to your pediatrician or family doctor, take out a newspaper ad, or contact your local community education or early childhood offices.

Tip #2: Write down your blessings. On a large piece of paper and with permanent marker, write down all of the things you love about your baby – his fingernails, her smile, the way he curls into a little ball on your chest when he (finally!) falls asleep. Then post it where you'll see it the next time you’re dealing with a colic or fussy session.

Offer Your Advice!
Are you the parent or grandparent of a fussy baby? Then you’re a valuable resource to parents everywhere!

Share your tried-and-true methods for calming your fussy or colicky baby by sending an e-mail to author Jennifer Koski at jlkconsulting@charter.net.

Or, write to: Fussy Baby Tips, P.O. Box 251, Rochester, MN 55903. If writing, be sure to include your name and a phone number where you can be reached. Your tips could appear on MyFussyBaby.com!

To order 50 Ways to Calm Your Fussy Baby, click on “Buy the Book” at the top of the page.