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Infants
Some
resources & links
Crying
is the universal language of infants. It’s your infant’s
main way of communicating his needs to you. Crying, especially
incessant crying can be very hard for some parents to take.
Sometimes, in frustration, it may seem that hitting or yelling
at your infant is all you can do to make him stop. We know
though, without a doubt, that hitting and yelling don’t
solve anything, and are a terrifying experience for a baby.
Shaking your infant to stop him from crying is also never
an answer. Shaking, even for a brief moment, can cause
serious injury, even death.
So
what should you do? Be a detective. Find out why your child
is crying. Maybe he’s hungry or wet, feeling ill, cold or
hot. Check for these signs and respond by feeding your baby
or trying a pacifier, changing the infant’s diapers or clothes,
and checking for a temperature. If your infant is acting
sick, call your doctor. Maybe your child just needs some
cuddling. Rock your baby, sing to him, take him for a walk
or ride, play some music, or give a gentle massage. If these
don’t seem to work, it could be that your child just needs
some crying time.
It’s
very important that you keep calm and don’t lose your temper.
If you feel yourself losing control, stop in your tracks!
Put the baby into his crib and leave the room. Try counting
out loud from one to ten a few times to help calm yourself.
Take a relaxing bath or shower. If this doesn’t seem to
work, call a relative or a friend to relieve you, then leave
the house for a while.
If
you still feel close to hitting your infant and need help
stepping away from the situation, call a help line (in Massachusetts,
call the Parental Stress Line at 800-632-8188). Remember
your baby needs your love and protection. Acting out of
anger by yelling or physically striking out against your
child must always be avoided.
The
above information is an excerpt from "Parenting Through
All the Ages and Stages" (2000), a Massachusetts Citizens
for Children publication.
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Some
Resources & Links:
PARENTS
PLEASE VISIT the Shaken
Baby Syndrome section of our web site.
Learn
even more about Shaken
Baby Syndrome prevention at the web site ot the Shaken
Baby Alliance.
Safety
Resources in the Boston area at BabyZone
Parents
Helping Parents offers free and ongoing self-help groups
to support families and prevent child abuse. Groups meet
throughout Massachusetts and are open to all parents. Also
runs a 9AM-5PM hotline for parents 1-800-882-1250.
My
Life Path: Pregnancy & Baby - questions & answers,
health news, baby heath and development, parenting, and
much more, from Blue Shield of CA.
"Getting
Your Baby to Sleep" at www.familyresource.com.
Crib
Safety at www.paranoidsisters.com
Learn
about colic: what is it, why do some babies get it,
how do you soothe a colicky baby? at www.babycenter.com
Colic
coping strategies at www.babycenter.com
Newborn
tips & resources at www.babycenter.com
www.iamyourchild.org
for parenting tips, expert advice, child development information,
safety tips, advice for selecting child care, early childhood
resources in your state, more...
"Building
Your Baby's Brain: A Parent's Guide to the First Five Years"
at www.teachingstrategies.com
New
Baby Sibling: What's a Parent to Do? on easing sibling
rivalry upon the arrival of your new baby, at www.aboutourkids.org
Learn
about the Women,
Infants, and Children (WIC) program & services.
The
Magic of Everyday Moments, helping parents and other
caregivers understand and gain ideas for how to use simple,
everyday moments to promote your baby's social, emotional,
and intellectual development.
Baby
Safety, tips and resources from the National SAFE KIDS
Campaign.
Resources
& articles for parents of infants, from Babies Today.
Expert
Q & A for parents of infants, from Babies Today
Parenting
Tips related to school from www.aboutourkids.org
Parenting
Tips related to emotions from www.aboutourkids.org
Parenting
Tips related to development from www.aboutourkids.org
Parenting
Tips related to behavior from www.aboutourkids.org
Parenting
Tips related to social skills from www.aboutourkids.org
Dietary
Guidelines for Infants, by Stephen Barrett, MD, at Quackwatch
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