Soothe the sole

A gentle foot rub for your bub could be just the thing to send her off into the land of nod. Start by warming a few drops of a base massage oil, such as almond oil, in the palms of your hands (both of the infant massage associations in Australia, Infant Massage Australia and the International Association of Infant Massage, recommend unscented massage oils for young babies). Bend your baby’s leg at the knee and gently clasp the ankle, then rotate the foot. “Use your thumb to lightly circle the soles of the feet, gently squeezing and releasing your baby’s toes one by one,” says massage therapist Catherine Cervasio on www.aromababy.com. If your baby enjoys it, you can try massaging her other foot too.

Shake your booty

Life in the womb had more rhythm and movement than a whole season of Dancing with the Stars, so why not try to replicate that on the outside? Calming your baby by getting your dancing shoes on works on the physiological principle of ‘vestibular stimulation’. The vestibular system, the part of the brain that senses motion and balance, is located behind your baby’s eardrum. It is programmed for three types of movement: up and down, back and forth and side to side. Dance steps that use all three are most likely to comfort your bub. Finding the moves that your baby likes best will be a case of trial and error, but chances are she will respond to tracks that get you moving.

Tub time

A warm bath is a time-honoured method for soothing little ones, so why not go one step further by hopping into the tub with baby and adding skin-to-skin contact to the mix? The safest way to get into the bath with your bub is to have your partner hand her to you once you’re in. However, if you are alone, have your baby on ‘stand-by’ in an infant seat right next to the bath until you are ready to bring her in with you.

Noise works

If you listen to recordings taken from inside the womb, you’ll be surprised to hear it’s not a

sound-proof space. Your baby has been listening to ‘white noise’ for months and there’s a good chance she’ll find it comforting to hear again. Many parents find that creating some white noise with the help of a vacuuming frenzy or even a fish tank filter or rhythmic metronome, will help bub get to sleep. Other sources of white noise include tape recordings of ocean sounds or waterfalls, or even just having the radio tuned slightly off the station.

Press play

If white noise isn’t your thing, you can try a more conventional approach by playing bub some soothing music. Classical music often works wonders, as do serene lullabies. Many parents know the power of a gentle lullaby and experts say babies as young as three months can recognise classical music selections they have heard before. The added bonus is that it could help your baby’s brain develop: opinion is divided, but some experts believe that listening to classical music may assist emotional and educational development.

Making scents

Babies respond strongly to scent and within as little as a week newborns recognise the scent of their own mother. Not long after that most babies will prefer the smell of their own mother to the smell of any other woman. Tucking a T-shirt or nursing top that’s been close to your body into your baby’s cot can go a long way towards calming an unsettled bub.

Wear your baby

Researchers of baby-wearing are unanimous: babies carried in slings do cry less. In fact, babies carried for three hours or more each day cry a whopping 40 per cent less than other bubs. So, what are you waiting for? Find a sling or carrier that’s comfortable for you and your partner and pop your baby in! If she likes it, peaceful days may be ahead.

Walk the walk

An early evening stroll can calm a restless baby and bring on sweet slumber. The motion of the pram, combined with fresh air and new sights and sounds all add up to a calming effect. Ideally you will perfect the ‘transfer’ from pram to cot without waking your sleeping angel. Cots and basinettes are generally safer places for baby to sleep than a pram.

Face it

You may have been told to avoid eye contact when placing bub in the cot to sleep, but if this doesn’t help her to switch off and drift off to sleep, perhaps a session of face-to-face contact could be what your baby really needs. According to American paediatrician, Dr William Sears, on his website, www.askdrsears.com, “High-need babies demand a lot of connecting experiences. Face-to-face and eye-to-eye contact is what they need in order to know they are being heard and seen clearly.”

Change tack

Sometimes trying the same thing over and over can just leave you feeling frustrated – and your baby less likely to sleep. When all else fails, try this: forget about getting your little one to sleep. Instead, take her outside to look at how leaves rustle in the wind; lay her on her back in your arms underneath a ceiling fan and allow the repetitive motion to distract her; or sit before a roaring fire until she’s mesmerised by the dancing flames. Changing the focus will help to calm and soothe a frustrated mum or dad, and your baby will pick up on the change in mood. Often sleep will come when you least expect it!