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
10 Where and how to get help when you need it 267
Other people’s opinions 268
Hospital 269
Community midwife 270
Health visitor 270
Doctor/GP 271
Non-medical expert, ‘consultant’ 272
Maternity nurse or nanny agency 275
Support group 276
11 Emergency action – Screaming baby – how to
shut down a meltdown 280
Comfort sucking 280
Movement 281
Noise 282
Light 282
Try a different room 282
Air movement 282
Other things to try 283
Emergency routine 284
12 Summary 287
Acknowledgements 289
Index