292 Unit 3 Infancy
Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Soothing a Fussy Newborn
All newborns cry, and some babies cry up to
¼ of each day, even when nothing is wrong. Parents
who meet their newborns’ needs should under-
stand this crying is not related to their parenting
abilities. Some babies just cry more and are harder
to soothe than others.
Newborns cry for almost any reason because
crying is the way they “talk.” They may cry because
they are tired, hungry, lonely, or uncomfortable.
Newborns also cry to relax from tension. Colic (a
condition in which the baby has intense abdominal
pain) is one major reason babies cry, especially
during the fi rst three months. There are many causes
of colic, such as allergies, tension, swallowing air
when sucking or crying, and hunger. Soothing a
baby who has colic often works, but in severe cases
of colic, a pediatrician may prescribe medication
to treat the condition.
Parents will not spoil newborns by answering
their cries and soothing them. Major stress relievers
for newborns are hearing familiar voices talking
quietly, breast-feeding, and regulating temperature
through contact with the parent’s warm body.
Adults can self-regulate (calm down without
help), but because this is a learned skill, newborns
need help through co-regulation. Co-regulation is
soothing the baby to aid him or her to calm down.
A caregiver who soothes the newborn is called a
co-regulator. Newborns who do not receive help
in calming down feel vulnerable and often have
diffi culties with self-regulation later in life. Soothing
not only helps babies feel less alone in a big world,
but also teaches self-regulation. Newborns may
show the beginnings of self-regulation. For example,
when startled or overstimulated, they may turn
their heads, close their eyes, or suck their hands
or fi ngers.
To soothe a newborn, a caregiver tries to interpret
the baby’s cry and then responds. Figure 10.12
describes three distinct cries and how a person
might respond to them. Following are some ways
a caregiver might soothe a baby:
• Rock the baby in a vertical (over the
shoulder) position. Place one hand behind
the baby’s head and rock quickly.
• Carry the baby around the house or yard.
Interacting with Newborns
Newborns need social interaction for develop-
ment, too. Not only do babies seem to learn best
when they are alert and inactive (not fussy), they
also develop warm relationships with others in this
state. Newborns differ in alertness because of their
individuality. For example, premature babies are
often not as alert as full-term babies. Also, babies
differ in the length of time they are alert. There
seems to be a general pattern in the development
of alertness.
Unless affected by drugs used in delivery,
newborns are usually alert for a while after birth.
Then, newborns tend to sleep a lot during the next
few days. With each passing week, newborns spend
more time in the alert-inactive stage. They total
about 11 hours alert in the fi rst week and 22 hours
alert in the fourth week.
Parents work to establish a good relationship
early in the newborn’s life, even if the baby is sleepy
or fussy most of the time. Parents communicate
their feelings through facial expressions and
vocalizations when engaging babies. Emotional
wiring begins in newborns and young infants
during times of parent-child interactions (feeding,
other physical care tasks, comforting, and holding).
Babies learn through the fi lter of feelings. If parents
are harsh or nonresponsive because they are
depressed, babies are likely to develop learning
delays and social-emotional issues.
Parents need to cuddle and play with their
babies in the alert state. They can try to soothe
fussy newborns and enjoy them during their alert
times. If parents are experiencing depression or
having other issues, they should seek treatment
and support.
Emotional wiring is based on early
parent-child relationships. Parents
who are depressed and harsh or nonresponsive
to their babies run a major risk of damaging the
mental health of their babies. Treatment and support
for depressed parents are needed for the sake of
the entire family.