BBB...that's a mouth full. When Arabelle was a newborn she would get gassy and fussy in the evenings. When I talked to the pediatrician she told me to get a rice bag, warm it up in the microwave, place it on her tummy, swaddle her up and give her Gripe Water. It did the trick. Just when that time of  day rolled around we went through this routine and she was instantly a happy camper. However at the time I was in new mom fog and only had time to pour rice down one of Matt's dress socks, tie it in a knot and call that my belly bag. Poor Arabelle:(

Now, this has become one of my favorite items to give a new mom. Of course I don't give them an old sock with rice in it, I have spruced it up a bit with cute fabric and have even scented the rice with Lavender oil (known as a calming essential oil.)

Take rice and place in a bowl, drop Lavender oil onto the rice ( I place about 2 drops per cup of rice) and stir. I use my ruler, I'd rather let the ruler absorb that good smell than to wash it off of a spoon.
I make a tag with instructions. " Place rice bag in microwave anywhere from 30-90 seconds depending on the heat power. Shake rice around making sure to distribute the heat. Place on baby's belly and swaddle. Heat holds up to an hour. Relieves gas and provides comfort."


On a side note, a bigger bag can be made and used for the purpose of laying on the baby's belly and chest to help them feel comforted when someone is not holding them.It kinda act as that warm body they always seem to know lets them go.