Introduction 1

Who am I? What do I do and why? 2

What is AIM? 6

1 How to be your own Baby Detective –

an example of a Baby Detective investigation 9

Case study: Two-week windy-baby

troubleshooting job in London 10

How you do this for yourselves 20

Becoming your own detective 22

2 Clues – what affects your baby? 24

Environmental factors: temperature, noise, light,

handling, atmosphere, other environmental factors 26

Biological states: hunger, tiredness, pain 37

Temperament: observation, thresholds 50

Emotional response 54

3 Essential record-keeping 57

Baby records: parental or family records, anxiety 58

4 How to carry out your own investigation 64

Find time to think 64

AIM process – Assess, Investigate and Modify:

defining the problem 65

Phase 1: Assessment (what?) 67

Phase 2: Investigation (why?) 77

Phase 3: Modification (solution) 95

5 Planning Ahead 105

Using AIM to prepare for:

A family gathering at home 107

A medical appointment or treatment 113

A social event away from home 120

A foreign holiday 125

Baby’s development: weaning from a swaddle,

transitioning to a cot, altering feed

intervals, adjusting daytime naps, play 135

6 How to wind your baby 144

Why do babies get wind? 145

Anatomy of a baby’s stomach 148

Winding positions and techniques: key points 150

Starting position 153

Patting 156

Up-rub 157

Tilting 157

Tipping 158

Over shoulder 159

Over knees 160

Put down/pick up 163

Swaddling 164

Dislodging difficult wind 166

Distraction 168

Tools 169

How to become an efficient winder 171

7 Useful tools and equipment 173

Equipment 173
Pacifier/dummy 174
Swaddles 182
Music, sound apps, white noise 187
Comforters, toys 190
Bottles and teats 191
Sling, baby carrier 193
Yoga ball, gym ball 195
Toolkit reminder list 196

8 Case studies 198

Case study 1: Newborn: painful breastfeeds 198

Case study 2: Four days old: breastfeeding
mum with low milk supply 204

Case study 3: Three months old: difficult
transition from breast to bottle 213

Case study 4: Four months old: breakdown
of routine, bad habits 223

Case study 5: Five months old: recognising
when and how to wean 230

9 What is normal? 240

Colour 240
Cord 241
Eyes 242
Legs, arms and feet 243
Strange noises 244
Crying 245
Head shape 246
Appetite 248
Wind 250
Hiccups 251
Breathing and temperature 252
Sleep 253
Birthmarks 254
Urine, faeces and constipation 256
Skin rashes 261