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Calming Your Fussy Baby: the Brazelton Way Pdf



Crying and Your Baby: How to Calm a Fussy or Colicky Baby

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Babies cry for different reasons. Crying is one style babies try to tell us what they need. They may be hungry, have a soiled diaper, or merely want a fiddling attention. (See checklist at the end of this brochure.) If a crying baby cannot be comforted, the cause may be colic. Read on for more infor­mation from the American Academy of ­Pediatrics about colic and ways to calm a crying infant.

What is colic?

Colic is a give-and-take used to describe healthy babies who cry a lot and are hard to condolement. No one knows for sure what causes colic, simply it may exist an imma­turity of the digestive system. In general, babies with colic volition be fussy simply continue to gain weight and develop normally. If you are concerned, it is all-time to check with your child's doctor to make sure there is not another medical crusade.

Who gets colic?

Well-nigh 1 out of every five babies develops colic. Each baby is dissimilar, but in full general

  • Colic starts when a baby is 2 to 4 weeks of age and usually peaks around 6 weeks.

  • Colic usually starts to become ­better when babies are ­cooing and smiling sociably, around 8 weeks.

  • Colic ordinarily resolves by 3 to 4 months but can last until six months.

How tin I tell if my infant has colic?

Hither are different ways babies with colic may act.

  • Crying is intense, sometimes up to 3 to five hours a day. Between crying episodes, babies act normal.

  • Crying is frequently predictable, often at the aforementioned fourth dimension each day. It usually occurs in the tardily ­afternoon to evening.

  • When crying, babies often pass gas, pull their legs upward, or stretch their legs out.

Ways to calm a fussy or colicky infant

Hither are ways you lot tin try to comfort a crying baby. It may take a few tries, just with patience and practice yous'll find out what works and what doesn't for your infant.

  • Swaddle your baby in a big, thin blanket (ask your nurse or kid'south doctor to show you how to practise it correctly) to help her experience secure.

  • Concord your baby in your arms and identify her body either on her left side to aid digestion or tum for support. Gently rub her back. If your babe goes to sleep, retrieve to ever lay her downwardly in her crib on her back.

  • Turn on a calming audio. Sounds that remind babies of being inside the womb may exist calming, such as a white noise device, the humming sound of a fan, or the recording of a heartbeat.

  • Walk your babe in a body carrier or stone her. Calming motions remind babies of movements they felt in the womb.

  • Avoid overfeeding your baby because this may also make her uncomfortable. Try to wait at least two to two½ hours from the beginning of one feeding to the adjacent.

  • If it is not still time to feed your babe, offer the pacifier or help your baby find her pollex or finger. Many babies are calmed past sucking.

  • If nutrient sensitivity is the cause of discomfort, a change in diet may help.

    • For breastfed babies, moms may try changing their own diet. Run into if your babe gets less fussy if you cutting down on milk ­products or caffeine. If there is no ­difference afterward making the dietary changes, resume your usual diet. Fugitive spicy or gassy foods like onions or ­cabbage has worked for some moms, simply this has not been ­scientifically proven.

    • For canteen-fed babies, enquire your child'south ­doctor if y'all should try a unlike for­mula. This has been shown to be helpful for some babies.

  • Continue a diary of when your infant is awake, asleep, eating, and crying. Write downward how long it takes your baby to eat or if your infant cries the most after eating. Talk with your child's physician about these behaviors to see if her crying is related to sleeping or eating.

  • Limit each daytime nap to no longer than three hours a solar day. Go on your baby calm and quiet when you feed or change her during the nighttime past avoiding brilliant lights and noises, such as the TV.

What your baby may need checklist

Here are some other ­reasons why your baby may cry and tips on what y'all tin try to meet that demand.

If your baby is…

Hungry. Keep track of feeding times and await for early signs of hunger, such as lip-smacking or ­moving fists to his rima oris.

Common cold or hot. Dress your baby in most the same ­layers of clothing that you are wearing to be comfortable.

Wet or soiled. Check the diaper. In the first few months, babies wet and soil their diapers a lot.

Spitting upwardly or vomiting a lot. Some babies take symptoms from gastroesophageal reflux (GER), and the fussiness can be confused with colic. Contact your kid's doctor if your babe is fussy subsequently feeding, has excessive spitting or vomiting, and is losing or not gaining weight.

Ill (has a fever or other illness). Cheque your baby'southward temperature. If your baby is younger than 2 months and has a fever, phone call your child's ­doctor right away.

Overstimulated. See Ways to calm a fussy or ­colicky babe.

Bored. Quietly sing or hum a song to your baby. Get for a walk.

Parents and caregivers need breaks from crying babies

If you lot take tried to at-home your crying baby simply goose egg seems to piece of work, you may demand to take a moment for yourself. Crying tin be tough to handle, especially if you're physically tired and mentally exhausted.

  • Have a deep breath and count to 10.

  • Identify your baby in a safe place, such equally crib or playpen without blankets and stuffed animals; leave the room; and let your infant cry lone for well-nigh 10 to 15 minutes.

  • While your infant is in a safe place, consider some actions that may help calm you down.

    • Listen to music for a few minutes.

    • Call a friend or family unit member for ­emotional support.

    • Exercise elementary household chores, such as vacuuming or washing the dishes.

  • If you have not calmed after 10 to 15 minutes, check on your baby but do non option upwards your babe until you feel you take calmed down.

  • When yous have calmed down, become dorsum and choice up your baby. If your baby is still crying, retry soothing measures.

  • Phone call your child's doctor. At that place may exist a medical reason why your babe is crying.

Endeavor to exist patient. Keeping your baby safe is the about important thing you tin practice. Information technology is normal to experience upset, frustrated, or even angry, but it is of import to continue your behavior nether control. Remember, it is never safe to shake, throw, hit, slam, or jerk any child—and information technology never solves the problem!

The information contained in this publication should not exist used every bit a substitute for the medical care and communication of your pediatrician. In that location may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on private facts and circumstances.

© 2008 American Academy of Pediatrics, Updated 05/2016. All rights reserved.

Calming Your Fussy Baby: the Brazelton Way Pdf

Source: https://sgpediatrics.com/Pediatric-Resources-for-Parents/Medical-Conditions/Crying-and-Your-Baby-How-to-Calm-a-Fussy-or-Colick