101 Baby Hacks by Elina Furman (Book Excerpt)

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Excerpted with permission from Elina Furman’s 101 Baby Hacks (BenBella Books; October 2024).

Hack #11

Walk and Sit

A recent study out of Wako, Japan, found that a simple, well- timed routine can help your baby stop crying and settle down into a deep sleep. I wish I had known when my kids were little that just 5 minutes of walking followed by an 8-minute sitting sesh can help calm your baby down.

Why It Works

There’s a reason this one-two punch works so well. The walking effect is actually called a “transport response” and it is a physiological response that allows your baby’s heart rate to slow down when they are picked up and carried. The sitting part has to do with holding them so that their startle or Moro reflex does not activate, allowing them to fall into a deeper sleep before you lay them down in the crib.

Tips

• Use your phone’s timer (set to vibrate, not sound!) so you can keep track. Stick to the timed formula exactly.
• Resist the urge to slow down or stop walking to check on baby.
• Don’t make any sudden stops or pivots when walking with your baby. Try to keep your stride as smooth as possible.

How to Do It

• Make sure baby feels snuggled in your arms, a carrier, or a swaddle.
• Start by slowly walking around the house with your baby, holding them firmly over your shoulder or in a football hold. Walk for 5 minutes.
• Once the 5-minute walking warm-up is complete, sit down and continue to hold your baby for an additional 8 minutes. Lay them down once they look like they are fully asleep.

Hack #12

Sway and Shhh!

There is one magic combination that can send even the most overtired baby into a deep slumber.

Why It Works

Rocking your baby gently creates a calming effect. Swaying a baby slowly helps to regulate baby’s heart and nervous system. The shhh sound mimics the sound of being in the womb and helps baby relax and fall asleep.

Tips

• Never sway or rock a baby too strongly. Always make sure you are supporting baby’s head in your arm or against your body.
• When making the shhh sound, make sure to keep your voice quiet if shushing directly into their ear as loud noise could startle them.

How to Do It

• Place your baby in a straddle position over your arms (this position is sometimes called the football hold). Make sure baby’s head is lying on your arm and spread out your fingers so their body is fully supported by your palm and fingers.
• Start swaying back and forth gently.
• Add a shhh sound as you perform this maneuver.
• Repeat for 5 minutes until baby begins to fall asleep.

Hack #13

Butt First! Sleep Transition

One of the worst culprits of baby sleep disruption is the dreaded sleep transition. There’s nothing more frustrating than getting your baby to sleep, lowering them into the crib oh so gently and quietly, and then having them wake up screaming bloody murder as soon as you lay them down.

Why It Works

By laying them down with their butt and legs first and slowly letting their head slide onto the mattress, you are preventing the Moro reflex from kicking in, which often creates the sensation of falling if baby’s head goes down first.

Tips

• When baby has quieted in your arms, always wait a full minute to see if baby is deeply asleep before transitioning them into the crib.
• Use the other techniques outlined in this chapter to ensure an optimal sleep environment: heat, smell, sound, light, and swaddle or sleeping bag.
• Move baby very slowly to create a seamless transition.

How to Do It

• Many parents place the head down first, but this makes your baby feel like they are falling. Hold your baby closely to your chest and lay their butt and legs down first.
• Once you have laid them down, place a hand over their chest and belly to create a gentle weighted sensation that will calm them. Keep your hand there for about a minute or until baby looks like they are settling.

Hack #14

The Science of Scent

Did you know that babies can recognize their caregivers’ smell and find instant comfort just by being around you? During their time in the womb, babies are able to detect the smell of their mother’s amniotic fluid, which can help them identify Mom using just their sense of smell. If you’re looking to transfer baby and help them self-soothe, leaving your scent behind is a great way to comfort them.

Tip

• Never leave anything larger than a washcloth or burp cloth in the crib with your baby.

Why It Works

The sense of smell along with the sense of touch are the first senses to develop in utero. Studies show that babies are instantly comforted by their caregivers’ smell and presence. When your baby catches a whiff of your scent, they feel as though you are right there with them, which helps ease separation anxiety. A caregiver’s scent has the ability to lower cortisol levels, which can lead to deeper, more prolonged sleep.

How to Do It

There are many ways you can capture that magical Mom (or Dad) scent. Try one of the following:

• Place a small cloth in your bra or shirt and wear it throughout the day or during sleep.
• If you’re breastfeeding, rub some breast milk on a small washcloth and leave it in the crib with your baby. (While safe sleep rules dictate that you shouldn’t leave anything in the crib with your baby, you can leave them with a small 9-inch square washcloth.)
• Sleep with your baby’s sheet for a night before laying it down in their crib.
• You can also just rub the T-shirt you wore all day on baby’s crib sheet in a pinch.

Hack #15

A Warm Landing

Babies lose heat much faster than adults—almost four times faster, actually. One of the hardest parts of getting baby to sleep is to transfer them from the warm confines of your arms to a bare, cold crib. Here’s a quick hack that will ensure an easy, cozy transition from arms to the crib or bassinet.

Why It Works

The sudden transition from the warmth of your arms to a colder crib sleep setting can startle your baby awake. A warmed mattress makes it easier for your baby to stay cozy and stay asleep for longer stretches.

Tips

• This can’t be overstated: Never leave a heating pad in the crib with baby. Always remove once the mattress feels warm.
• While it’s important to keep baby warm, also make sure baby is not overheating by creating an optimal sleep environment not to exceed 72°F.

How to Do It

• Place a heating pad (on the low setting) or a hot water bottle in your baby’s crib 5–10 minutes before you lay them down. Do a temperature check with your hands. Remove the pad or bottle once the mattress feels pleasantly warm (not hot).
• Always remove the heating pad before placing your baby in the crib.
• Monitor your baby’s temperature by placing your hand on the back of their neck or on their chest.

Hack #16

Sounds of Silence

While some parents swear by maintaining a noisy environment to get their babies used to sleeping in any conditions, others wouldn’t dream of letting their baby sleep without a sound machine at home or on the go.

Why It Works

Ample research shows that certain noise frequencies can have a calming effect on baby’s sleep. A 2 018 study found that babies who listened to white noise slept more and cried less than babies who were just soothed in a swing. Experiment with different sounds to find out which is most calming, especially for sensitive babies and those with sensory issues.

Tips

• You can use an app or a sound machine that makes different sound variations. Make sure you don’t exceed recommended volume control, and keep all sound below 50 decibels (there are apps you can download to assess noise level).
• Always place the sound machine 7 feet from baby’s sleep area and turn the volume down or shut it off after they have fallen asleep.
• Don’t forget to bring your noise machine when traveling and to turn on noise to minimize distractions when entertaining at home.

What It Is

• White noise: White noise mixes sound frequencies across the spectrum, low to high frequency, to make a noise that you might associate with TV static, a fan, or an untuned radio. Most sound machines use white noise as it is most similar to the shhh sound that helps babies regulate their nervous systems and relax.
• Pink noise: Pink noise is like white noise but without the higher-frequency sounds, so it can be more soothing to some. It can be compared to rainfall or waves lapping the shore.
• Red or brown noise: This noise color has even lower frequencies, creating a more soothing lullaby-type experience. Think of it as a little deeper than pink noise and similar to the sound of a steady shower stream or heavy rain shower.

Hack #17

Night-Lights

There are many night-lights available for a baby’s room; some are combined with sound machines, some come in fun shapes, others are more simple and plain. Rather than a standard white or yellow glow, try a red night-light for baby’s room. It may surprise you, but red light is a natural way to help a baby sleep.

Why It Works

Numerous medical studies have shown that red light therapy is the most natural way to help your baby produce melatonin to help them sleep and regulate their circadian rhythms. It can also off set the energizing impact of blue light that our babies are exposed to during the day from natural sunlight and from the screens of our devices, thus helping to calm them and relax their bodies naturally.

Tips

• Keep all cords away from baby’s sleeping area so they are out of reach.
• There are many red light/humidifier combos on the market that can be used with baby from birth on.

How to Do It

• Place the light source at least 4 feet away from baby’s crib.
• Turn on the red light in baby’s room while you nurse or massage them to get them acclimated.
• Use the red light every night to create consistent sleeping patterns.

About the Author 

Elina Furman is a certified infant massage therapist and instructor, holistic practitioner specializing in infant care, and inventor of the Kahlmi baby massager. After suffering from postpartum anxiety while her firstborn son had colic, Elina set out to help other parents dealing with the same situation. She became a certified infant massage therapist and instructor and was inspired to create Kahlmi to help educate and bring awareness to the benefits of baby and child massage in the US and beyond. Elina has also written and published 20 books — her most recent book, 101 Baby Hacks, is an easy-to-follow guide to science backed wellness solutions, baby massage and other modern tricks that can help new parents gain confidence and alleviate their baby’s discomfort. She has contributed to Motherly, The Bump, Today’s Parent, Motherhood, and been featured on KTLA’s Morning Show, Good Day Chicago, Fox Houston’s Chattin’ with Chelsea, Atlanta Live and more. Visit https://kahlmi.com/products/101-baby-hacks