Hush, little baby, don’t say a word Mama’s gonna buy you a mockingbird And if that mockingbird won’t sing, Mama’s gonna buy you a diamond ring.
I’m sure many of you have sung this song many times, inorder to put your baby to sleep. But what else can you do? Everybody knows that a baby’s cry is the first and primary tool to communicate needs – it’s your job, for the first few months of life, to figure out why.
Remember to trust your instincts and try one of these tips:
– Feed your baby – Burp your baby – Talk soothingly – Change the diaper – Change the baby’s position – Hold the baby – Put the baby down – Put the baby to bed / sleep – Offer the baby a toy (for three months babies and older) – Make eye contact – Take the baby away from disturbing elements: crowd, noise – Talk when you’re around, so the baby will know you are still there.
Get comfortable holding the baby (some people like to hold a baby laying on her back along their thighs with the head at their knees, so they can make good eye contact).
Sometimes, just relaxing and not trying to do anything can calm things down. If none of your tryouts succeed, don’t panic. Your baby might cry or continue crying as a sign that she/he is experiencing your presence and your support. All babies cry sometimes. They have to.
Even entirely healthy newborns will cry up to three hours each day.
Unable to do anything for themselves, babies rely on someone else to provide them with the food, warmth, and comfort they need.
Crying is a baby’s way of communicating one of those needs. You just have to be patient. As babies grow, they gradually learn other ways to communicate with us, too.
They get better at eye contact, making noises, and even smiling, all of which reduce the need for crying.
