How to Soothe a Crying Baby: Mellow Motions, Gripe Water, and Other Remedies
Source : Pubdate : 2012/4/16 15:20:00 Author :
Your baby can't use language yet. So crying is the way your baby lets you know that something is wrong and he or she needs your help. B
ut it isn't always easy to know why babies cry. It might be your baby's temperament. Or your baby could be hungry. Or hot. Or cold. The list is long.
Babies who regularly cry for more than three hours each day are said to have colic, a poorly understood condition that causes babies to cry excessively. There are many theories about what causes colic, including digestive problems, heightened sensitivity to light and sound, and individual temperament.
But when it's after midnight and you've been up for hours (or is it days?) with a crying baby, it doesn't matter whether you label it colic, fussiness, or just a bad night. The important thing is to be able to comfort your troubled little one. Fortunately, a number of home remedies and products exist that may help you calm your infant. Although no remedy works for every crying baby all the time, you may find that the following fuss-busters give much-needed relief to your baby and you.
The 5 S's to soothe crying babies
It may be that the best way to soothe your crying baby is by employing a number of the above techniques, or using different ones depending on why your baby is upset.
Pediatrician Harvey Karp, MD, recommends using the 5 S's -- a combination of fuss-busting techniques -- as the most effective way to comfort a crying baby. This method may help create a womb-like environment and address your child's most basic needs.
The five S's include:
· Swaddling
· Side/stomach soothing (laying your baby on her side/stomach)
· "Shhhing" sounds
· Swinging
· Sucking (nursing your crying baby or give him a pacifier)
Regardless of which techniques you try, remember that your baby is more likely to stop crying if you remain calm. If you feel as if you are unable to cope with your child's crying or if there is any chance you might hurt your child out of frustration or desperation, be sure to call for help immediately.
Recommend :