Q. I have an infant who’s rather fussy. He cries a lot, which I’m okay with because I know how to calm him down. But my husband goes berserk after a few minutes of tears, shouting at me to buy the kid a pacifier or to somehow quickly calm him down. I feel so much [...]
Question
My 9-month-old is having a problem with separation anxiety. I have been taking him to day care at my gym for an hour every day, and no matter what we do he cries the entire time I am gone. I am worried because I’m starting medical school in a month and he will have to [...]
Consoling a Crying Baby
Q: My mother says that my husband and I are spoiling our 3-month-old by responding to him every time he cries. Is there something wrong with that?
Introduction
When you’ve got a new baby in the house, you’re likely to hear a lot of crying. Sometimes, a lot more than you ever imagined possible. The average infant cries as many as three hours a day — and some howl a whole lot more than that. The most wailing comes when a baby is [...]
Q: My 2-month-old cries hysterically when I dress and undress him. It makes me feel awful, but what can I do?
Don’t feel bad — many babies protest at being changed. The experience of going from feeling warm and cozy to being exposed can be very uncomfortable. Imagine what the womb must have felt like to [...]
Your baby is crying. Screaming! She’s miserable. And, frankly, you’re not feeling too great yourself. This is not what you pictured “before baby”-back when your thoughts were all about cozy cuddles and cute outfits. Now all you can think is, “What did I get myself into?” But remember this: Your infant’s tears serve a purpose. [...]
“I’m starving!”
Your baby just ate an hour ago, so you’re sure it’s not time for another meal. Or is it? If she’s going through a growth spurt, her tears might mean, “Waitress, I’d like another course.” These spurts typically occur at 2, 3, and 6 weeks, and at 3 and 6 months, and they last [...]
“My tummy hurts!”
There’s no shortage of reasons why your baby might have stomach discomfort. He could have a painful buildup of gas. He might be constipated. Formula-fed babies can develop a milk sensitivity or a milk allergy, both of which can cause cramps along with mucous poop. Or your child could have reflux, in which [...]
“Would you please take off this sweater?”
Just because the air is a tad brisk outside doesn’t mean your baby needs to be dressed for dogsledding in Siberia. Parents tend to overdress infants, who get cranky when they’re hot and sweaty — just like adults do.
The fix: Dress your baby in the same number of layers [...]
Give Simple Choices
What all children strive toward, from infancy on, is independence. “Giving your child at least the illusion of choice helps him make transitions more smoothly,” says Eileen Kasten, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics at Boonshoft School of Medicine, in Dayton, Ohio. Offer no more than two choices, and make sure you can live [...]