CRYING BABY - TIPS FOR COPING / TIPS FOR MANAGING STRESS

COPING WITH A CRYING BABY
A screaming baby can be extremely stressful for parents, especially when the baby cannot be comforted. Most physical abuse of children, including Shaken Baby Syndrome, occurs when a parent loses control, and then hits, shakes, and injures his or her child. The following are some things you can do to keep from losing control:

• Make sure all the baby’s basic needs (food, diapering, appropriate clothing, etc.) are met.
• Offer the baby a pacifier.
• Rock baby gently in the cradle.
• Walk baby around in a snuggly body carrier or just hold the baby close to you and walk around.
• Phone a friend.
• Call a friend, relative or neighbor to come over for support and/or take care of the baby while you take a break.
• Do something for yourself; play favorite music, make a cup of coffee or tea, exercise, take a shower/bath, or read a magazine or book.
• Change your activity: shake a rug, scrub a floor, throw away trash, or clean a closet.
• Splash water on your face.
• Hug a pillow.
• Sit down, close your eyes, think of a pleasant place in your memory. Do not move for several minutes.
• Press your lips together and count to 10. Better yet, count to 20.
• Write down as many helpful words as you can think of. Save the list.
• If all else fails, put the baby in their crib making sure they are safe, close the door, and check on them every 5 minutes or so.

For more information visit: http://www.ct.gov/dcf/lib/dcf/prevention/pdf/15_ways_to_calm_your_baby.pdf

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SOURCE: Mayo Clinic
PREPARED BY: 211/lb
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: June2008