Whether you call it colic, reflux, or overstimulation, many babies just have a tendency to cry – and cry, and cry, and cry. Colic is a vague diagnosis which even doctors can’t agree upon or understand. Since babies can’t tell us what is bothering them, we can only focus upon solutions. Thankfully, there are some relatively simple things you can do at home to help your baby calm down. Before you try any medication or technique, see your pediatrician to rule out serious health problems.
Some techniques cited by Dr. Harvey Karp, author of The Happiest Baby on the Block (Bantam, 2003), as well as Tracy Hogg, author of Secrets of the Baby Whisperer (Ballantine Books, 2005), include:
- Swaddling – wrap the baby tightly in a receiving blanket. Believe it or not, swaddling the right way is important. Neonatal nurses are experts at this, and Karp gives an excellent demonstration in his DVD. If you can’t get the hang of it, infant gear maker Kiddopotamus carries special Velcro swaddlers. Beware: overheating can increase the chance of SIDS, so babies who are swaddled should only be dressed in a t-shirt under their blanket.
See our Personalized My Day on Sesame Street Book TM & © 2008 Sesame Workshop
- Noise – Different babies have different sound preferences, and parents might have to try several before they find one that works. Pediatricians recommend various forms of white noise, because they mimic sounds that babies hear in the womb. Examples are: vacuums, hair dryers and radio static. There are tons of products that feature sounds like heartbeats and waves crashing, and you can even buy CDs of nothing but white noise. Karp recommends shushing loudly near the baby’s ear. Some babies are soothed by the sound of running water.
- Swinging or rocking – The infant swing is one piece of equipment that many parents could not live without. Some babies spend much of the first few months of their life strapped into their swing. African American slave mothers are reported to have hung their babies in baskets from tree limbs to sway in the breeze while they worked. Similarly, mothers have employed rocking chairs for centuries. The back-and-forth motion seems to lull babies to sleep (or at least calm them down).
- Bouncing – Many babies are pacified by bouncing through the air, which could mean several things. Some parents stand and hold the baby close to them while they bend their knees and bounce up and down. Some find that a bouncy walk around the house helps. Others simply bounce their arms up and down while holding the baby. Sitting on an inflated exercise ball and bouncing with the swaddled baby cradled in your arms can help tremendously. Many babies go from screaming their heads off to peacefully silent as soon as you start to bounce.
- The Outdoors – Babies love to be outside. Who knows if it’s the sunshine, the breeze, hearing birds chirp, or what, but most crying babies hush up the minute you take them outside. This trick is especially useful when you’re away from home – say at a restaurant or church.
Having a baby who wails for hours at a time is extremely frustrating, but it’s tremendously important to stay calm. Babies can sense your emotions, and if you are tense or upset, they will only become more so. As difficult as it is, try to stay calm; be positive if you can muster it. Take a deep breath. Try humming or singing a happy song, for example, “Sunny Days” from Sesame Street. It might not calm the baby down, but it’s hard to be angry when you’re singing that one. While you’re stuck in the rocker or bouncing through the living room, watch something hilarious on TV. It will make the time go by much faster and take your mind off your aching back.
leave a reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.