A happy baby can make you feel like a successful parent.
Most parents would say they want nothing more than for their children to be happy. But with a young baby, it can be difficult to know achieve that. Although some babies are naturally content and seem happy most of the time, others are fussy and high-need. Since babies can't talk yet, it can be hard to know what to do to help. But with a little experimenting and patience, you can find ways to help your baby be happier.
Respond to Your Baby's Needs
Meeting your baby's needs is the first step toward keeping your baby happy. Although all babies share the same basic needs, every baby needs different care to be emotionally satisfied. Some babies are happy to lie on the floor playing with toys for most of the day, while others will cry if not held and rocked constantly. To meet your baby's individual needs, watch his reactions to different situations and respond accordingly. If he wants you to hold him all the time, get a comfortable baby carrier so you can keep him close throughout your daily life. If he loves the stimulation of different activities, then rotate his toys so he can always have something new to look at. Pay close attention so you can learn to read even subtle signals: a bored cry might sound similar to an overstimulated cry, and finding the right response will make all the difference in helping him be happy again.
Soothe a Fussy Baby
Your baby can be fussy for many different reasons. She could be tired, wet or hungry; she could be in pain or overstimulated or bored. If you've met all her physical needs and still don't know why she's fussy, you can try techniques for soothing a fussy or high-needs baby. Pediatrician Dr. Karp, author of "The Happiest Baby on the Block," recommends the five "S's" to soothe a newborn baby: swaddling; holding the baby on her side or stomach; making a shushing sound similar to white noise to replicate the sounds she heard within the womb; swinging or rocking gently; and letting her suck on a pacifier or breast. Pediatrician Dr. Sears offers similar techniques for an older baby such as wearing her in a carrier, putting her in a swing and using white noise.
Encourage a Baby's Emotional Health
When your baby is very young, a quick response to his cries helps him learn to be calm and happy. But as he grows older, he can begin to learn to soothe himself. Letting him struggle to learn new skills instead of immediately helping him accomplish a new task is important so he can develop his abilities. When he is angry or sad about something that you can't immediately fix, such as having to leave a play group, you can encourage emotional health by recognizing and validating his emotions. Express what he's feeling in words and allow him to experience sadness or disappointment. By teaching him that it's okay to have negative emotions and then helping him find ways to work through those emotions, you will help him develop long-term emotional health.
Be Happy Yourself
Babies are very sensitive to their caregiver's moods. If you are generally happy and calm, your baby will learn to imitate those attitudes. If you are depressed or stressed easily, then your baby will be more likely to overreact to difficult situations. Even if your baby is fussy and unhappy, don't let her mood shape yours. Stay calm and gentle, and give yourself a break when necessary so you can stay patient with your baby. Eventually, your calm, happy demeanor will start to influence her.
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