For Christmas 2006, Aunt Barb got Simon a crib aquarium. It’s been a key 
component to our nap and bedtimes for ages now. Here’s what the folks at Fisher price say about how or why it works:
“The Soothing Seas Aquarium is a crib attaching infant soother that captivates baby with the mesmerizing effects of water. Lovely classical music plays one of 5 songs (or one of 3 sound effects) all the while bubbles rise upwards to the “surface”. Mama Fish has a realistic motion as she appears to be swimming through the water, followed closely behind by her baby. Their little crab friend plays peek-a-boo behind the coral as the seaweed sways gently in the waves.”
I love the crib aquarium, but I have to admit I haven’t always taken it seriously. I giggled at its babyishness, even as I appreciated how well it worked.
I’m not laughing any more. Tuesday morning, after a truly God-awful, sleepless night with a stomach bug, I was a wreck. At around 
The show is shot in HD, presented in real-time, and contains no narration. As I stared at the coral, watched light move across the water, and watched fish swim around in groups, I began to relax. I noticed my aching head less, my dry mouth less, and my cramping legs less. I was both soothed and captivated.
Sound familiar? Within thirty minutes, I was snoozing on the couch quite comfortably. That night, as I disassembled Simon’s crib to clean it after he threw up, I took a long look at the crib aquarium and felt a newfound respect for it.