Fussy Baby Lifesavers!

Have a fussy, colicky, or high needs baby? These things may help:

1. YOU! Lots of holding, cuddling, nursing, bouncing, and wearing usually helps soothe any fussy baby.
2. Moby Wrap Original 100% Cotton Solid Baby Carrier, Chocolate
Babywearing for at least 3 hours a day reduces the amount of crying in a baby and is a lifesaver for any mom with a fussy baby. It keeps baby calm while allowing you to get a few things done. The Moby Wrap is my favorite for newborns because it has lower back support, is so snugly, and also very fashionable.
3. Miracle Blanket -Baby Swaddling Blanket -Beige
I wish I had this from day one. No other swaddle blanket really did the trick like the Miracle Blanket. When DD was fussy we would swaddle her and bounce her, swaddle her and do the football hold, etc. I also believe the Miracle Blanket added about 2 hours to her sleep at night (plus the other S's from happiest baby)
4. The Happiest Baby on the Block: The New Way to Calm Crying and Help Your Newborn Baby Sleep Longer
This book was a lifesaver. I was hesitant to read it because I thought it was a "baby trainer" book but it is not at all. The 5 S's suggested in this book and the particular way Harvey Karp teaches you to do them helped us immensely in soothing our baby girl.
5. The Happiest Baby on the Block - The New Way to Calm Crying and Help Your Baby Sleep Longer (DVD)
Loved the book so much that we got the DVD. The DVD also had three tracks at the end that mimic the womb sound to help soothe a fussy baby. There were many days where I would turn them on and turn the volume all the way up while bouncing and wearing baby girl. It is also helpful because Harvey Karp shows you how to do everything on the DVD.
6. The Fussy Baby Book: Parenting Your High-Need Child From Birth to Age Five
LOVE this book. It really helped me to keep proper perspective on my fussy baby. It helped me to continue to strive to be sensitive to her needs instead of resenting her. There are tons of pointers about soothing your fussy baby and a lot of encouraging stories from other moms with fussy babies.
7. DEX Products Sound Sleeper SS-01
We used this noise maker for our baby girl at nighttime all night long for months. We set it to "wind" and     also turned on the fan all night. It helped a lot!
8. Cloud b Sleep Sheep - Four Soothing Sounds From Nature
We also used the sleep sheep for soothing her during the day, on car rides, and at night. It has a timer for about 20 minutes so I would set it to "womb" when nursing her for nap-times and bedtimes and also when I laid her down.
9. Graco Pack 'n Play with Newborn Playard Baby Napper-Hamilton
Love this pack n play because of the newborn napper. It keeps them cozy and comfy and also has a vibrator on it. We even took off the vibrator and transferred it to the crib when she started sleeping in there. (we actually just weaned her off of the vibrator a couple of months ago) The vibrator really helped soothe her to sleep and kept her from crying.

I know it seems like we had lots of gadgets but they were so helpful. Most of the time we were wearing her or carrying her, but at nap time and bed time all of these gadgets were so helpful and definite lifesavers!

More tips on soothing your fussy baby:
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/5/T051200.asp
http://www.happiestbaby.com/book-dvd-excerpts/the-happiest-baby-book/
http://www.gentlechristianmothers.com/topics/highneed.php

Please share your own tips on soothing your fussy baby in the blog comment section at Memphis Misfit Mama

Favorite Things

Okay, so if you've seen the Oprah Show where she gives away her favorite things, that is not what I am doing...just listing some of my favorite things, brands, baby products so you can check them out. :)

Baby products:

Ergo Baby Carrier : This is by far my favorite baby carrier for infants. DD and I use it almost daily. We use it around the house, out on 3 mile walks, running errands, you name it. I have never had any back pain while using it. The support for the lower back is amazing and it is also so cozy for baby. It goes up to 35 lbs and the baby can ride on front, back or your hip. Love it!













Moby Wrap: Loved this carrier for newborn stage and for around the house when she was bigger. Although the back support is pretty good, I have found the Ergo to be better. Still, the Moby is way better for your back than most other carriers on the market. I loved the Moby because the baby is so close and snug, and the Moby really is so cute and comes in so many colors and designs. So you can truly accessorize with it!















Miracle Blanket -Baby Swaddling Blanket -Beige
We absolutely loved the Miracle Blanket. It made swaddling so easy and there are pieces of material that even keep their arms in place so they can't break free. I swear it added a good two hours onto her sleep at night when she was a newborn. Great for soothing fussy babies too!

Cloud b Sleep Sheep - Four Soothing Sounds From Nature
We used our Sleep Sheep all the time. When she was little we used this at every sleep time and also at fussy times.

Exercise Ball
TKO Anti Burst Fitness Ball Set 75cm
DD loved to be bounced. I didn't get the great idea of using a bouncy ball until way too late, but will know better next time. This really saved the back and legs.

Flip Diaper with stay dry insert
We love our cloth diapers. I researched what felt like millions of cloth diapers and Flips had the best reviews and we love them. They are very absorbent and very easy to tote around since they have inserts you put in and out. Love our Flips!

Evenfo Farmyard Mega ExerSaucer
DD loves her Exersaucer and I do too! I usually put her in it while I shower and dry my hair so I am glad she loves it so much! I don't know what I would do without it.

We love B. Toys. I first discovered them at Target. They are so cute and so clever!  And 10 cents of every purchase helps get kids out of slavery. And their packaging is reusable and eco-friendly. Did I mention we love their toys? We just got her the toys to the left and she has had such a great time playing music and making noise!










Love the brand California Baby. I also came across them at Target. Their products are natural and safe, free of dangerous chemicals and carcinogens. And their diaper rash cream is cloth diaper compatible! We use California Baby for all of DD's cosmetic needs!










Earth Mama Angel Baby Organic Milkmaid Tea, 16 Teabags/Box (Pack of 3)
Love this company and all their products, especially their organic tea. I regularly drink their Milkmaid Tea to help keep my supply up. They also have tea called Peaceful Mama tea to help with depression.

Melissa & Doug 100 Piece Wood Blocks Set
Love Melissa and Doug toys! I just love the classic wooden toys compared to the plastic everything these days. It just has a good feeling to it to be playing with wood. Something traditional about it that I love.

Cathy the Caterpillar, as we have named her. DD loves this toy and has since she was a newborn. Calmed many fussy car rides with this thing. And it is educational too. I love Leap Frog toys. It is nice to know that your kids can play and learn at the same time.











Well, I will have to do a separate post for books that DD loves...there are a lot!