A Joosr Guide to Secrets of the Baby Whisperer by Tracy Hogg with Melinda Blau

Try to change your baby as thoroughly, yet as quickly, as possible. An ideal changing time is approximately five minutes. Investing in clothes that are easily removable will save time, as will having all of the changing items ready to go instead of searching for them after the baby needs to be changed.

Use bath time as an opportunity to have gentle, soothing communication with your baby. Play some lulling music and slowly lower the baby into the tub. After the bath is a perfect time for a baby massage. Infant massage promotes circulation, tones muscles, and reduces stress. Therefore, it’s a great way to get ready for bedtime.

Feeding time is a wonderful opportunity for mother and baby to bond. When feeding your child, whether by the breast or bottle, make sure you’re completely present. Talk with your baby in a soothing voice. Avoid any distractions if at all possible. This will make for a pleasant experience for the both of you.

In fact, some parents are able to get their babies to sleep for a full night within a few weeks of birth.

The first step is to create a routine and stick to it. A routine is something familiar that will bring comfort to the baby and sanity to the parents. Next, create sacred nighttime and naptime rituals. Turn the lights down low, shut the curtains, turn on soothing music, and read to your baby for a bit. Once your baby is yawning non-stop, lay the baby in the crib and walk away. In doing this you will achieve the next step—teaching your baby to be independent of you. A good thing to remember is that gently teaching your child to sleep independently does not signify neglectful parenting.

The routine recommended here is called the E.A.S.Y routine. E.A.S.Y stands for: Eating, Activity, Sleeping, and You time. Completing a full E.A.S.Y routine will take approximately three hours and will occur over and over throughout the day. It is a routine of when and how a baby eats and sleeps, and any rituals surrounding these things. In between eating and sleeping is time for the baby to be active. This could involve taking the baby on a walk, laying them down to play or coo and observe in a baby pen, or any number of not-too-stimulating activities. Once baby is asleep, this is the time to spend on you—sleep, read a book, enjoy yourself.

You can engage your child and play with them; in fact, this is recommended. But, balance is needed. Too much stimulation can be overwhelming for the baby. An overwhelmed baby is a fussy baby.

A second step is to pay close attention to your baby and get to know them as an individual. We all have our own personalities and dispositions. Getting to know the new individual in your household will help you anticipate their needs, train them efficiently, and reduce the frustration and anxiety both you and your baby will experience.

The first few months with a child have a huge impact on their feelings of safety and security.

If we allow them to treat us a certain way, they will continue to treat us that way—whether we like it or not.