Picture the scene. \u00a0It’s time for the baby to sleep, but he won’t.\u00a0He’s teething. \u00a0He’s crying fit to burst, and all he really wants to\u00a0do is bite his mummy and then cry some more. \u00a0His mummy, quite\u00a0understandably, doesn’t want to be bitten again, so she offloads baby\u00a0onto daddy. \u00a0That would be me.<\/p>\n
Baby redoubles his efforts and, although it would be quite interesting\u00a0to see exactly what shade of puce he can manage this time (as\u00a0calibrated by Pantone) or whether his eyes will actually pop out from\u00a0the exertion, I’m getting a headache. \u00a0I’m also running out of\u00a0options. \u00a0He doesn’t want a teething ring. \u00a0He never liked dummies\u00a0(which might explain his objection to my ministrations). \u00a0He isn’t\u00a0thirsty. \u00a0And his nappy is freshly laundered and, as yet, unwetted.<\/p>\n
Inspiration strikes. \u00a0I dandle him on my knee, and fire up iTunes on\u00a0my Mac. \u00a0Turning the sound off, I select something monotonous and\u00a0middle of the road (Jack Johnson, since you ask) and turn on the\u00a0visualiser. \u00a0Baby is struck dumb by the gently flowing patterns.\u00a0Result! \u00a0Even better, when I look down a couple of minutes later, he’s\u00a0fast asleep.<\/p>\n
For the record, this isn’t a fluke. \u00a0My wife and I have used iTunes\u00a0induced hypnosis on Daniel several times now. \u00a0It must be said though\u00a0that it only seems to work with her music. \u00a0My tunes just seem to make\u00a0things worse (the patterns are far too frenetic!).<\/p>\n
And now, excuse me, I think that I need a nap.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Picture the scene. \u00a0It’s time for the baby to sleep, but he won’t.\u00a0He’s teething. \u00a0He’s crying fit to burst, and all he really wants to\u00a0do is bite his mummy and then cry some more. \u00a0His mummy, quite\u00a0understandably, doesn’t want to be bitten again, so she offloads baby\u00a0onto daddy. \u00a0That would be me. Baby redoubles his … <\/p>\n