Parents!!! Please Help!!!

[BrotherEastman]

Originally Posted by Truthseeker

woop that babies behind!

No!

[BrotherEastman]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

When a baby is newborn, parents should respond to every cry. Period.

I have never been a fan of the "let them cry it out" theory. We have always had happy, well-adjusted, content babies. None of them were spoiled because they were held or given lots of attention.

That said, you have to identify the need and meet it. Babies NEED:

Food. Sleep. Attention. Affection. Nurturing. Cleaning. Diapers changed. Sleep. Attention. Food. Diapers. Sleep. Sleep. Oh, wait...the PARENTS need sleep....LOL!!!!!

That said: It is the parents job to properly interpret what the child needs and administer it to the child in a helpful and healthy manner. For instance, you don't want to greet every cry with food...he may not need food every time. You know whether or not he needs food based on the amount of time since the last time he ate, in addition to factors such as growth spurts, etc. You know if a baby hasn't slept in awhile, that they may be crying because they're tired. In my experience, a sleepy baby falls asleep fairly quickly, so if it takes too long, they're probably crying for another reason.

I'm not a fan of everything Dr. Sears espouses, but I do like this quote:

"Pick him up quickly, he'll get down quickly."

Good Article

Crying is the main method of communication from infant to parent. Parents should always listen and respond. A lack of communication WILL create behavioral problems and fussy babies.

As they get older, of course, throwing tantrums becomes an issue, and most parents can tell the difference between a cry and a tantrum. With your children, you will be the experts. A 6 month old really isn't capable of an intentional tantrum. The manipulation and premeditation involved hasn't been developed yet. At 1, they may have it a bit more refined.

I suggest reading, and lots of it.

People have always commented about how well-behaved and sweet our kids are. And we held them and played with them and talked to them and read to them ALL the time.

One other note: If your wife is exhausted, and needs you to take over with the baby for awhile, the answer is not to let the baby cry it out so she can have time to herself. That will just stress her out even more. Take the baby and pay attention to him and hold him and play with him and feed him, and keep him contented and happy for awhile so your wife can rest without any guilt or stress.

When I was a baby, I was so colicky that I cried constantly, and my parents and two of my older sisters had to take shifts holding me and rocking me at night. No one really ever understood the reason. When my son was born premature, the neonatologist informed us that premature infants are more inclined to be colicky, because of their undeveloped digestive systems, and the resulting sensitivity to formulas. Since I was born 5 weeks early, that could have very well have been the problem. I'm glad my parents didn't just leave me in the crib to "cry it out."

You seem well informed, thanks for the advice.

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by BrotherEastman

You seem well informed, thanks for the advice.

I'm an annoying Know It All...LOL!!!! It's okay. You can say it.

[BrotherEastman]

Originally Posted by Ferd

The problem here is that this kids dad drinks HAZEL NUT CREAM COFFEE.

I mean good grief, you might as well be putting the kid in a tooto!

or just do what Renda said and all will eventually be well.

Also get yourself a TV and watch that show with Nanny Joe.

Excuse me? Have you ever tried Hazlenut Cream Coffee? Sheeesh, what nerve! BTW, I do not want, nor will I own a t.v.

[BrotherEastman]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

I'm an annoying Know It All...LOL!!!! It's okay. You can say it.

You're just an annoying know it all. LOL!

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by BrotherEastman

You're just an annoying know it all. LOL!

Now don't you feel better?

[BrotherEastman]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Now don't you feel better?

What if I do?

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by BrotherEastman

What if I do?

Okay, all psychobabble aside...I understand. Really. Our first daughter slept through the night almost immediately, but then Sarah came along, and she was completely different.

Getting children to go to sleep on their own isn't a short project. But if you're consistent and patient, it will happen. Letting them cry themselves to sleep probably will work, but if there are ways to do it that aren't as hard on the baby (and the parents), then why not try those instead? I guess that's all I'm saying.

Here are a few of my suggestions:

* Start bedtime about an hour early...it should include the following:

Warm bath
Full Belly
Warm pajamas
Rocking
Singing
Patting on the back
Dim room, so he isn't stimulated by all the pretty lights
No mobiles or light-up bed toys
My kids did respond well to those heartbeat bears or the CD's of nature sounds...playing very softly.
No TV or video or computer exposure prior to bedtime. It stimulates the brain too much.

And....when he is calm and almost completely out, lay him in his bed, pat him and walk away. If he doesn't fall asleep fairly quickly, then pick him and start over...and again, when he's almost asleep, lay him back down.

The trick is to put him down while he is sleepy, but not asleep. If you put him down while he is crying and wailing and upset, he'll just get more and more frantic, until he wears himself out and goes into an exhausted sleep--but that can take up to an hour or more! And who wants to do that to their child? Not me....

[BrotherEastman]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Okay, all psychobabble aside...I understand. Really. Our first daughter slept through the night almost immediately, but then Sarah came along, and she was completely different.

Getting children to go to sleep on their own isn't a short project. But if you're consistent and patient, it will happen. Letting them cry themselves to sleep probably will work, but if there are ways to do it that aren't as hard on the baby (and the parents), then why not try those instead? I guess that's all I'm saying.

Here are a few of my suggestions:

* Start bedtime about an hour early...it should include the following:

Warm bath
Full Belly
Warm pajamas
Rocking
Singing
Patting on the back
Dim room, so he isn't stimulated by all the pretty lights
No mobiles or light-up bed toys
My kids did respond well to those heartbeat bears or the CD's of nature sounds...playing very softly.
No TV or video or computer exposure prior to bedtime. It stimulates the brain too much.

And....when he is calm and almost completely out, lay him in his bed, pat him and walk away. If he doesn't fall asleep fairly quickly, then pick him and start over...and again, when he's almost asleep, lay him back down.

The trick is to put him down while he is sleepy, but not asleep. If you put him down while he is crying and wailing and upset, he'll just get more and more frantic, until he wears himself out and goes into an exhausted sleep--but that can take up to an hour or more! And who wants to do that to their child? Not me....

gotcha, once again thanks for the information.

[Tawanda]

Jest give that little one a swig of whiskey, he'll drop right off to sleep.