Presenter’s Notes The Crying Teaching Kit Includes: • “Crying” Presentation • “Why is This Baby Crying?” Game. This includes the facilitator presentation booklet with instructions and laminated participant cards • “Staying Calm When Your Baby Cries” tip sheet • “When Your Baby Can't Stop Crying” tip sheet • “Keeping Your Baby Comfortable In Winter” tip sheet • “Keeping Your Baby Comfortable In Summer” tip sheet Optional Handouts • “Safety Tips For Sleep Sacks And Other Swaddling Products” tip sheet • “Safety Tips for Swaddling” tip sheet Facilitators: If you have questions regarding information contained in this kit please contact : IMPACT, the Injury Prevention Program of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority • Phone: 204 940-8300 • Email: [email protected] Important: This kit includes general information about why a baby may cry, how to respond and what you can do to cope with crying. If parents have concerns about their baby’s health and excessive crying they should see their health care provider for an assessment and support. Babies and Crying What You Need to Know Source: http://www.purplecrying.info/sub-pages/protecting/the-relations-of-crying-to-sbs.php Used with permission from the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome" Babies and Crying What You Need to Know • Hearing your baby cry can be distressing but it is important to know that it is normal for all babies to cry. Crying doesn't necessarily mean there's anything wrong. • Most babies: . start crying at birth, . cry the most around 2 months of age . start to cry less around 3-5 months of age . are happier in the daytime and fussier in the evening • Looking at the graph we can see that a baby two months old may cry anywhere from 30 minutes to 6 hours in a twenty four hour period. Six hours is a lot of crying and would still be considered normal for some babies. Some babies simply cry more than other babies. • The amount of time your baby spends crying each day can often feel much longer than it actually is - even 1/2 an hour can feel like an eternity when you're tired. It is Important to Know that a Crying Baby… • is not being bad • is not angry with you • does not mean that you are a bad parent It is Important to Know That a Crying Baby… • Crying is one of the ways your baby communicates with you. As part of her survival instinct, crying ensures her basic needs for food and comfort are met. • Crying may also be your baby's way of letting off steam. For babies that are overtired and over-stimulated crying is a way they unwind and release tension. • Crying does not mean you're a bad parent. Babies don't know how others feel at the sound of their crying . Babies don’t cry because they're spoiled . Babies don’t cry to annoy you • When babies cry they are simply trying to communicate that they need something. You Need To Respond to a Crying Baby You Need To Respond to a Crying Baby • Babies need to be comforted, protected and nurtured by their parents. • Babies do not have the ability to comfort themselves. • It is very important that you respond to your baby when she is: . hurt . ill . upset (afraid, sad, angry) • If your baby is not picked up and comforted, she will learn she can’t rely on or trust her caregivers. If your baby’s needs are not met on a regular basis, this will interfere with normal healthy child development. • Comforting your baby will not “spoil” her. Research shows that babies who are quickly and effectively comforted when they are upset cry less and are soothed more quickly. • Comforting is: soft soothing voices, gentle calming touch, holding, reassuring that everything will be okay. • Comforting is not: hushing, laughing at, making fun of/mocking, overreacting and panicking, ignoring, asking our children to comfort us. What Can You Do When Your Baby Cries? Address Basic Infant Needs What Can You Do When Your Baby Cries? Ask participants: What are basic infant needs? Answer: Hungry, wet/soiled, too hot, too cold, tired, overstimulated, etc. Address Basic Infant Needs • If your baby is crying, the first step is to try and figure out if he is crying because of something he needs. • Is your baby: Hungry? Needing a diaper change? Overheating? Cold? Over-stimulated? Tired? • These are all examples of basic needs that your baby may try to tell you about by crying. • If your baby is crying and you are not sure why, there are things you can do. We will discuss this in the next few slides. What Can You Do When Your Baby Cries? Comfort Your Baby What Can You Do When Your Baby Cries? Comfort Your Baby: • Comforting is trying to soothe your baby’s emotions. • You can: . Wrap your baby in a blanket and hold her in your arms (Remember do not swaddle your baby for sleep) . Look into your baby’s eyes and talk softly to her . Try rubbing her back and holding her upwards on your shoulder . Change her position • In some newborns, the need to suck is very strong. Sucking at your breast or on a clean finger or a soother can bring great comfort . Comfort sucking can steady a baby's heart rate, relax her tummy, and help her to settle. What Can You Do When Your Baby Cries? Carry Your Baby What Can You Do When Your Baby Cries? Carry Your Baby • Crying babies often need lots of cuddling, physical contact and reassurance. If you hold your baby close she may be soothed just by hearing your heartbeat. • Your baby may stop crying just by being carried. It may be that she just wants to be held closely. This can include skin to skin contact. • You may be worried about spoiling your baby if you hold her too much. Remember during the first few months of her life that's not possible. What Can You Do When Your Baby Cries? Walking and Movement What Can You Do When Your Baby Cries? Walking and Movement You can try: . Holding him and walking . Taking him for a stroller ride . Sitting him securely in a baby swing when he is old enough . Taking him out for a ride in the car . Sitting with him in a rocking chair . Dancing with him What Can You Do When Your Baby Cries? Talking What Can You Do When Your Baby Cries? Ask Participants: How does your baby react to your voice when you talk to him or her? Does your baby like to hear you singing? Answer: Allow participants time to share how their baby reacts to their voice. Talking . Your voice is comforting to your baby. He has heard it since before he was born and he will listen to your voice as you speak. Did you know that babies will even move their arms and legs in time with your voice? . Singing a lullaby or nursery rhyme with a soft voice or saying the same things over and over with a melody can help to calm baby. Calmly talking to your baby when he is upset can change the focus both for your baby and for you. What Can You Do When Your Baby Cries? White Noise and Vibration What Can You Do When Your Baby Cries? White Noise and Vibration • In the uterus (womb), your baby hears the beat of your heart which is why she likes to be held close to you now. • There are other repetitive noises that may also have a calming effect and may even lull your baby to sleep: . The steady rhythm and vibration of a washing machine (Only put baby beside the washer and dryer and never on top) . The noise of a vacuum cleaner • There are downloadable white-noise sounds, phone apps and CD created to sooth crying babies. On this website, you can download an app for your apple or android product. http://simplynoise.com/ What Can You Do When Your Baby Cries? Have a Routine Feeding: For newborns and young infants respond to your baby quickly when she starts to show hunger cues such as sucking her fingers, rooting, making sucking sounds, etc. For older infants (6 months) try to have consistent meal and snack times. Eat at the table with your baby. Nap Time: Watch for cues that your baby is tired and respond quickly. Place baby in her crib and let baby fall asleep in the crib. Bed Time: Give your baby a bath, put your baby in pajamas, sing some quiet lullabies or songs, read a book, dim the lights. Put your baby in the crib to fall asleep. What Can You Do When Your Baby Cries? • Have a Routine. • Several studies show that your baby will cry less if they have a regular routine. • Routines give parents structure and a sense of accomplishment and add predictability to baby's day. Routines help babies feel safe and able to trust that their parents will consistently respond to their needs. • Creating regular routines for sleeping, feeding, bath time, play and quiet time may help your baby know what to expect. • A routine is often a way of doing things that are the same. For example a bed time routine may include giving your baby a bath, putting your baby in pajamas, singing quiet songs, reading a book, dimming the lights, It would be done everyday roughly at the same time as you start to notice that a certain time of the day works best for getting baby ready for bed and before baby is overtired.