When I was pregnant I got a birthing ball to help me during the last months of pregnancy. A birthing ball, also known as a stability or exercise ball, is something you will see in every gym but it is the exact same ball women have used during their pregnancy.
When you’re pregnant you will find comfort sitting on this ball and bouncing on it. If you move your pelvis in circles on the ball it helps your baby get in place. Also, once you’re in labor, it helps with the contraction pain. To find out more about using a birthing ball during pregnancy and labor read here.
However, the biggest benefit I’ve found of having this ball is that it puts baby to sleep. Yes, you read that right. 🙂 It’s almost magical…
You hold your baby, sit on the ball and bounce on it for a few minutes and your baby will be out like a rock. It never fails.
We used this method with 2 babies now, especially when they’re being fussy. At one point my baby got so used to the ball that she would only fall asleep this way but now she’s learned to fall asleep some other ways. However, we still use the ball on those days when she’s cranky or fighting sleep. She can be crying and it all takes is 5 minutes of bouncing and she’s sound asleep. Then I can transfer her to the bed or we can both transfer to my recliner.
I have a friend with 2 babies that also swears by this ball to put their babies to sleep.
So if you need to soothe your baby or are having a hard time getting your baby to sleep try the birthing ball, bounce a few minutes and watch your baby calm down and fall asleep.
jessica | piganddac says
Oh yes, life saver for our family too! I had a friend who would take her yoga ball everywhere with her because it was the only thing that put her son to sleep. She said she’d be going down the road with a huge yellow yoga ball in her driver’s seat lol.
Carolina says
Lol! I was really close to that. 🙂
Anonymous says
You are so right! My daughter had bad reflux for the first year. We had no other way to get her to sleep. I used to count how many bounces it took for her to fall asleep enough to be able to be put down in her crib. It was always in the 300-500 range. Egad!
Carolina says
Wow! That’s a lot of bouncing. It must have been so rough having to deal with reflux. I’m so sorry mama! I’m glad you found a way to help her sleep. 🙂
Pristine says
I totally agree with you mommy. Birthing ball was a game changer and it never fails to make my daughter fall asleep. It was a blessing to be able to know this trick. Thanks for sharing.
Nana says
How hard or soft of bouncing?
Is there any danger of shaken baby syndrome if done too hard or two long?
Eileen says
Totally worked with 2nd and 3rd baby… out in 5-10 mins. It really helps the most when they were super fussy and breastfeeding to sleep wasn’t cutting it
Krista says
I have to say, this does work like a charm. However, our baby got very dependent on it and we started having to bounce for longer & longer periods … it eventually started really putting a strain on my low back & then one day while bouncing I heard & felt something snap… so much pain – I had to contain myself because she was almost asleep… that was nearly a year ago… even tho we stopped bouncing shortly after that, my back / SI joint have not been the same since. So, while this method can work, please use caution.