[ad]No parent likes to listen to their baby cry, much less scream their heads off. There is something wrong and we seldom know what it is if the crying goes on for more than a few moments, and usually it isn’t easy to figure out. It is frustrating for you and the no doubt the baby. I ran across this article and thought I would add it to our content.
Crying Babies – Parent Calming Strategies That Work
By Marie Hendrix
At the sound of his cry, I instantly transformed from a mild mannered mother to, well, Supermom. With adrenaline offering me superpowers, I leaped with a single bound more quickly than a speeding bullet to his side, ever ready to restore peace to his world. At times, that feat took only a few seconds. At others, it seemed I was against a force more powerful than kryptonite.
Sometimes, I wondered if he was an alien from another planet. In some ways, he was. The process of childbirth separates infants from all that is familiar and comforting to them. They land in a strange new world outside the womb. Crying is part of adjusting to that change. It is their first method of communication. Parents quickly learn to decode messages from the pitch, tone and fervor of their child’s cries. “I’m hungry.” “I’m mad.” I’m sleepy.” “I’m hurting.” Amazingly, infants can recognize and effectively communicate these feelings. Like adults, their tiny bodies have built-in monitoring systems.
A cry signals that a system is out of balance. Supermoms, Superdads, and Super Heroes who care for children respond promptly. Hungry? Wet? Sleepy? Super Caregivers check each system carefully and make needed adjustments. Feed. Diaper. Burp. A quick fix assures us of our super powers. If the crying continues, we rely on our super insight for a solution. Our powers of instinct, experience, and creativity come to our aid.
Often we mimic the sensations of the womb to recreate a comfortable atmosphere.
Motion, pressure, and sound soothe unhappy babies. Babies continuously experience these before birth. Mom’s swaying walk. The tightness of her bulging tummy. Distant voices and sounds. Blood swooshing by. Her thumping heartbeat. Super Caregivers identify a child’s unique comforting preferences. Rhythmical movement is often an instant peacemaker.
By design, rocking chairs, cradles, baby swings, and bouncing and vibrating seats provide calming motion. Super Caregivers achieve the same results with only their bodies. Their arms are versatile cradles that walk about. They also sway from side to side. When standing, their knees are built-in bouncers. When sitting, their laps become vibrating beds. Read the rest of this entry »


