The Key To Soothe A Crying Baby: Scout Songs and Dancing Around A Room

I've had occasion to care for several infants recently.

Although I have a 10-month-old, it's always an adventure caring for someone else's baby. They can't communicate in anything but grunts, giggles, and wails. I know what worked for Charlie, but... he's his own person. And even then, his preferences and needs change so often, I'm still figuring those out. every week I seem to have a new kid.

So this week as I held a frustrated little one and did my best to feed him (that didn't work)... Tried my best to swaddle him (he kicked it away like a soccer champion)... changed his diaper (the screams crescendoed)... rock-a-byed (that was a mistake)... I finally got creative and started to sing Boy Scout Songs my Dad and brothers used to chant around the house growing up. I don't know where the idea came from, but there I was, singing "Well, I stuck my head in a little skunk hole" and "Scout socks they're old and they're moldy" and "I will be your pizza man." And I may have danced a modified polka jig while I was at it.

It worked.

So when in doubt while caring for a newborn, just go with it. Try the regular things to solve the sobs just for good measure, and then test your engineering and design problem solving skills (at least, that's what we refer to them as in the education world). Look at the problem from a new light and try something sporadic, untraditional, original, organic.

And that baby might just snooze away like a contented old gentlemen soothed by a symphony.

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