After nearly 40 weeks of being pregnant, it’s not uncommon for women to want to try to induce labor on their own. While most of these fun tactics are simply that, it can’t hurt to put them to the test! Remember that you should only try to naturally induce labor after 38 weeks when your baby is considered full term. So get to work and see if one of these will work for you!

Balsamic Vinegar. Add a splash to your evening salad!

Acupressure. Pressure points in your back and shoulder well can be stimulated using your thumb and forefinger.

Massage. Work only with someone who is trained in pregnancy massages. He or she will know the right pressure points that can induce labor.

Nipple Stimulation. This really does work, as the hormones produced can cause contractions! However, it needs to be done for an hour at a time, which may lead little time for other things.

Spices. Licorice, basil, oregano and motherwort are all spices that have been linked to inducing labor.

Foods. Juicy pineapple, eggplant, spicy foods and Chinese foods have all been said to induce labor. Fortunately, these foods will be tasty during your final weeks of pregnancy whether they induce labor or not!

Sex. The sperm help to soften the cervix and also have prostaglandins, which induce contractions. And, orgasms cause contractions, which may set you off into labor after having a bit of fun.

Castor Oil. There is some debate over this, so be sure to use with caution. While castor oil is known to stimulate contractions, it can also cause diarrhea and vomiting. However, it is these cramps in the bowels that often set off contractions.

Exercise. Whether it’s swimming, taking a long stroll or swinging on a swing, all of these exercises have been known to stimulate contractions.

Bouncing on an Exercise Ball. Consider it great practice for the real thing. This bouncing causes the baby to move up and down, hopefully getting him or her ready to make the grand exit.  Luna Lullaby offers a great Bounce-a-Bye Baby Ball that is helpful before birth during your pregnancy, during birth to ease any pressure or discomfort and after you give birth as a workout for mommy and a great way to soothe a fussy baby.

Tea. Raspberry leaf or thyme tea are great ones to try. With raspberry leaf, it should be incorporated into the diet around 34 weeks. Not only can it lead to a natural induction, but it can shorten labor, a real win-win situation.

While the medical community is mixed on whether or not these natural induction methods actually work, they are safe to try after 38 weeks. Has one of them worked for you? Share your story with us!

Image c/o squidoo.com

The teething process is different for every baby. For some, a tooth may cut overnight, causing little to no fussiness from your baby. However, for some babies, the teething process is a long, painful process. Signs that your baby is teething include irritability, diarrhea, cold like symptoms, drooling and the main sign – chewing or gnawing. Babies like to bite or chew on things when they teethe because the counter pressure gives them a bit of relief from the cutting tooth. They are a few ways to naturally soothe your baby’s sore teeth and gums that will help both of you get a better nights rest and a better day.

-A Wooden Cooking Spoon: Although this may seem strange, it is no different than a wooden teething ring.

-Cold Fruits or Veggies: Depending on your baby’s age, giving them a tasty frozen treat could be very comforting to your little one. An alternative, if your baby is too small to digestive chunks of food, is a mesh feeder. Bread also works well for older babies.

-Clove Oil: Always test this on yourself first before you put it on your baby. If it is too strong, it could blister baby’s gums. However, in the correct dosage, this could be very relieving.

Remember, teething is not forever. Although it may seem like it will never end - it will.

Swaddling – An old tradition with modern versatility

Swaddling is a tradition as old as recorded history. There are records of swaddling in texts written ancient Romans, ancient Greeks, and even the Bible. Today’s swaddle wraps are a far cry from the old ones, but they work in the same fashion.

How it works

Swaddling refers to a specific technique used to wrap a blanket around the infant. The blanket is wrapped tightly but not too tightly so that the baby is not pinned into position but his or her limbs are snugly tucked into their body.

This position accomplishes two things:

1. First, it emulates the feeling of being in the womb, making the baby more comfortable and keeping them warm.
2. Second, the blanket prevents the baby from waking up when they accidentally move their arms or legs. This allows for longer periods of uninterrupted rest.

Swaddling today

Today’s swaddling blankets are different from the older ones in several important ways. First of all, the best modern swaddle wraps are made from cotton muslin. It is softer than ancient fabrics so that it is more pleasant next to a baby’s sensitive skin. Additionally, it has a little stretch to it, allowing it to be used for swaddling more easily.  Finally, it is a thin material that provides insulation and ventilation so that the baby is warm without overheating.

These blankets come in a variety of colors and patterns, but they all are a great source of comfort to both mother and child during this special time.

Bouncing for all the right reasons

With all the products on the market aimed at parents and promising to be the best soothing product available, it can be hard to discern what works and what doesn’t, or what you really want versus products that end up being a waste of time and money.

One product that many parents are interested in is the infant bouncer. There are a variety of models available, but overall this seems to be a pretty effective soothing method for many infants.

Soothing with a bouncer

Babies enjoy repetitive motion. This may be due to the fact that they were often in motion while in their mother’s womb, or because it is simply enjoyable to be bounced. Whatever the explanation, it can be hard on tired parents to bounce their infant constantly, which is where the infant bouncer is very useful.

When your baby is in the bouncer, he or she can be stimulated or soothed, and your hands are free to attend to other tasks. Bouncers come with a variety of features, including some that have multiple motion settings, so your baby will be entertained while he or she is awake and a more gentle setting can be used to lull the little one to sleep.

Remember, safety first

While there are a variety of infant bouncer models to choose from, make sure that any bouncer you use is sturdy, has a wide frame to avoid tipping issues, has a three or five point safety harness like the one on a car seat, and that your child is within the height and weight limitations for that particular model. This will ensure that your baby is safe while being soothed.

Soothing sounds for baby

The sounds of an upset baby can be frustrating for parents, and even embarrassing if the baby is crying in a public place. Parents rush to soothe the baby, doing anything and everything they can think of to calm and soothe their little one.

One of the most effective ways that parents can soothe their babies is with soothing sounds.

Infants and noise have a unique relationship: a jarring noise can provoke tears, upsetting a baby while other sounds provide a consistent calming effect.  Three sources of soothing sounds include white noise, the voice of the baby’s mother, and lullabies.

3 Types of Baby Soothing Sounds:

-         White noise can be any sound that is consistent and serves as a noise barrier, muffling other jarring noises. It is thought that white noise mimics the sounds the baby heard while she or he was in the womb, so it is comforting to hear white noise outside of the womb as well.

-         Mother’s voice. Another sound the baby became accustomed to while developing in the womb was the sound it his or her mother’s voice, which allows them to find solace in her familiar tone now that they are surrounded by unfamiliar sights and sounds in the world.

-         Lullabies. Perhaps the “oldest trick in the book” when it comes to calming an infant, almost everyone can remember some of the songs they heard during their childhood. From “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” to “You Are My Sunshine,” these songs are an easy way to calm your infant when he or she is upset.

Bouncing is a common technique for calming a crying or upset baby and was the inspiration for our Bounce A Bye Ball. You have probably seen more parents than you could ever count pacing back and forth, doing a unique dance to bounce their infant into a calmer and quieter state. This technique is not limited to children without colic; parents of colicky babies can often help their child find relief and soothing by bouncing him or her gently.

Bouncing – fun and helpful!

Despite the fact that the exact cause of colic is not known for certain, there is a significant amount of anecdotal evidence to support the fact that bouncing is extremely helpful for colicky babies. Possible explanations for the effectiveness of this approach to soothing colic include the following three:

1. The baby may be able to release gas that has built up in the digestive system. For infants who are having trouble with digestion and gas, bouncing may be a necessary supplement to burping after meals to release pressure and alleviate pain.

2. Bouncing may also have a soothing sensation because it mimics the feeling of being carried in a mother’s womb. A child inside his or her mother’s body feels the sensation of bouncing as she goes through the running, walking, sitting, and standing of her daily routine. Bouncing may mimic this sensation in a way that is enjoyable and relaxing for your baby.

3.   Finally, bouncing may be a way to stimulate the development of the vestibular system, a part of the baby’s neurological system that supports coordination, gross motor skills, and balance.

Colic is a challenging issue for infants, and it can be even more difficult for their parents as they struggle to help the baby and calm his or her tears. Swaddling is a technique that can be of great help to parents as it offers a unique type of comfort to the infant.

What is swaddling?

Swaddling is not a new technique, although it has become more popular in the United States in recent years. Today, most women do not even leave the hospital without getting at least a brief lesson in the correct way to wrap their baby.

When done correctly, the limbs of the infant are bound to his or her body in a way that is tight enough to restrict movement but not so tight as to cause discomfort. The swaddling blanket keeps the baby warm, which helps him or her maintain their body temperature during the first few days after leaving the womb.

At the same time, keeping the baby in a certain position emulates the tight quarters of the mother’s womb, imitating the security and safety the infant knew for the previous nine months. An additional benefit of the swaddling technique is that it effectively counters the baby’ startle reflex. The startle reflex is a way that baby’s will wake themselves by flailing their limbs, even out of their deepest sleep.

When swaddled, the babies are unable to flail their limbs and wake themselves, resulting in better sleep with fewer interruptions.

How swaddling helps with colic

This is a highly effective way for parents to calm their infants, whether or not they have colic. If you are looking for a safe and natural way to keep your baby calmer and quiet his or her cries, consider incorporating swaddling in your routine.

> Watch a swaddling demonstration video

Despite the incredible progress in medicine and science over the past hundred years or more, the causes of colic remain something of a mystery. It is not a new condition, but there has yet to be a definite answer as to what causes colic and why one child develops the condition while others do not.

Estimates vary on the actual number of infants who are affected by colic, but generally range between 15 and 25% of all babies. Experts disagree on the single cause of this condition, but common explanations for colic include the following areas.

Causes of colic to look for:

Indigestion or gas.

Gas can be extremely painful for infants, so one explanation for the cause of colic is that the infant is crying due to the buildup of gas in their digestive system.

Immaturity of the baby’s digestive system.

One way of explaining the indigestion or gas is that the infant’s digestive system is so new that it cannot process the formula or milk that it is given. This immaturity leads to gas, indigestion, and pain, causing colic.

Allergies or intolerance.

A third potential cause of colic is that the baby has allergies or cannot tolerate certain compounds or foods.

Temperament.

Finally, some people think that colic is a reflection of a baby’s very sensitive temperament, and that they develop better self control as they get older than enables them to control their crying.

The actual cause of colic may be any one of these or a combination of them, but understanding what may cause the crying that indicate colic is a smart way to evaluate possible ways of treating it.