the way it works is you swaddle the babe, put the babe in the board, and then lace up the sides like a football. Then I would lay the board across my lap, baby facing up, and just sway my knees back and forth until the baby is asleep ( this takes anywhere from 1 to 5 minutes). Though, if I can I will always try to nurse the baby to sleep in a sling or moby or ergo, there may be times where mother in law or husband have to put the baby to sleep, or there may be some other reason ( like, I need to take a shower) where I cant just wear the baby. Its somewhat like a moses basket only more structured and the swaddling is more secure and confined. I thought it looked weird the first time I used one, but the baby I worked with just loved it.

cradleboards are the native american traditions equivalent of swaddling. A baby is strapped into the board (more like a basket in some tribes) and the board is worn on a mother's back, or can be hung up in a tree or propped up. It was the original convertible car seat bucket idea...can be used in transit or in repose. Traditionally, a new one is made for each baby and when it is no longer used, it is ceremonially burnt. I would look at some books about how to make your own (I was very interested in them for a while but settled for an ergo) or perhaps ask around in one of the native american living tribes, I know there are a few here.

We have allready been given a bouncy chair for infants, and a rocking vibrating one for 6mo+......those, of which I have never used! So its funny to me, but the price was right ( free) so I accepted them. We shall see if they work.