Secrets of Happy Babies
The best tools for calming a fussy infant may be the oldest and simplest
A massage is calming—Gentle infant massage techniques help Diane Repyneck of Bethlehem soothe her daughter, Claire.
To calm crying infants, many parents turn to the latest high-tech gadgets, from vibrating bouncy seats to light-flashing musical swings. Yet the absolute best “devices” cost no money and require no batteries. They are your eyes, your voice and your touch. “Infants respond to eye contact, the sound of your voice and the warmth of your body. They want to be with you and near you,” says pediatrician Scott Rice, M.D., of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. “Spend as much time as you can with your baby. So many people in our society are so busy chasing the American dream of cars, a house and every toy a child could want. Yet, what we all really need is more good old-fashioned time with our families.”
Holding, rocking, talking and singing to your baby offer both short- and long-term benefits, Rice says. In the short term, your baby feels comforted, which often soothes the crying. In the long term, you give your baby a solid sense of security. Secure babies grow into children who play well with others, and later, into adults able to form loving and lasting relationships.
“Whether you’re home all day or at work with your baby in daycare, grab some time to spend with your baby one-on-one,” says pediatrician Anne Helwig, M.D., of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. “It shows the baby he or she is important in your world.”
Here are some ways to do just that:
Continue to breastfeed for at least one year. “Breast milk is one of the best medicines you can give a child,” says Deborah Busch, R.N., a certified pediatric nurse practitioner and lactation consultant with Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. Breast milk protects your baby’s health in important ways, including enhanced immunity and a decreased risk for childhood obesity. Nursing also allows you to relax and bond with your baby, an emotional plus for both of you.
Massage your baby. Gentle massage has been shown to help premature infants gain weight. “In healthy babies, regular massage can improve sleep, relieve gas and constipation, and enhance brain function,” says Busch’s colleague, Barbara Zimmermann, R.N., pediatric nurse and certified infant massage instructor.
“Wear” your baby. Babies want to be close to you, but carrying your baby all day prevents you from getting anything else done. Enter the sling, an inexpensive piece of fabric you wear over your shoulder. It cradles the baby comfortably while freeing your hands. Unlike vertical front-packs, the sling works for older babies as well as newborns.
Open a book. Sit babies as young as two months on your lap as you read to yourself or out loud. “You don’t have to read children’s books,” Helwig says. “I used to sit my babies on my lap as I read medical journals. No matter what you read, you’re fostering a love for reading and giving your baby time with you.”
Want to Know More about how to massage your baby? Call 610-402-CARE.
This page last updated 2/12/08 04:08 PM
