Prenatal Tips for Your Newborn
When you respond to your baby’s cries, you are calming him and teaching him to trust. A newborn usually cries a total of 2 to 3 hours a day. Preemies may cry as much as 6 hours a day. Most babies have a fussy time each day.
It is stressful to parents when a baby cries, especially when he cries for a long time. But it is important to answer your baby’s cries. Babies whose parents pick them up and comfort them cry less than babies who are ignored when they cry.
What can you do to help your crying baby?
- Check to see if your baby is hungry, needs to be burped, needs a diaper change, or has a temperature and could be ill. Sometimes, infants cry when there is a lot of noise.
- Encourage your baby to calm down by himself. Help him find his thumb or pacifier. Some infants calm down to motions such as rocking, walking, or riding in a car or stroller.
- Try holding him and gently stroking his face or body.
- Try a variety of positions. Rather than holding him in your arms and looking at him, try sitting him in your lap facing away from you and give him your clean finger to suck on.
- Sometimes babies find it easier to relax if they are wrapped up or swaddled in a blanket.
- Take your baby to a quiet, dim room and try to soothe him for about five minutes.
- If your baby doesn’t stop crying and you are frustated, try putting him in his crib and letting him cry. Let him cry for 10 to 20 minutes. Go out of the room for a moment and take some deep breaths. Remember it is not your fault your baby is crying. If you’ve put him down and he continues to cry, take a deep breath, pick him up, and try again.
- Have a plan of who to ask for help if you get too tired or stressed out.
Learn more about Your Newborn Baby from Just In Time Parenting. You can also go to our Resource Links for additional information on child care and development.
