Day 45 - WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!

We've hit a rough spot the past week with a lot of fussiness and crying. The past five weeks had their share of tears, but just recently the kiddies have become a lot more temperamental. For instance, we used to leave their soiled diapers on their rash-infested butts for a good 12-14 hours without a whimper, but now if we don't change them immediately it becomes a big old baby whine fest. I say if you don't have the ability to wipe yourself that's your own fault.

Although our experience with babies are only with twins (my child with Nancy McKeon does not count because DNA tests are still inconclusive), I can tell you this much: stereo sound is overrated. Having one child being fussy can be pretty annoying at night; having two children being fussy is down right nasty. I'm not talking Destiny's Child "Nasty Girl", but Britney Spears-having-sex-with-eyes-in-his-hand-Pan's Labyrinth-dude nasty.

Every baby is obviously different, but I thought I would share my opinion on what tends to shut your babies up.


Balance Ball: What this takes place of is walking and cradling your baby in your arms. You sit your tushy on the ball and just start bouncing up and down. It's amazing how quickly our babies settle down after a few minutes. It's like baby crack.





Bouncer chairs: I have to admit the bouncer chair hasn't been a big hit with the kids yet. The few times we have tried it, the kids would get restless after five minutes or so. It doesn't swing, but it plays music and vibrates -- kinda like the present I bought Lisa last year for our anniversary. The vibration isn't very strong, but maybe it's because it only take 4 C batteries; as for the chair, it takes 4 D batteries.








Swing: Now this is probably the second most effective calming device next to the crackball. This model swings front to back or side to side; it plays music and nature sounds; there's a revolving mobile above the seat; and the only lead paint is on top of the swing where babies can't touch in the first place.






Swaddling blanket: This particular blanket is called the Miracle Blanket. A normal blanket will do just fine, but we got these as a gift and are pretty nice. You pop your baby's legs into that pouch, wrap their arms with the inside flaps, and then you take the long part of the blanket and twirl it around tightly several times. And please do not be confused like we were and put the baby's head in the pouch. I think it's hard to breathe.


Car ride: It's amazing how quickly the kids will fall asleep in their car seat. Just a few minutes on the road will bring the sweet gift of silence to your ears. Initially I thought the kids enjoyed the smell of the car so I piped the fumes inside, but funnily, we all fell asleep and found ourselves in Carlsbad. How crazy is that?



There are also a few things we tried that I would not suggest:


Muzzle: It isn't so much I wouldn't suggest using muzzles, but it's just really hard to find them small enough for a baby's head. Please let me know if you find them anywhere.













Duct tape: You'd think something as versatile as duct tape would keep a baby calm, but you'd be wrong. We tried duct taping everything a baby would love to hold: pacifiers, bottles, rattles, a puppy. But none of them would calm the kids down.





A dark closet: It's dark, it's quiet, it's private. But babies hate being locked in a closet. Although it does work the other way around if you lock yourself in the closet while the kids are crying elsewhere in the house.