A screaming and demanding baby takes away all the control we ever thought we had. You need to STOP, ASSESS and ACT. Not REACT.
There is no doubt being a parent is a VERY emotional and, sometimes, an exhausting experience. When you hear your little one cry, STOP. Give bub the opportunity to squark and go back to sleep. A baby soon learns that voice (crying) will get a reaction/attention. Over reacting to a cry can teach your baby that it is wrong to cry or show how they feel. This is the time to chill-out and listen to HOW they are crying.
Secondly, ASSESS. This is the time to ask yourself WHY are they crying? Ask yourself: ‘Is it pain?’, ‘Is it hunger?’. Other questions to ask yourself: ‘Does their nappy need changing?’ and ‘Are they cold?’. If the answer is No, give them some time to sort themselves out. In this case its likely you don’t need to do anything. If the crying escalates and gets intense, and stays intense, then you may need to intervene.
Finally, ACT. If it is pain, fix it. This may be as simple as giving a dose of an appropriate pain reliever or, in more serious circumstances, a trip to your GP. If in doubt, see your doctor. If it is hunger, feed them. Babies learn a great deal about us very early… our voice, our sounds, our stress, facial expressions and our reactions to their needs etc. In my experience, over reacting and rushing in to ‘save’ bub teaches them learned helplessness, and in so doing, robs them of confidence.
In future articles I will discuss: feeding routines, breastfeeding, formula feeding, and the introduction of food. For now, however, remember it’s about HOW and WHY they cry, not how long. Teach yourself to STOP, ASSESS and ACT. Not REACT.
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