Robert & Claire’s new son, who is now 3 1/2 weeks old, is utterly scrumptious — almost enough to want to take a bite of him! *grin* I really love holding babies, now that it’s been so long since I’ve had one of my own. The pictures I have of his birthday are in a new album; I’ll have to take some more pics soon, now that he’s looking so much more finished and his personality is starting to shine through!

As I walked past Robert & Claire’s place on my way home from work tonight, I heard the little darling screaming to beat the band. So I meandered over to see if there was anything I could do to help, as another largely-useless talent of mine is having Great Mojo with babies. Robert said he’d been screaming for 2 hours, but as soon as I picked him up and started doing the Baby Dance, he quieted right down. On one recent day when this happened (as it’s a rather common occurrence), Claire told me affectionately that she “hated” me because I could always get him to settle right down.

I’m pretty sure that my ability to soothe fussy babies has more to do with them being held by someone who doesn’t feel or smell or sound like Mama or Daddy, and quite a lot of experience doing the Baby Dance, than anything else. Not to mention that parents get pretty damned stressed out when babies are fussy for very long, and babies can sense that; often they’ll settle right down for someone who’s holding them confidently yet not radiating tension.

There’s no substitute for experience in doing the Baby Dance, but it can be taught. The trick is to support the baby’s head and butt while holding him either upright and leaning slightly back, with his tummy against your bosom (or chest), or leaning slightly forward against your shoulder with his head tucked into a soft spot either just above or below your collarbone. If he’s sleepy and not trying to nurse, you can hold him against your tummy with his head resting on your bosom (or chest). Then you bounce your body (not the baby’s) — gently! — while simultaneously swaying softly from side to side. If you’ve ever done the hula, it’s very much like that, but with slow & gentle bounces added. Once you’ve mastered the basic rhythm, you can use the hand that’s supporting his butt to gently pat him in time with your bounces, to encourage burping.

Babies make my brain all googly-gleeful. It’s a good thing I can’t have any more, or Geoffrey might be in trouble!