This maneuver is based on the newborn reflex called "doll's eye", referring to
old-fashioned dolls whose eyes closed when they were laid down and opened when
they were picket up.

Human babies, too, will do this, so in trying to awaken a baby, it is
sometimes effective to gently rock the baby forward from lying to sitting,
then back to lying down again.  Two hands are needed for this--one to support
the baby's neck and head, and one to hold arms across the chest (if the baby
easily startles) and also keep the head from coming forward too far when the
baby is sitting up.

When I use this I sometimes add "back stimulation" if the baby still isn't
awakening.  I rub gently from the base of the baby's spine, with my fingertips
along either side of the spinal column, to the base of the skull.  The amount
of pressure needed varies--for some babies  very light pressure gets them to
squirm a bit and wake themselves up, for others it takes fairly firm pressure
and repeated "runnings" up to get the same result.

I teach this to parents as I do it (and have a handout for them to take home,
if needed).  New parents like to see their baby's eyes, so they are very
interested in this skill.  Of course, putting the baby up on the shoulder so
their body is fairly upright will do the same thing, but it often isn't enough
to awaken a sleepy baby.

Jeanne Brotherton, RNC, IBCLC
from the Great Pacific Northwest
Bellingham, Washington