Baby Care for Colic and Crying Babies

There are a special breed of babies that sleep through the night, don't suffer from any colic bouts and happily coo and smile throughout the day, but unfortunately most of us mere mortals end up with babies who cry for long hours at a stretch. This article gives some handy tips to help the parents survive those first hard weeks until the baby settles down.

The tricks of the trade of experienced parents and remedies that work

When I had my first child I got terribly anxious when my baby started crying. I often felt I was doing something wrong and wished I had some magic spell that would instantly teach me what to do to calm my newborn.

Unfortunately the best way to learn what will calm your baby is through trial and error. Here are some remedies that usually work.

Hold the baby close
Babies spend months sheltered in the womb and often feel scared by the change when they come into a world where they feel alone. Simply holding the baby in your arms and swaddling him in a soft warm blanket will give your child the sense of security that he misses. While I have to admit I am not a fan of baby carriers and especially slings, I totally agree with the many experts that say that responding to your baby's cry, by holding him close is often the best way to settle a crying baby.

A change of atmosphere
If you spend days and nights tucked up inside trying to calm down a crying baby, exhaustion will soon take over and your child will sense your anxiety and fatigue making the crying spells louder and longer. Simply take a break by putting your baby in his pram or stroller and going for a walk in the park. If it is too cold to go outside, a car ride will also be a get way to soothe a crying baby. This will also be a good excuse for the parent to get out of the house and enjoy some fresh air and a change of atmosphere.

Excise excitement
Your friends and family will want to see the new arrival but too many visitors will most probably disrupt the baby's routine and you will end up with a screaming baby protesting against the excessive noise and stimuli. Try to limit the number of visitors to your house when you bring your baby home and protect your child from too many new faces and fussing hands. Don't worry most people will understand that your child's wellbeing comes before your social obligations.

Take a break
Spending too much time cooped inside taking care of a new born is physically taxing and emotionally draining even for the most experienced parent. Even if you truly enjoy spending time with your child, an occasional break from the demanding tasks of parenthood will recharge your batteries and leave your refreshed and full of energy. Baby sitters, and family and friends who are willing to baby sit even for a few hours and give you time for an idyllic couple of hours at the spa or for a dinner for two at a nice restaurant are true godsend for stressed out parents.

Ask for help
A certain level of anxiety and fatigue with a newborn in the house is perfectly normal, so no one will think anything less of you if you ask for the help of grandparents, relatives or experienced friends. Many times you will get useful advice on how to calm your child from people who have already been through the loop , other times you will be offered a few hours of babysitting that will let you doze off on a couch or eat a sit down meal. Even a simple chat with a friend over a good cup of coffee is often a great way to calm your nerves and relax, so you will be all nice and refreshed for the next session of burping, diaper changes and soothing your crying baby.

Works cited

Heidi Murkoff, Arlene Eisenberg, Sandee Hathway "What to expect the first year"