The Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems (By Teaching You How to Ask the Right Questions): Sleeping, Feeding and Behaviour - Beyond the Basics Through Infancy and Toddlerdom

Author:Tracy Hogg & Melinda Blau [Hogg, Tracy & Blau, Melinda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Infants & Toddlers, Parenting, General, Parent and Child, Life Stages, Family Relationships, Child Rearing, Family & Relationships
ISBN: 9780091902513
Google: OXjTaJAqcqcC
Publisher: Vermilion
Published: 2005-01-14T05:00:00+00:00

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Tip-Off #6

These complaints often indicate that discomfort is at least in part responsible for your baby’s sleep problem:

My baby doesn’t settle down to sleep easily.

My baby wakes up frequently at night.

My baby falls asleep but then wakes up within a few minutes.

My baby only falls asleep in an upright position, like the swing or car seat.

My baby seems tired, but the minute I start to put her down, she cries.

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Variable #6: Discomfort

It’s obvious: Babies cry when they’re hungry and overtired, but they also cry when they’re in pain, uncomfortable (too hot or cold), or sick. The question is, which is it?

Looking for signs of discomfort. As I’ve said repeatedly, a structured routine enables you to make a better-educated guess about the cause of your child’s crying. But you also have to use your powers of observation. What does he sound and look like when he’s crying? If your baby grimaces, if his body gets rigid, if he pulls his legs up or flails wildly in his sleep or when trying to get to sleep, any and all of these signs might be indications of pain. A pain cry is more shrill and high pitched than hunger. Also, there are different kinds of pain cries. For instance, the look and sound of a gas cry is different from reflux—as are the strategies you employ to make your baby more receptive to sleep.

The important thing to remember is that at this age babies don’t usually cry because of accidental parenting—it’s because they need something. It’s true that a baby who cries the moment you put him down could be one who’s had some accidental parenting. He’s now used to his parents’ carrying him, and that’s what he thinks going to sleep involves. But it also could be reflux if your baby cries when you try to put him down. In a horizontal position, the stomach acid comes up and burns his esophagus. Does he only fall asleep in his car seat, infant seat, or swing? As I explained, one of the red flags of reflux is the baby who only sleeps in an upright position. The trouble is, they get used to an upright position and can’t sleep any other way.

A PLAN: If you suspect that some type of intestinal pain is keeping your baby up or waking her, reread, which will help you differentiate between gas, colic, and reflux, and give you suggestions for managing each condition (also see “The Vicious Cycle of Reflux” at the end of this chapter). Rather than encouraging swing addiction, or having to drive around or put her car seat in her crib, take steps to make her more comfortable in her own bed. Elevate the bed and any other surfaces you lay her on, like the changing table. Also, fold a receiving blanket in thirds, and wrap it around your baby’s waist, like a cummerbund, and then use another blanket to swaddle her. The cummerbund’s gentle pressure can ease the pain

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