View source for Baby Gym: Calm and Soothe by Sanja Rescek

{{infobox2
|title=Baby Gym: Calm and Soothe
|author=Sanja Rescek
|reviewer=Sue Magee
|genre=For Sharing
|summary=Songs to sing and actions to soothe and calm baby - a great start to successful bonding between parent and child.
|rating=4
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|pages=12
|publisher=Child's Play
|date=September 2007
|isbn=978-1846431333
|website=
|video=
|aznuk=1846431336
|aznus=1846431336
|cover=1846431336 
}}

There is a knack to calming and soothing a baby and it doesn't come naturally to all parents or carers.  In ''Calm and Soothe'', part of the Baby Gym series, there are ideas for songs to sing, such as ''Dance to Your Daddy'', ''Hush, Little Baby'' and ''Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star'' along with actions which will soothe the child and make them feel safe and contented.

As with all Child's Play products which we've seen at Bookbag, the production values are high.  This is a sturdy board book, in calm and soothing colours which makes you feel more content just looking at it!  It will stand a lot of wear and rough handling and it's going to be reassuring for the parent as well as beneficial to the child.  The development of the bond between parent and child is crucial and the ideas in this book will make a good starting point.

Just be careful that you don't fall asleep!

If you're looking for books to make bedtime that little bit easier then we can recommend any of the books in our [[Top Ten Picture Books For Overcoming Bedtime Woes]].
We've also seen another book from the Baby Gym series – [http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/184643131X?tag=thebookbag-21&camp=1406&creative=6394&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=184643131X&adid=19K1NXPGX17DFFH82BY2& Bounce and Jiggle] where the activities are far more lively and energetic.  The aim is to encourage babies to express their emotions, release tension and just generally enjoy themselves.  Once again there's a range of traditional songs such as ''This is the Way the Ladies Ride'', ''Humpty Dumpty'' and ''Horsey, Horsey'' with all the accompanying actions.  It's a great fun book and sure to become a favourite.

Parents of slightly older children will find a lot to think about in [[The Art of Roughhousing: Good Old Fashioned Horseplay and Why Every Kid Needs It by Anthony T DeBenedet and Lawrence Cohen]].  Our reviewer's daughter has had great fun as a result of some of the suggestions.

I'd like to thank the publishers for sending these books to the Bookbag.

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