- [Sarah] Allowing a baby to self soothe is crucial in the first year. There are so many ways a baby can self soothe. It's thumb, it's fingers, pacies, lovies, mom's nipple, bottle. Allowing them access to their fingers while they sleep is a great way to help them how to sleep on their own. Pacies are also a helpful tool. Babies need non nutritive sucking in the first year to help regulate their nervous system. A pacie, a thumb, fingers all accomplish that.

Swaddling is a great way to soothe a baby and help it sleep longer. It can also diminish Moro or Startle reflex and is useful until the baby is 4 month old. Watch a demonstration of swaddling technique by Wendy Haldeman, Lactation Specialist from Pump Station.

Thumb sucking is a very common way for babies to self-soothe. When babies are swaddled pacifiers can be life saviors but parents have a lot of questions and concerns about them. When should you introduce pacifier? Which one is right for your baby? Can pacifiers affect alignment of teeth and shape of the palate? When should you stop using them? Is there a connection with frequent ear infections? Watch this video to find answer to these and many other questions!

While they may have just been born yesterday, babies are pretty clever. They can suck on their thumbs, fingers, and even fists to soothe themselves. It’s a biological imperative called non-nutritive sucking, meaning they aren't sucking for food or any nutrients like they would when breastfeeding. However, when babies are swaddled and placed on their backs to sleep, it's difficult for their hands to reach their mouths. This is where pacifiers come into play. Pacifiers can be a controversial subject and yet it is something many parents rely on.

- All parents know that sleep is an enormous issue. And lovies or blankys, you might here them called transitional objects, they fall into the category of what we call helpful sleep associations. Helpful meaning that your baby can get to it herself in the middle of the night she doesn't need you to come in and do something for her. Babies are very tactile. And even when they are very young. You start to see them starting to finger things. You start to see them moving their fingers. You start to see them maybe when you are holding them they are touching your shirt or your skin.