• When dressing your baby: While supporting your baby on your lap, stretch the garment neckline and pull it over your baby's head. Use your fingers to keep it from catching on his or her face or ears. Don't try to push your baby's arm through the sleeve. Instead, put your hand into the sleeve from the outside, grasp your baby's hand, and pull it through.
  
• When undressing your baby: Take off the sleeves one at a time while you support your baby's back and head. Then stretch the neckline, lifting it free of your baby's chin and face as you gently slip it off.
  

Clothing Tips

• In colder weather (under 75 degrees Fahrenheit [23.88 degrees Celsius]): Your baby will need several layers of clothing to keep warm. It's generally best to dress your baby in an undershirt and diapers, covered by pajamas or a dressing gown, and then wrap him or her in a receiving blanket. For an extra layer, a wearable blanket sleeper or sleep sack is a safe alternative.
  
• In hot weather (over 75 degrees Fahrenheit [23.88 degrees Celsius]): You can reduce your baby's clothing to a single layer. A good rule of thumb is to dress the baby in one more layer of clothing than you are wearing to be comfortable in the same environment. See Baby Sunburn Prevention for more information.
  
• If your baby is premature: He or she may need still another layer of clothing until his or her weight reaches that of a full-term baby and his or her body is better able to adjust to changes in temperature.
  
• If you've never taken care of a newborn baby before: The first few times you change a baby's clothes can be quite frustrating. Not only is it a struggle to get that tiny little arm through the sleeve, but your baby may shriek in protest through the whole process. Babies do not like the rush of air against their skin, nor do they enjoy being pushed and pulled through garments. It may make things easier for both of you if you hold your baby on your lap while changing the upper half of the body, then lay him or her on a bed or changing table while doing the lower half.
  
• When you're dressing her in one-piece pajamas: Pull them over your baby's legs before putting on the sleeves. Pull T-shirts over her head first, then put one arm at a time through the sleeves. Use this opportunity to ask "Where's the baby's hand?" As your baby gets older this will turn into a game, with him or her pushing his or her arm through just to hear you say, "There's the baby's hand!"
  

Certain clothing features can make dressing much easier. Look for garments that:

• Snap or zip all the way down the front, instead of the back
  
• Snap or zip down both legs to make diaper changes easier
  
• Have loose-fitting sleeves so your hand fits underneath to push the baby's arm through
  
• Have no ribbons or strings to knot up, unravel, or wrap around the neck (which could cause choking)
  
• Are made of stretchy fabric (avoid tight bindings around arms, legs, or neck)
  

SwaddlingDuring the first few weeks, your baby will spend most of his or her time wrapped in a receiving blanket. Not only does this keep your baby warm, but the slight pressure around the body seems to give most newborns a sense of security.  
How to swaddle correctly:

1. To swaddle, spread the blanket out flat, with one corner folded down.
   
2. Lay your baby face-up on the blanket, with his or her head above the folded corner.
   
3. Straighten your baby's left arm, and wrap the left corner of the blanket over your baby's body and tuck it between his or her right arm and the right side of his or her body.
   
4. Then tuck the right arm down, and fold the right corner of the blanket over your baby's body and under his or her left side.
   
5. Fold or twist the bottom of the blanket loosely and tuck it under one side of your baby.
   
6. Make sure your baby's hips can move and that the blanket is not too tight. You want to be able to get at least two or three fingers between the baby's chest and the swaddle.
   

There are many times when your child's behavior warms and embraces your heart. But, there are other times when it probably drives you a little crazy. As a toddler or preschooler, your child may lack the self-control to express anger peacefully and may naturally lash out, perhaps hitting or biting in frustration.
While occasional outbursts are normal―especially during temper tantrums―there are things you can do to shape your child's behavior. 

1. Teach the house rules. Children don't know the rules of the house until they're taught them, so that is one of your important parenting responsibilities. Toddlers are normally interested in touching and exploring, so if there are valuables you don't want them to handle, hide or remove them. Consider setting up a separate portion of your home where your child can play with books and toys. Whenever children break an important rule, they should be reprimanded immediately to understand exactly what they have done wrong.
2. Threats are over-rated. It is always more effective to positively reinforce desired behaviors and to teach children alternative behaviors rather than just say, "Stop it or else."  Tell them that the next time they are angry, they should use their words instead.
3. Enter healthy distractions. While teaching your child other ways to respond, there's also nothing wrong with distracting him at times or trying another approach. As long as you're not "bribing" him to behave differently by offering sweet snacks. For example, there's nothing wrong with intentionally changing his focus.
4. "Control yourself."  Well, they can't yet. Remember, toddlers have little natural self-control. They need you to teach them not to kick, hit, or bite when they are angry, but instead to express their feelings through words.
5. "We don't hurt each other."  Supervise your child carefully when she is involved in disputes with playmates. If a disagreement is minor, keep your distance and let the children solve it on their own. However, you must intervene when children get into a physical fight that continues even after they're told to stop, or when one child seems to be in an uncontrollable rage and is assaulting or biting the other. Pull the children apart and keep them separate until they have calmed down. If the fight is extremely violent, you may have to end the play session. Make it clear that it doesn't matter who "started it."  There is no excuse for trying to hurt each other.
6. Instead of fighting. Teach your child to say "no"  in a firm tone of voice, to turn his back, or to find compromises instead of fighting with his body. Through example, you are teaching your child to settle differences with words—more effective and more civilized—than with physical violence.
7. "Great job!"  Praise your child for appropriate behavior and help explain how "grown-up" she is acting whenever she uses these tactics instead of hitting, kicking, or biting. And always reinforce and praise behavior when you catch your child being kind and gentle.
8. Time-outs are OK. There's also nothing wrong with using a time-out when your child's behavior is inappropriate, and they can be used in children as young as one year old. See How to Give a Time-Out for more information.
9. Control your own temper. Always watch your own behavior around your child. One of the best ways to teach him appropriate behavior is to control your own temper. If you express your anger in quiet, peaceful ways, your child probably will follow your example.
10. Stay strong. If you must discipline your child, do not feel guilty about it and certainly don't apologize. If your child senses your mixed feelings, he will convince himself that he was in the right all along and you are the "bad" one. Although disciplining your child is never pleasant, it is a necessary part of parenthood, and there is no reason to feel guilty about it. Your child needs to understand when he is in the wrong, it is important to take responsibility for his actions and be willing to accept the consequences.

​What's the difference between discipline and punishment?While many parents think that discipline and punishment are the same thing, they are not.

• Discipline is a way of teaching and a way of enhancing a good parent-child relationship. When you discipline, you should provide your child with praise along with instruction in a firm tone, with the intent of improving his or her behavior.
• Punishment is a negative, in which you're dispensing an unpleasant consequence when your child does or doesn't do something. Punishment is a part of discipline, but only a small part.

Until age three and sometimes later, children simply don't understand the concept of punishment. Setting limits is a much better approach than punishment; most children will respond to clear, calm, and decisive limit-setting. 


When to Call the Pediatrician:If your child seems to be unusually aggressive for longer than a few weeks, and you cannot cope with his behavior on your own, consult your pediatrician. Other warning signs include:

• Physical injury to himself or others (teeth marks, bruises, head injuries)
• Attacks on you or other adults
• Being sent home or barred from play by neighbors or school
• Your own fear for the safety of those around him

The most important warning sign is the frequency of outbursts. Sometimes children with conduct disorders will go for several days or a week or two without incident and may even act quite charming during this time, but few can go an entire month without getting into trouble at least once.
Once several effective ways are found to reward good behavior and discourage bad, they can be used in establishing an approach that works both at home and away. The progress may be slow, but such programs usually are successful if started when the disorder is just beginning to develop.
Remember:The best way to prevent aggressive behavior is to give your child a stable, secure home life with firm, loving discipline and full-time supervision during the toddler and preschool years.
Last Updated

12/5/2018
Source
 
Adapted from Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5, 6th Edition (Copyright © 2015 American Academy of Pediatrics)
The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.

How can everyday activities help you build a strong relationship with your child and help grow them into a great reader? The Center of the Developing Child at Harvard University suggests five simple steps for how to practice “serve and return,” which are the back-and-forth interactions that children and caregivers have all the time. These types of interactions play a big role in your child’s confidence and his/her relationship with learning, reading and discovery. Here is a quick breakdown of the five steps:

Step 1: Notice what your child is looking at, pointing to, listening to, etc., and show them that you are paying attention too.
Step 2: “Return the serve” with comforting words and hugs/kind body language that show you care and notice.
Step 3: Name what is going on. Say the name of what your child is doing, what they are eating, what they are looking at, how they are feeling, whom they are talking to, etc.
Step 4: Take turns, making sure to give your child time to think and say something else back to you.
Step 5: Practice and reinforce endings and beginnings of activities, helping your children recognize the start and stop and sequence of events through the day by saying things such as “all done!” or “now we are starting to tie our shoes!”

Ron Ferguson, an economist at Harvard, has made a career out of studying the achievement gap — the well-documented learning gap that exists between kids of different races and socioeconomic statuses.
But even he was surprised to discover that gap visible with "stark differences" by just age 2, meaning "kids aren't halfway to kindergarten and they're already well behind their peers."
And yet, there's a whole body of research on how caregivers can encourage brain development before a child starts any formal learning. It's another example, Ferguson says, of the disconnect between research and practice. So he set out to translate the research into five simple and free ways adults can help their little ones.
"Things that we need to do with infants and toddlers are not things that cost a lot of money," he explains. "It's really about interacting with them, being responsive to them."
He calls his list the Boston Basics, and he's on a mission to introduce it to caretakers first in Boston and then across the country.
The principles are:

1. Maximize love, manage stress. Babies pick up on stress, which means moms and dads have to take care of themselves, too. It's also not possible to over-love or be too affectionate with young children. Research shows feeling safe can have a lasting influence on development.
2. Talk, sing and point. "When you point at something, that helps the baby to start to associate words with objects," Ferguson explains. Some babies will point before they can even talk.
3. Count, group and compare. This one is about numeracy. Babies love numbers and counting, and there's research to show they're actually born with math ability. Ferguson says caregivers can introduce their children to math vocabulary by using sentences that compare things: "Oh, look! Grandpa is tall, but grandma is short" or "There are two oranges, but only three apples."
4. Explore through movement and play. "The idea is to have parents be aware that their children are learning when they play," Ferguson says.
5. Read and discuss stories. It's never too early to start reading aloud — even with babies. Hearing words increases vocabulary, and relating objects to sounds starts to create connections in the brain. The Basics also put a big emphasis on discussing stories: If there's a cat in the story and a cat in your home, point that out. That's a piece lots of parents miss when just reading aloud.

So how do these five principles get into the hands — and ultimately the brains — of Boston's babies?
Ferguson and his team decided the Basics have to go where the parents are. They're partnering with hospitals to incorporate the five principles into prenatal care and pediatrician visits. They work with social services agencies, home-visiting programs, barbershops and local businesses. Ferguson even teamed up with a local church to deliver a handful of talks at the pulpit after Sunday services.
Tara Register runs a group for teen moms at the Full Life Gospel Center in Boston. She says when she learned about the Basics, she thought, "This would be the perfect place. We've got these young moms learning how to parent and trying to figure this out."
Register wishes she had known about the five principles back when she was a teen mom. Years later, she's now helping get the word out to a new generation. She says when she talks about the Basics in her group, the teenage parents are surprised to discover that so much learning happens so early. "Some of this stuff they're probably doing already and they didn't even know there was a name behind it or development behind it."
And that's true for most caregivers. A lot of this comes naturally; the key is to connect those natural instincts to what researchers know about developmental science — something all parents can learn from, Ferguson says. "I have a Ph.D. and my wife has a master's degree, but I know there are Boston Basics that we did not do."
Back in Register's class, she holds one of the babies and points to his head — and the developing brain inside. "You can't imagine how much of a sponge this is right here," she says. The teens brainstorm ways they'll incorporate the Basics into their daily routine. "I'll narrate what I'm doing as I get ready for work," one suggests. "I'll count out the number on his plaything," another offers.

As Register wraps up her lesson, she has one final thought for the group, which she repeats several times. It's essentially the thesis behind all five of the Boston Basics: "Our babies are incredible," she tells the new moms. "They are complex, they are incredible, they are smart. They can take it all in. So don't underestimate them."
Copyright 2018 NPR.   To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.

About 3,500 babies die each year in the United States during sleep because of unsafe sleep environments. Some of these deaths are caused by entrapment, suffocation, or strangulation. Some infants die of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). However, there are ways for parents to keep their sleeping baby safe. 
Read on for more information from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) on how parents can create a safe sleep environment for their babies. This information should also be shared with anyone who cares for babies, including grandparents, family, friends, babysitters, and child care center staff. 
Note: These recommendations are for healthy babies up to 1 year of age. A very small number of babies with certain medical conditions may need to be placed to sleep on their stomach. Your baby's doctor can tell you what is best for your baby. 
What You Can Do:

• Place your baby to sleep on his back for every sleep.
  
  • Babies up to 1 year of age should always be placed on their back to sleepduring naps and at night. However, if your baby has rolled from his back to his side or stomach on his own, he can be left in that position if he is already able to roll from tummy to back and back to tummy.
    
  • If your baby falls asleep in a car seat, stroller, swing, infant carrier, or infant sling, he should be moved to a firm sleep surface as soon as possible.
    
  • Swaddling (wrapping a light blanket snuggly around a baby) may help calm a crying baby. If you swaddle your baby, be sure to place him on his back to sleep. Stop swaddling your baby when he starts to roll.
    
• Place your baby to sleep on a firm sleep surface.
  
  • The crib, bassinet, portable crib, or play yard should meet current safety standards. Check to make sure the product has not been recalled. Do not use a crib that is broken or missing parts or that has drop-side rails. For more information about crib safety standards, visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission Web site.
    
  • Cover the mattress with a tight-fitting sheet.
    
  • Do not put blankets or pillows between the mattress and fitted sheet.
    
  • Never put your baby to sleep on a water bed, a cushion, or a sheepskin. 
    
• Keep soft objects, loose bedding, or any objects that could increase the risk of entrapment, suffocation, or strangulation out of the crib.
  
  • Pillows, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, bumper pads, and stuffed toys can cause your baby to suffocate. Note: Research has not shown us when it's 100% safe to have these objects in the crib; however, most experts agree that these objects pose little risk to healthy babies after 12 months of age.
    
• Place your baby to sleep in the same room where you sleep but not the same bed.
  
  • Do this for at least 6 months, but preferably up to 1 year of age. Room-sharing decreases the risk of SIDS by as much as 50%.
    
  • Keep the crib or bassinet within an arm's reach of your bed. You can easily watch or breastfeed your baby by having your baby nearby.
    
  • The AAP cannot make a recommendation for or against the use of bedside sleepers or in-bed sleepers until more studies are done.
    
  • Babies who sleep in the same bed as their parents are at risk of SIDS, suffocation, or strangulation. Parents can roll onto babies during sleep, or babies can get tangled in the sheets or blankets.
    
• Breastfeed as much and for as long as you can. This helps reduce the risk of SIDS.
  
  • The AAP recommends breastfeeding as the sole source of nutrition for your baby for about 6 months. When you add solid foods to your baby's diet, continue breastfeeding until at least 12 months. You can continue to breastfeed after 12 months if you and your baby desire.
    
• Schedule and go to all well-child visits. Your baby will receive important immunizations.
  
  • Recent evidence suggests that immunizations may have a protective effect against SIDS.
    
• Keep your baby away from smokers and places where people smoke. This helps reduce the risk of SIDS.
  
  • If you smoke, try to quit. However, until you can quit, keep your car and home smoke-free. Don't smoke inside your home or car, and don't smoke anywhere near your baby, even if you are outside.
    
• Do not let your baby get too hot. This helps reduce the risk of SIDS.
  
  • Keep the room where your baby sleeps at a comfortable temperature.
    
  • In general, dress your baby in no more than one extra layer than you would wear. Your baby may be too hot if she is sweating or if her chest feels hot.
    
  • If you are worried that your baby is cold, use a wearable blanket, such as a sleeping sack, or warm sleeper that is the right size for your baby. These are made to cover the body and not the head.
    
• Offer a pacifier at nap time and bedtime. This helps reduce the risk of SIDS.
  
  • If you are breastfeeding, wait until breastfeeding is going well before offering a pacifier. This usually takes 3 to 4 weeks. If you are not breastfeeding, you can start a pacifier as soon as you like.
    
  • It's OK if your baby doesn't want to use a pacifier. You can try offering a pacifier again, but some babies don't like to use pacifiers.
    
  • If the pacifier falls out after your baby falls asleep, you don't have to put it back in.
    
  • Do not use pacifiers that attach to infant clothing.
    
  • Do not use pacifiers that are attached to objects, such as stuffed toys and other items that may be a suffocation or choking risk.
    
• Do not use home cardiorespiratory monitors to help reduce the risk of SIDS.
  
  • Home cardiorespiratory monitors can be helpful for babies with breathing or heart problems, but they have not been found to reduce the risk of SIDS.
    
• Use caution when buying products that claim to reduce the risk of SIDS. 
  
  • Wedges, positioners, special mattresses and specialized sleep surfaces have not been shown to reduce the risk of SIDS, according to the AAP.​
    

What Expectant Moms Can Do:

• Schedule and go to all prenatal doctor visits.
  
• Do not smoke, drink alcohol, or use drugs while pregnant or after the birth of your newborn. Stay away from smokers and places where people smoke.
  
• Hold your newborn skin to skin while breastfeeding. If you can breastfeed, do this as soon as you can after birth. Skin-to-skin contact is also beneficial for bottle-fed newborns.
  

What Sleepy Parents Need to Know:

• ​​​​​It is safer to feed your baby on your bed than on a sofa or cushioned chair. Make sure to remove pillows, blankets, or other soft bedding, in case you fall asleep while feeding. If you do fall asleep, move your baby back into her own bed as soon as you awake. 
  
• Be careful not to fall asleep on a sofa or cushioned chair while holding your baby.​
  

Remember Tummy Time:Give your baby plenty of "tummy time" when she is awake. This will help strengthen neck muscles and help prevent flat spots on the head. Always stay with your baby during tummy time, and make sure she is awake. 

​Source: www.healthychildren.org 

If your baby doesn’t tolerate tummy time—and even if she does, you are encouraged to try the following activities:
Activity #1: Tummy to Tummy
It’s a good idea to begin exposing your baby to tummy time while you’re both still in the hospital. The earlier you start, the more likely your baby will accept the stomach as a natural position. In fact, before the umbilical cord has fallen off, you can position your newborn on your stomach or chest while you are awake and in a reclined position on a chair, bed, or floor (with a pillow to support your head), tummy to tummy with baby.

Take this perfect opportunity to socialize with your newborn and encourage lots of eye contact. Talk in animated tones and use exaggerated expressions to get her to look at you. It’s a special time to bond tummy to tummy.
Activity #2:
Lap Time
You can also position your baby tummy down across your lap lengthwise while providing head support. Remember to keep her head aligned with her body. If she falls asleep in that position, just transfer her to the bed (but place her down to sleep on her back). For more stimulation, slowly raise and lower your legs at the same time, then move them slowly from side to side. This motion will likely calm your little one.
Babies need to be exposed to a variety of textures throughout the day, and tummy time is the perfect opportunity to accomplish this. When your baby is on her tummy, the skin on her stomach, legs, arms, and face touches the surface on which she is lying. The most natural place to play is on a clean floor, a nap mat, or blankets of different textures. (Note: Blankets should be secured so they don’t slide around when baby moves her arms or legs.) As she moves her body, arms, and legs against the surface, the friction that is created lets her know where her body is located in space.
Additionally, your baby will gain strength and flexibility during tummy time. Dressing your little one in an infant body suit (eg, Onesie) for tummy time allows her to feel the various textures on her arms and legs.
Tummy time also allows your baby to visually explore the environment in a new way. When positioned on her back, she can see only the ceiling and whatever is directly around her. But on her stomach, she uses her muscles to lift her head and see the world at eye level, giving her a completely different view of the world—a new perspective!
An Important ReminderOnce your baby starts participating in tummy time, be sure to provide supervision. In this world of distractions, your phone will ring or you’ll get called to another room, but stay with your baby because the AAP recommends that tummy time be supervised.
Babies with Special Health Care NeedsIf your baby was born premature or has reflux disease or special needs, speak with your child’s pediatrician about tummy time. Some babies need special consideration.
Activity #3:
​Side Lying With SupportSide lying is a great alternative to tummy time if your baby doesn’t tolerate being on her stomach. Place your baby on a blanket on her side; if needed, prop her back against a rolled-up towel for support. If her head needs support, place a small, folded washcloth under her head. Both of baby’s arms should be in front of her, and you should bring her legs forward at the hips and bend her knees to make her comfortable.
Don’t forget to distract your baby with a fun toy or read her an entertaining book while she’s in this position. It is best to set up a regular time for tummy time and side lying, such as after naps, baths, or diaper changes. Just be sure to have a plan in place and take care to vary your baby’s position every 10 to 15 minutes during playtime
Strive to expose your baby to a variety of positions throughout the day, including time spent in your arms and on your lap. Remember, babies crave emotional interaction and connection with their parents.

Author
 
Anne H. Zachry, PhD, OTR/L
Last Updated
 
11/21/2015
Source
 
Retro Baby (Copyright © 2013 American Academy of Pediatrics)
The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.

​​Encouraging Your Newborn to LearnAs you care for your newborn, he or she is learning to recognize your touch, the sound of your voice, and the sight of your face.
In the first few weeks you may want to introduce some simple, age-appropriate toys that appeal to the senses of sight, hearing, and touch, such as:

• rattles
• textured toys
• musical toys
• unbreakable crib mirrors

Try toys and mobiles with contrasting colors and patterns. Strong contrasts (such as red, white, and black), curves, and symmetry stimulate an infant's developing vision. As vision improves and babies gain more control over their movements, they'll interact more and more with their environment.

What is safe and unsafe for your baby to eat at a holiday meal?
Preparing Thanksgiving dinner for your extended family is no simple chore, so you'd rather not add "make dinner for baby" to your already long to-do list. Give thanks: If your child's closing in on his first birthday and transitioning to table foods, you can serve him at least some of the typical Thanksgiving menu, says registered dietitian Cathie Squatrito, director of medical affairs for Gerber. Just be sure all the foods you do offer your baby are diced very small (about 1/4 inch in size) and cooked to the point of being well-done (soft enough to gum).
Good for gobbling

• turkey
• ham
• mashed potatoes
• sweet potatoes
• string beans
• peas
• carrots
• cranberry sauce
• bread or rolls
• pumpkin pie
• apple pie

Pass on these

• corn and succotash
• rich-tasting casseroles (such as string-bean or broccoli-cheese)
• creamed onions
• stuffing (which can contain onions, rich seasoning, choking hazards, or seafood)
• raw veggies from a crudités or relish tray
• desserts with nuts or peanut butter

 Author: Strephanie Woods
Source: www.parenting.com

Teething Toys
Find something for your little gnawer that’s cool to touch but tough to chew on—a wet washcloth chilled in the freezer for 15 to 30 minutes, a frozen banana or berries if you’ve introduced solids, solid (not liquid-filled) teething rings chilled in the fridge or freezer (take them out before they are rock hard), a frozen bagel, your finger, or a “lovey”-type toy.

If Your Baby is Older than 6 to 9 Months:
​Offer a slow-flow sippy cup of cool water to suck on and drink for comfort. Of note, plastic teething rings with liquids have been given a bad name in the past few years due to recalls— potential bacteria growing in liquid and the possibility of a baby cutting through the ring and into the liquid.

As many parents try to avoid plastics (due to presence of phthalates/BPA), use the washcloth method or a cotton sock rolled up tightly to gnaw on. Silicone and latex chewy toys may be a safer bet.

Fingers
Let your baby gnaw on your fingers (if his or her teeth haven’t come through), or rub your baby’s gums with your clean fingers for comfort.

Massage
If you’re breastfeeding and your baby isn’t interested in a teething toy but more interested in chewing on your nipples (eeeeeek) or your arms, especially around the time of feeding, massage your baby’s gums with your fingers dipped in cool water prior to starting a feeding.

Clean teething toys, washcloths, or socks after each use. And know that it’s absolutely fine to let your baby chew all day if he or she enjoys it. Still, nothing about gnawing means pain.

Author
 
Wendy Sue Swanson, MD, MBE, FAAP

​How to Calm a Fussy Baby: Tips for Parents & Caregivers​Here are ways you can try to comfort a crying baby. It may take a few tries, but with patience and practice you'll find out what works and what doesn't for your baby. 

• Swaddle your baby in a large, thin blanket (ask your nurse or child's doctor to show you how to do it correctly) to help her feel secure.
• Hold your baby in your arms and place her body on her left side to help digestion or stomach for support. Gently rub her back. If your baby goes to sleep, remember to always lay her down in her crib on her back.
• Turn on a calming sound. Sounds that remind babies of being inside the womb may be calming, such as a white noise device, the humming sound of a fan, or the recording of a heartbeat.
• Walk your baby in a body carrier or rock her. Calming motions remind babies of movements they felt in the womb.
• Avoid overfeeding your baby because this may also make her uncomfortable. Try to wait at least 2 to 2½ hours from the beginning of one feeding to the next.
• If it is not yet time to feed your baby, offer the pacifier or help your baby find her thumb or finger. Many babies are calmed by sucking.
• If food sensitivity is the cause of discomfort, a change in diet may help.
  • For breastfed babies: Moms may try changing their own diet. See if your baby gets less fussy if you cut down on milk ­products or caffeine. If there is no ­difference after making the dietary changes, resume your usual diet. Avoiding spicy or gassy foods like onions or ­cabbage has worked for some moms, but this has not been ­scientifically proven.
  • For bottle-fed babies: Ask your child's ­doctor if you should try a different for­mula. This has been shown to be helpful for some babies.
• Keep a diary of when your baby is awake, asleep, eating, and crying. Write down how long it takes your baby to eat or if your baby cries the most after eating. Talk with your child's doctor about these behaviors to see if her crying is related to sleeping or eating.
• Limit each daytime nap to no longer than 3 hours a day. Keep your baby calm and quiet when you feed or change her during the night by avoiding bright lights and noises, such as the TV.

Checklist for What Your Baby May Need:Here are some other ­reasons why your baby may cry and tips on what you can try to meet that need.  If your baby is… 

• Hungry. Keep track of feeding times and look for early signs of hunger, such as lip-smacking or ­moving fists to his mouth.  
• Cold or hot. Dress your baby in about the same ­layers of clothing that you are wearing to be comfortable. 
• Wet or soiled. Check the diaper. In the first few months, babies wet and soil their diapers a lot. 
• Spitting up or vomiting a lot. Some babies have symptoms from gastroesophageal reflux (GER), and the fussiness can be confused with colic. Contact your child's doctor if your baby is fussy after feeding, has excessive spitting or vomiting, and is losing or not gaining weight.  
• Sick (has a fever or other illness). Check your baby's temperature. If your baby is younger than 2 months and has a fever, call your child's ­doctor right away. See Fever and Your Baby for more information.  
• Overstimulated. 
• Bored. Quietly sing or hum a song to your baby. Go for a walk. 

Why Parents & Caregivers Need Breaks from Crying Babies:If you have tried to calm your crying baby but nothing seems to work, you may need to take a moment for yourself. Crying can be tough to handle, especially if you're physically tired and mentally exhausted.

• Take a deep breath and count to 10.
• Place your baby in a safe place, such as crib or playpen without blankets and stuffed animals; leave the room; and let your baby cry alone for about 10 to 15 minutes.
• While your baby is in a safe place, consider some actions that may help calm you down.
• Listen to music for a few minutes.
• Call a friend or family member for ­emotional support.
• Do simple household chores, such as vacuuming or washing the dishes.
• If you have not calmed after 10 to 15 minutes, check on your baby but do not pick up your baby until you feel you have calmed down.
• When you have calmed down, go back and pick up your baby. If your baby is still crying, retry soothing measures.
• Call your child's doctor. There may be a medical reason why your baby is crying.
• Try to be patient. Keeping your baby safe is the most important thing you can do. It is normal to feel upset, frustrated, or even angry, but it is important to keep your behavior under control. Remember, it is never safe to shake, throw, hit, slam, or jerk any child—and it never solves the problem!

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