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Subject:
From:
Glenn Evans <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Tue, 29 Apr 1997 09:47:15 -0700
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I frequently use the "doll's eyes" technique when babies are sleepy or show limited feeding cues.  I do it as part of teaching moms and dads about the physiologic progress towards the breast, i.e., crawling movements of the legs, 
rooting, opening eyes, opening mouth, bringing tongue out.  As well as helping to wake the baby up, it gives parents a way to play with infant and wait out this phase of learning with less frustration.  

I show them how babies will often mimic faces, once their eyes are open, so we go through this routine:  sitting baby up, and down, (gently and slowly), 'til eyes start opening, then saying "mama" as we do it, until kid starts opening the mouth with the movements as well.  Then we work towards teasing the tongue forward, touching the lower lip.  Once baby is doing all of these things, then we go towards the breast.  

At first moms and dads (and co-workers) look at me like I'm nuts, but then they get into it as the baby starts responding.  They begin to see the importance of all the stages of nursing, and are more willing to wait and not force the baby to a breast it is not yet ready for.

Chanita, San Francisco




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From:   Karen M Zeretzke[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Sent:   Tuesday, April 29, 1997 6:01 AM
Subject:        Re: waking sleepy baby

Kathy Bodden and others interested,
        I believe "jackknifing" has been replaced by what is called the
"Doll's Eyes" technique--also a pretty good tool to wake a sleepy one.
>From flat on his back, place hands under the baby's shoulders with thumbs
hooked around the shoulder/underarms,  support his head and raise him to
sitting position, hold a few seconds,  and lower back to supine.  Repeat,
many times if necessary.  (Like you were playing with a baby doll that
opened and closed its eyes.)  Keeping the legs flat and only bending the
body at a 90 degree angle seems to make this a gentler, safer way to
awaken these sleepy munchkins.

Karen Zeretzke
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
[log in to unmask]

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