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. Newborns can also stay alert for longer periods of time in later weeks as they grow. 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.