Childcare and You

Childcare and You

Saturday, December 31, 2011

Tips on How to Stop Bedwetting in your Child



When my daughter continued to wet her bed even at 5 years of age, I rushed to my pediatrician with my concerns. The doctor, without batting an eyelid, told me come again, if she continued to do it after she had turned 6. He assured me that it was perfectly normal for a child to wet the bed until 6 years of age. I returned home with some misgivings but decided to stay put until then. Meanwhile, I carried on with my own techniques of dealing with the issue and believe it or not, my daughter stopped bedwetting after her 6th birthday! I guess what the doctor probably meant was that by age six, children are old enough to exercise better bladder control long enough to wake up and go the bathroom all by themselves. So, to all parents with children bedwetting even at age 3, 4, 5 or even 6, do not despair. However, if it still continues as your child gets older, then it may be more than a bladder issue and you will have to visit your doctor to deal with it. Here are a few of my tips you would like to try, to solve this problem.

Stop giving your child water or any other fluids to drink at least a couple of hours before going to bed. By the time he is ready to go to bed, his bladder would be full and ready to expel the fluid waste.

Have your child use the bathroom just before he is ready to go to bed. Alternately, change his diapers before he goes to bed so that his sleep is not hindered on account of an over soggy diaper.

Set an alarm to get up during the night to take your child to use the bathroom. For older kids aged above 3 years, you can wake them up and take them to the bathroom. Usually children wet the beds within the first two hours of sleep. Using this technique consistently will attune your child’s body clock and soon he will be up on his own to go to the bathroom.It is tiresome for you but it is one of the best remedial measures for bedwetting.

Leave the bathroom light on and have a night lamp on in your child’s room as well, so that he can find his way to the bathroom and head straight there without any hindrance.

Place a rubber sheet or a plastic sheet over the mattress and have your child sleep over it, so that the urine is not absorbed into the mattress and you will not end up washing sheets and bedding every day.

You  don't need to know rocket science or be a doctor to solve your child's bedwetting problem. These simple techniques are guaranteed to solve your child’s bedwetting issues. But you will need to be patient and tolerant. Do not rant and rage at your child. It is quite normal for a child to wet the bed and usually the problem resolves on its own. But if it persists even after he has turned six, then visit a doctor to diagnose if it is a psychological problem more than a physical one.



Friday, December 30, 2011

Tips on How to Choose the Right Preschool for your Child


My daughter, as the first born, had me scurrying from one school to another, in search of a good preschool program that would fulfill all my requirements of a preschool. I was particularly late to pick up the enrolment form from a school I was quite keen on and it crushed me when the principal turned down my application on those grounds. As a first timer about school and its norms, I made the usual oversights that most parents do when they temporarily lose sight of the fact that their little one is big enough to go to a preschool.

Decide on your priorities – You will first need to decide whether you want to send your child to a school close to where you live, close to where you work or anywhere else, as long as the preschool meets your requirements.

Do research of reputable schools – Once you have made up your mind about the area, your next step is to explore reputed schools in that area and list them down. Ask around for personal references as well as call help lines of referral agencies or childcare resources for a detailed list of accredited preschools.

Research online and/or the phoneAlmost all schools have websites of their own. Once you are armed with a list, go online to go through their website, in order to get an idea of what they offer or use the Yellow Pages to get their phone numbers in order to talk to the concerned authority.

When to start looking Always do a timely research of the schools in your area about their rules regarding enrolment of children into their curriculum. You don’t want to be running from pillar to post looking for admissions or waiting endlessly for a positive feedback.

Ensure that letters and figures are a part of their curriculumJust as ‘an early bird catches the worm’, in the same way, early reading habits will lay a strong foundation for better cognition, leading to better grades in future. Make sure the school is equipped with superior learning goals and activities that are designed to stimulate your child’s intellectual capabilities.

Skilled and certified teaching faculty The teachers in the school must be have the skill, know-how, training and temperament to deal with preschoolers. Most importantly, they must be must quick thinking capacity, in order to deal with any eventuality or emergencies involving preschoolers.

Personal attention with low teacher-student ratioIf the number of students is less per class, the teacher will find it easy to interact with each child personally for longer time, thus improving your child’s learning skills tremendously.

Figure out what is best for your childEven though you may have found a school that has everything you have been looking for, you are the best judge to decide if your child will fit into the environment that the school has to offer. Choosing between a curriculum that is demanding and rigorous or less challenging and socially-based, will depend upon your child’s disposition and personality.

Check this link out to give you a list of preschools around the world

http://preschools.indiaedu.com/citywise-america-preschools/

When and How to Wean your Baby from Breastfeeding



My son had turned a year old when I had decided to wean him from breastfeeding. But it was easier said than done because he had decided not to let go. His attachment to his favorite toy was in the literal sense, attached to somebody, namely me. I had tried all the tips given to me by others in the family and friends but they all fell short against a formidable one foot tall opponent. I realized it was relatively easy to wean a toddler at 8 or 9 months because I did not have to try very hard to wean my daughter at 9 months as opposed to my son. Though it is best to nurse your baby until he is a year old, it is up to you to decide when to wean your baby from breastfeeding.

A friend suggested that I apply a paste of bitter gourd around the time my son was ready to be nursed. But I had not bargained on the resourcefulness of a determined toddler. When my son saw the paste, he proceeded to wipe it off with a tissue, had his fill of milk, went to the kitchen to fetch the paste and gave it to me for reapplication. I realized then that the situation called for change of tactics.  

Wean gradually as the sudden physical separation might stress your baby and upset her. Replace one feed at a time.

Give your baby a sippy cup as an alternative, to drink water or juice from, before you begin to wean your baby from breastfeeding. Give your baby the sippy cup during his snack time or when you give him solids.

Skip one feed, after breakfast or after lunch and give milk in the sippy cup instead. To start with, give your pumped milk, for a few days to start with, in order to avoid his outrage at the sudden change in the taste of milk that might upset him needlessly. Gradually reducing the number of feeds over the next few weeks, will give your baby ample time to come to terms with the transition. Besides, your milk supply will also reduce in time.

Shorten each feed time of your baby. Make up for the reduced time by giving your baby his favorite snack or milk from his sippy cup. Your baby’s bedtime feed will be the last one to go.

Distract and postpone your baby’s feed once or twice in a day by reasoning or distracting him with his favorite toy or music or an outing to the park or postpone the feed that he is least interested.

Weaning from mom to dadDuring the weaning period, give extra cuddles and hugs to your baby to comfort her. At this juncture, the father can lend a hand by holding the baby more and comforting her.

If weaning becomes a struggle on account of certain unusual developments at home, then perhaps you should postpone weaning until the next month or so. Don't worry, your baby will be weaned sooner or later. 

Weaning can be initiated by your baby when he shows less interest in getting nursed and shows more interest in toys or other things.

Be prepared to notice certain physical changes in your baby once she is weaned like harder stools from formula milk as opposed to breast milk, which is normal.




Thursday, December 29, 2011

Importance and Benefits of Dietary Fiber - How it Helps your Child




My son was a very picky eater as a child and I had to coax, cajole, even threaten sometimes, to get him to put even a morsel into his mouth. He didn't like veggies much, so I made sure he got his nutrition by grating the veggies and adding them in pancakes, bread, dosas, cutlets, pakodas etc. He was prone to constipation at 2 years of age, which happens to kids who are choosy about food, especially foods rich in fiber. Toilet time was torture time because my son hated to force his stools out as they were hard, hence painful. Once, his stools were so hard that I had to resort to pushing up a small bit of soap up his anus, in order to force the stools out. I decided I had to think of some way to make sure he had his quota of fiber through tasty snacks made out of oats, that he loved a lot.

Without fiber in your daily food,  your bowel movements would be extremely painful because fiber aka roughage, that is obtained primarily from fruit skins, plants and husks of grains, helps in the smooth and easy passage of your body waste through the intestine and out of the anus.

Fiber is of two types, namely soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber, found in whole grains like oats and barley, fruits like pears, apples, plums, peaches and blackberries, legumes, seeds like dried beans and nuts, helps to slow down digestion of food which in turn regulates sugar levels and keep you feeling full and energized.

Insoluble fiber, found in whole wheat, corn bran, wheat bran, broccoli, cabbage, onions, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, dark leafy veggies, grapes and vegetable skins, act as a laxative and prevents constipation. It is a gut-healthy fiber and helps in quick passage of waste from the body.
Inclusion of dietary fiber in your child’s diet will prevent constipation, which is a very common ailment among children.

You can make nutritious snacks out of oats, if your child is fed up of having the boring oats porridge.

Oats Hearts Cutlet

½ cup oats, 1 cup mashed potatoes, ¼ cup each of grated carrot, cauliflower, chopped French beans, grated zucchini, 1 tsp of cilantro/coriander leaves, ½ oregano, 1 tsp lemon juice, 2 tbsp regular yogurt, ¼ tsp red chilly powder & salt.
Mix all the ingredients well. Make equal sized balls from the mixture and press a heart shaped stencil cutter (optional). Heat a pan, grease it with oil and fry the cutlets on both sides till done. Serve hot with ketchup or chutney.


Oats Peas Pancake/Dosa

For the pancake – 1 cup rolled oaks, ¼ cup split black lentils, salt
For the topping – ½ cup each of chopped onions & grated carrot, ¼ cup of green peas(parboiled), ¼ tsp mustard seeds, ½ tbsp of split black lentils and ¼ tbsp of lemon juice, salt.

To make the pancake batter – Grind the oats and split black lentils into a fine powder. Add around 2 cups of water and salt and mix well into a pancake batter. Keep aside for 10 to 15 minutes.
To make the topping РHeat a little oil in a pan and add the mustard seeds. When they crackle, add onions and saut̩ it for a while. Then add the veggies and saut̩ again. Add lemon juice, salt and cook till done on low heat.
On medium heat, place a non-stick flat pan, pour a little batter and tilt the pan around to spread the batter. When the bottom layer is done, put 1 or 2 tbsp of the filling over one side of the pancake and fold it into half. Do the same with the rest of the pancake batter. Serve hot with chutney.  

Oats Oothappam

For the topping - ¼ cup each of cottage cheese/paneer, cabbage, green peas, chopped onions, chopped tomatoes, 1 tsp chopped curry leaves, ¼ tsp pepper and salt
For the oothappam batter – 1 cups oats, 1 cup semolina/sooji, a pinch of asafetida, salt and 1 ½ cups of water.

Mix all the ingredients for making the oothappam batter and keep aside for at least ½ hour. After ½ hour is up, add ¼ tsp of bicarb of soda or baking soda and make sure it is of thick pouring consistency. Meanwhile in a bowl, mix together all the ingredients for the topping, very well.
Heat a flat pan on medium heat, pour some batter and spread it around using a flat ladle. Add the topping mixture all over the oothappam and cover it for a few minutes. When the base is done, take it off the heat and serve hot.


Oats and Apple Cinnamon crumble

¼ cup each of oats and chopped apples (with skin), 1 cup milk, 1 tsp brown sugar, 2 tsp chopped walnuts, a pinch of cinnamon.
In a pan, mix together oats, milk, 1 tsp brown sugar and cook until done. Take off heat and add walnuts, cinnamon and apples and mix again. Serve hot.

Oats and Chocolate chips cookies

1 cup oats, ½ cup whole wheat flour, ¾ cup soft butter, ½ cup grated apples, ¼ cup chocolate chips or chopped chocolate, 4 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tsp vanilla essence.

Mix together all the ingredients except the chocolate chips in a bowl and knead the mixture into a dough. When the dough is done, add the chocolate chips and knead again lightly. Refrigerate the dough for about 20 minutes and divide the mixture into 12 equal portions. Roll each mixture and flatten it to a cookie size. Place all the cookies in a greased tray and put it in a pre-heated oven at 160 C (320 F) for 25 minutes or till they are golden brown. Cool and serve.




Wednesday, December 28, 2011

How to Travel Safely and Comfortably with your Baby



It is normal to believe that traveling with a young infant could be harrowing on account of disruption of routines like feeding, sleeping, waking etc. But that is no reason to put your traveling plans on hold. You can have a relaxing and comfortable trip if you are prepared in advance and carry all the necessary things that your baby would need, with you. Here are some tips that I applied whenever I traveled with my children.

If you are going to fly, you will need to ask for less cramped seats (normally the emergency exit or the bulkhead) while booking your tickets, so that you have room to keep the baby bassinet. If it is first class, the seats come with plenty of leg room for you as for your baby. Or buy an additional ticket for extra comfort. Use an infant harness like Baby B’Air to allow your baby on your lap and tethered to your seat. The harness also eliminates the need of a stroller or a car seat.

Do a thorough research about the airline you are going to travel in order to find out if they are baby friendly or not, in matters like bassinet availability, heating baby formula and whether they provide a ‘baby kit’ to passengers carrying babies.

Pack your baby’s stuff in a different bag to avoid getting it messed up and for easy handling.

Pack some snacks that your baby loves, as he may be picky about what the airline offers in the flight. Eating food he loves will help your baby get settled faster during the flight.

Carry powdered baby formula as opposed to liquid formula, on account of strict airline regulations. You can ask the stewardess to give you distilled water, to mix the formula in the flight. You can keep one bottle of liquid formula for your baby to feed on during departure.

Pack a couple or more pairs of your baby’s clothes and diapers (depending on the duration of the flight), in your carry on, in case your baby got dirty. Pack some extra clothes for you too. Pack your baby carrier like Baby Bjorn as opposed to a stroller. It will be easy to get about with your hands free while carrying your baby, rather than be weighed down with heavy and bulky strollers.

Pack a few Ziploc bags, kitchen sponge and cleaning liquid for a quick cleaning of pacifiers, feeding bottles or toys, if needed in an emergency.

Give your baby a pacifier during the flight, especially during take-offs and landings, as the sucking motion will soothe your baby and prevent ear aches that can occur on account of pressure on eardrums. Whenever I flew with my children, I would put the feeding bottle into their mouths during take off and landing because they refused to take the pacifier and it worked just as fine.

Carry your baby’s favorite music that you can play on a portable player to lull him to sleep. Take a couple of his favorite toys too.

Complete the necessary immunizations, depending on where and how long you are going, after proper consultations with your doctor.

Make sure there are no empty air bags in your seat, to avoid unnecessary risk of your baby playing with it when you are not looking.








Natural Home Remedies for your Baby's ailments



Whenever your baby experiences discomfort from minor ailments like fever, cold, cough, colic, ear pain, diarrhea etc., you could try these simple home remedies that are perfectly safe instead of rushing to a doctor at the site of a blocked nose. Babies are prone to minor ailments, on account of their immature immune system and change in diet, weather etc.

For a blocked nose – Boil and cool 3 ounces of water (1 ounce = 6 tsp) with ¼ tsp salt added to it. With a dropper, put two drops of this saline solution inside both the nostrils of your baby whenever needed.

For removing baby body hair – Massage your baby with oil. Make a thick paste of 2 tbsp gram flour with ¼ tsp turmeric powder added to it. Rub the gram flour mixture on your baby’s body all over gently. Wash it away with water. The texture of the gram flour doubles up as a scrub and soap and will gently wax away the body hair. Do it regularly for a couple of months.  

For colic pain There can be several causes for colic. There are many ways to alleviate the pain.
 Burp your baby immediately after nursing him in order to expel the gas from his stomach.
Make sure your baby’s head is held higher than his feet when nursing him. This will automatically release gas while feeding him.
Crush two pods of garlic and add it to 3 tbsp of coconut oil. Boil the oil and leave it to cool a little. 
Rub a tsp of the warm coconut oil mixture gently in a circular motion, on the stomach and around the navel of your baby for a few minutes.  
Alternatively, add a drop of dill oil to a tsp of almond oil and massage your baby’s tummy. Give your baby a warm bath later on to relax his tummy muscles. 
Try turning your baby on his stomach for a few minutes to release the gas inside his stomach.
Avoid foods like corn, beans, wheat, sugar, nuts and chocolates.

Home Remedies for Colic -- powered by ehow



For chest congestion - Mix 1 tsp each of onion juice and ginger juice together and add ½ tsp of honey to it. Give your baby a few drops of it every now and then. It is very good for expelling the phlegm and sinus from your baby’s chest.  

For fever – Make a ‘wet compress’ by soaking a clean face towel or hand towel in cold water and keep it in the fridge for 20 minutes. Gently rub your baby’s forehead, cheeks and neck with it. Give your baby plenty of fluids to bring down the body temperature. If you are still nursing the baby, increase the number of feed times. Remember to boil and cool the water before giving it to your baby.
Alternatively, you can soak a pair of socks and gloves in white vinegar and put your baby’s hands and feet through it.  

For constipation – Mash an overripe banana and feed a tsp of it to your baby every two hours. Give your baby plenty of water to drink. 
Use the ‘bicycle legs’ massage to relieve your baby of colic as well as hard stools. Place your baby on his back and hold his legs up in half bent or an inverted “L” shaped position. Gently move his legs back and forth. When his thighs press against his stomach, it will expel any gas trapped inside as well as massage his intestines, softening his stools.

For diarrhea Cook 1 tbsp of “arrowroot” powder in 2 cups water and feed your baby a tsp of the porridge every two or three hours.

For cough – Build up steam inside the bathroom by leaving a running hot shower and closing the door. The steam will enter your baby’s nose and melt the phlegm. Do it for about 5 minutes thrice a day. Gently rub eucalyptus oil on his chest. Try to use a ‘humidifier’ to vaporize the phlegm in his chest. Elevate his head with pillows while putting him to sleep, in order to facilitate breathing.

For ear pain – Gently massage an extract of the herb “Echinacea” behind your baby’s ear, the outer ear, ear opening, the ear lobes and the neck. Gently rub your baby’s temples with a couple of drops of lavender oil, in order to remove stress on the nerves and enhance flow of blood. Use acupuncture therapy by pressing the area below the 4th and 5th toe, gently for 15 to 20 minutes. Sometimes ear ache is caused due to sensitivity to dairy products. You will have to check that out.

for teething - Giving your baby something cold and hard to suck on, to apply some pressure on the gums, can provide relief to your baby. Keep a wet rolled washcloth in the freezer for half an hour or wrap an ice-cube with a wash cloth or cold hard veggies like carrots & beets. Ensure that you supervise your baby when he is sucking on them to avoid risk of choking.

For dry skinDo not linger too long while bathing your baby as water can strip your baby’s skin of natural oils. Use herbal soaps and warm water as opposed to hot water. Use gentle moisturizing lotions and give your plenty of fluids to drink.

For diaper rash – Ideally use diapers only when you are out traveling with your baby. Buy the http://www.gdiapers.com/ and use it on your baby when you are traveling as they eco-friendly and biodegradable. Try to keep your baby diaper free as far as possible. You can even make your own cotton diapers at home. 
The best remedy for diaper rash is your own breast milk. It has antibodies and is gently soothing on your baby's skin. Apply it on the rash before putting your baby to bed. Allow the milk to dry before putting on a fresh diaper. Next morning your baby's butt will be good as new.! or Apply a paste of petroleum jelly with corn starch on the affected area. Wash and rinse your baby's clothes very well to avoid rash and infection. Wash your baby's bowels well after your baby passes stools. One teaspoon of vinegar added to a bowl of water can be used as an effective wash. Dry your baby well after every wash. Do not make your baby wear the same diaper for long periods of time. 
However, these home remedies are not adequate if symptoms persists for a longer period. You will need to consult a specialist for correct diagnosis and proper treatment.

Click the link below to see how to make your own diaper

Services for Children with Autism in The Netherlands



Children with autism have needs, the same as anyone else and are entitled access to health services like anybody else. Autism services in Europe, especially the scandinavian countries like the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland and Norway, have health services and support systems for neurological disorders that are affordable and accessible to the general public.  There are also a fair number of community disability awareness centers that provide valuable advice and counsel to parents unable to cope with stress and challenges involving these disorders. On comparing notes with people who are conversant with autism services in the US and UK, I believe, autism services in The Netherlands are by far more comprehensive, affordable, easily accessible and well managed.

During a recent visit to The Hague in The Netherlands, I had the good fortune to visit a few residential treatment facilities for people with autism, managed by one of the largest organization known as the IPSE de BRUGGEN who are committed to provide opportunities and comprehensive health care to these children. What impressed me was the fact that the organization not only dealt with health issues, but also looked into the general well being of the child by involving, informing, understanding and counseling the parents about their child’s special needs. The working personnel are dedicated, affectionate and very meticulous about fulfilling every need of these children with autism.

Ipse de Bruggen stands for “Everyone is special” and that is exactly what they work for. They offer their expertise to people with mild to severe disorders and provide places of stay, whether full time or part time, based on each person’s needs. There are a wide range of such dwellings to choose from, offering safety and protection as well as recreation and activity centers that are well designed to provide various learning activities, including reading, writing, drawing, painting, acting, art workshops, potteries, gardening and computer.

View this detailed brochure about IPSE for more information



View the link below for autism services for overseas families in The Netherlands

http://www.aaof.info/




Tuesday, December 27, 2011

How to make your Newborn Baby to Sleep Peacefully at Night


Putting a baby to sleep peacefully through the night is extremely challenging, especially if your baby sleeps fitfully and keep crying for reasons you are unable to fathom. My daughter hated to sleep as a baby and loved to cry and bring the roof down with her noise decibels. I had tried everything and finally worked out a solution that worked for me.

Babies usually have unpredictable and short sleeping patterns. The best way to comfort your baby is to recreate an environment that is similar to the way your baby felt inside the mother’s womb and watch the results!

Give your baby a lukewarm bath and a good feed – before putting him to sleep. A warm bath and a full stomach will help take your baby to magic dreamland.

Swaddle your baby - (read my post on - how to swaddle a baby) Swaddling makes your baby feel cozy and tight that equates the feeling of being inside the uterus.
Buy the "Miracle Blanket" swaddle at Amazon or eBay

Make a baby hammockA baby crib which is merely a miniature version of a bed, is impersonal and unmoving. A hammock will double up as a swing as well as a swaddle for older babies. Babies like being rocked and the movement lulls them to sleep. After swaddling your baby properly, place him gently inside the hammock and rock slowly until your baby falls asleep.

You can make your own hammock by drilling a strong steel hook into the ceiling that can take the weight of your baby in the hammock. Attach a spring to the hook and run a long sheet through the ring and join the ends to the desired length and up to one foot off the floor. Separate and fix either sides of the hammock apart with a wooden rod. 

Make your baby sleep on his side - Babies love to sleep on their side because they are always in a curled position inside the uterus. Moreover, studies show that babies have the Moro reflex aka startle reflex, which is an involuntary reflex seen at birth and lasts up to 4 to 5 months. When a baby is sleeping on his back, the position could trigger his Moro reflex and disturb his sleep constantly. However, sleeping on his side could have risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death syndrome). You may try by wedging two small cushions on either side of your baby to stop him from rolling over, although it could be a preferred option if your baby is able to sleep well on his back.


Sing a lullaby or some soothing music – Ideally your baby would love to hear your voice, even if you think your crooning is going off-key. Once your baby has fallen asleep, play some soft music. Try not to get your baby used to total silence while sleeping. It could pose a lot of problems, as you may not be able to maintain the same state of affairs, wherever you go. Besides, studies show that the mother’s womb has noises equal to a hair dryer on account of the sound of blood coursing through her arteries!

Give a pacifier to your babyBabies need to suck and the movement always put them to sleep. You must have noticed how your baby closes his eyes whenever you nurse him. Give your baby a pacifier to suck on and you can be sure it will soothe him, unless he is hungry and wants milk and not a pacifier. 

Get your baby used to different ways of sleeping - The way your baby is put to sleep could determine the way your baby would prefer to go back to sleep. Therefore, if your baby is always rocked to sleep, she will expect to be always rocked to sleep. Alternate between nursing, rocking, singing, playing music and asking your spouse to get your baby to sleep. Sometimes, you could also try the 'self soothing method' where your baby is put to bed awake and drifts off to sleep on her own. 

Peaceful daytime mood - If your baby has had a soothing & restful time during the day, chances are high that she would settle down peacefully at night. If your baby has bad a restless night, ensure that his daytime is calming and relaxing in order to continue that mood through the night.

Set consistent and regular sleep patterns - Choose a time interval when you would be most tired, say between 12 noon to 3 pm. Rest with your baby during these times and put her to sleep, to get your baby used a set sleeping routine. In this way, you will get your much needed rest during the day as well get your baby used to a sleeping pattern. Babies with set sleep routines will sleep for a longer time at night.


Feed your baby well during the day -  Feed your baby every three hours during the day and reduce the feed during the night so that your baby learns that eating is during the day and night is for sleeping. Give your baby one good feed when he wakes up the first time during the night so that he will not keep waking up for frequent feeds.

If all else fails, lay your baby on your outstretched legs with a soft cushion under his head and a cushion each on either side of him. Rock your baby gently until he falls asleep. The warm touch of your body may be just what your baby needs to go to sleep. I know it because it was what my daughter wanted. 

Watch this video about a baby's Moro Reflex