1. I put my thumb against her lips.
That’s something I noticed she did early on. Whenever she’s very sleepy, she would lie down, close her eyes and put her thumb on her lips. So now I do it with my thumb. She says it makes her feel vulnerable, it makes her feel like a baby and she loves it.
2. Burrito roll
If she’s not feeling well, is either sick or grumpy I put her to bed, roll her in blankets like a little burrito along with her stuffies. Then I put on a Disney movie or cartoon that she loves.
3. Checklist
When we go to bed, I ask her if she brushed her teeth, washed her face and went potty. She used to say that she was too old for me to ask those, but now she likes it, it’s her pre-cuddles bedtime checklist.
4. “That’s not for little ones”
When we watch a movie and theres a scary part and especially when an animal is killed or hurt, I immediately cover her eyes with my hands. My baby loves animals and hates to see them hurt, even animated ones.
5. Using my big voice
I’ve got a very deep, low voice in general, but when I use my “big voice” my little knows she’s in trouble. She likes to make fun of me by mimicking my voice, but she knows it generally means she’s earned a trip on my knees. Spankings don’t always do a good job at punishing her, since they often turn her on… but it’s a sure way to make her feel like a misbehaving little girl.
6. (BONUS) LOTS of pet names.
Baby, kitten, my little sun drop, my heart, angel, love, little one, darling, sweetheart, sunshine, dolly, kitty, any baby animal, etc.