But the reflex that holds absolutely no enjoyment at all is the Moro reflex. This is the one where a loud noise or the sensation of falling will cause a baby to flail and be startled. And when that baby is falling asleep, it’ll cause her to go from relaxed to hysterical in .6 seconds. This reflex is part of our human machinery that Mother Nature hasn’t quite worked the kinks out of yet. The belief is that back when we were furry creatures roaming Earth and Mama Cave Monkey would drop her offspring, this instinct would cause her young to instantly reach up and grab for her furry body. But now with the aid of evolution and the Lady Schick shaver, we’re no longer furry creatures. Nevertheless, the Moro reflex remains.

If you’re dealing with this reflex, there are a few things you can do to keep it Moro or less to a minimum:

• When you lower your sleeping baby into her crib or bassinet, keep her as close to your body as possible for as long as possible. Hug her while you gradually bend over and contort yourself into a position that’s donned the cover of several girly magazines. Then place your baby on her mattress before you actually relinquish contact with your body. Once a slumbering baby feels a mattress on her back, she usually feels secure enough not to flail.
  
  
• Swaddle your baby up tightly. There’s something about being snugly contained that gives a baby a sense of comfort and security. If you’ve ever had an herbal wrap at a spa, you know exactly what I mean. Also, when you wrap your baby up in a blanket, her arms cannot flail around.
  
  
• Lie down on the floor and feed your baby to sleep. Okay, so you’re desperate. You haven’t slept in days. You’re convinced that your kid is implanted with a high-tech, sci-fi sensor that reacts every time you lower her. Give yourself a break and lie down on the floor, feed your kid to sleep, close the door so Fido or Fluffy can’t get in, then leave (or fall asleep yourself). No flailing necessary.