QUIETING A FUSSY BABY
What parent hasn't been faced with the dilemma of a crying baby. It's well known, the looks received in grocery stores by disgruntled passerbies. Or the hours of sleep lost to trying to get junior to close his eyes -- and his mouth. But what can a parent actually do to quell the noise, and calm their child? Often, even when an infant seems to just be screaming to scream, it isn't as hard as many new -- and old -- parents think.
Rock-a-Bye
Rock-a-Bye
It's a worn cliché that infants love motion, but it's a true one. They've become used to motion from the nine months they spent in the womb, and now, lying absolutely still might be that disconcerting factor that's keeping them, and their caretakers, awake at night.
Hold your child in your arms, close to your chest, and merely swivel back and forth. as long as you're holding the child close, this can be done with a small amount of speed. It's a simple act, and it brings a parent closer to the child. Although it can be tiring doing this act standing up can help sometimes, like it did for two of my sons.- Baby swings are useful in the times a parent might be too busy to spend so much time in a rocking chair. Every swing is designed differently, and you may have to see what best fits your child, but with a comforting motion, and sometimes even sound, this is a good tool to calm that bundle of joy down.
- Strollers and quick walks around the block can provide the light vibrations an infant needs to doze off. In harsher weather, a parent can place the baby in an infant seat and hold it firmly atop a washer or dryer to mimic this, strange as it may seem.
Close and Comfortable
Similar to the way a baby will like motion, because it replicates the womb, many infants prefer close, warm spaces where they can feel secure, and at home. Many infants are still used to being packed in that close, safe environment, so too much open space might leave them distressed, when its time to sleep.
- Cross your child's arms over their chest, and wrap them snugly in a soft, lightweight blanket. This can be wonderfully calming for infants, and life saving for a tired mom or dad.
- Most often used on preemies, another technique is to undress the child, lie down, place them against your naked skin, and drape the both of you in warm, cozy blanket. This enables the both of you to snooze away, and can work miracles for your baby.
- Infant slings can also aid, when the closeness of home isn't available to set your child to sleep, or konk out on the couch with them, yourself. This close, dark space provides mobility for parent, and comfort and security baby wants so much.
Lullabye. Or Hushabye...
The womb isn't still, the womb isn't cold, and the womb isn't quiet. Newborns love sound. Anything to mimic mother's heart rate, the rush of her blood, the noise of her stomach. When they're so used to a world of noise, silence can be terrifying.
- One of the oldest and most well known remedies is a shush, or shooshing sound. This is because it's almost identical to the noise heard within the womb, and has been uttered for generations. Spoken at a low volume, over and over in an infant's ear, this can be miraculously calming, and life saving for a parent.
- White noise machines, fans, or vacuums can also work well. Anything with a constant, rushing, whooshing sound can serve much better for infants than those lullabies so well known for older kids.
Gas
Babies don't always smile from gas. If a parent suspects gas, some cures for this could be:
- Lay the baby stomach down on your knees, and gently rub their back.
- Lay baby down on their back, and bycicle their legs gently.
- Talk to a pediatrician about gas drops.
Colic
Colic is a common occurrence in infants, and causes them to cry for at least three hours a day, for three weeks or more. It's usually stopped at the six week mark, and can resolve itself by three months. But here are some ways the parent can speed up the process.
- Nursing mothers should check their diet and cut out dairy, caffeine, onions, or anything else potentially irritating to a child.
- Lay baby face down on your arm, hold them close to your body, and gently rock.