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10 Parenting Tips for Dealing with Fussy Babies

So the last few days have been rough around my house. We’re approaching the magical Six Weeks where fussiness peaks in newborns, and I’m pretty sure Brian is trying to live up to expectations.

That being said, I’ve got a bit of experience dealing with fussy babies. My first had a mild to moderate dose of colic, and he was a real handful. If you’re trying to deal with a fussy baby, consider some of my hard earned tips:

1. Reinvent the Womb – I didn’t discover Harvey Karp’s Happiest Baby on the Block until it was almost too late. He has some excellent resources in the book to help soothe fussy babies. The quick and dirty for those who don’t have a chance to read it yourself is to duplicate the conditions of the womb with white noise, swaddling, motion and the like.

2. Wear the Baby – Fussy babies need constant cuddling and attention. Wearing your baby gives them the closeness they want and lets you actually get things done around the house. I’m such a fan I actually have two carriers and a backpack.

3. Seek Sleep – Get your baby to sleep anyway you can. Drive, take walks, wear the baby, hold the baby, swaddle the baby. The more sleep the baby gets, the better her mood might be. The extra rest will also let you store up energy for the battle ahead.

4. Eat – It can be easy to forget to eat while constantly tending to a baby, but you need energy. You’re only going to get that energy from food, so be sure you’re eating plenty of it at regular times.

5. Exercise – Exercising can help blow off some of the steam you’ve accumulated. If you’re wearing your baby or pushing a stroller, it can also help soothe. Nothing like killing two birds with one stone. I logged countless flights of stairs wearing my first. Hmmm…that baby fat was also easier to lose than this batch. Coincidence? I think not.

6. Find a Mantra – My personal favorite, “This, too, shall pass,” is an excellent choice, but there are many others out there that may work better for you.

7. Forget Blame – Fussy babies are nobody’s fault. (That is unless you’ve prevented your baby from getting enough food or sleep, and then it’s your fault.) You are not being punished, and the baby isn’t doing it on purpose. He must be miserable to be that fussy. Accept fussiness for the demon it is and move on – don’t take it out on anyone in the house.

8. Take Turns – Take turns as much as possible. My dear husband isn’t very good with fussy infants. He’s more of a toddler guy. So infant care fell on my shoulders, but that’s okay. I’m better at it and feel like my babies needed their mama when they were upset. That didn’t let him off the hook, though. He just got other jobs like the dishes and making money.

9. Stay Connected – A fussy baby can make everyone miserable and possibly turn you against your significant other. Remember, this isn’t his fault. Talk to your hubby and let him know what kind of help you need. Men aren’t mind readers and, at least in my experience, won’t pick up on subtle hints. They need a message in short sentences, ideally in writing.

10. Get Help – There are hotlines out there for frazzled parents, but help is also closer to home. Talk to your doctor to be sure there is nothing else going on with your baby. Ear infections and reflux are common these days. Rule those out and then do what you have to do to survive. It does get better, I promise.

August 6th, 2007 Posted by Rebecca | Infant Issues, All Parenting Articles | one comment