Having a fussy baby can be frustrating for parents. A baby can be fussy for many reasons, such as being tired, overstimulated, or simply needing a little extra attention to relax.
If your child is eating solid foods, sensitivity to food coloring or sugar could be the culprit. Fortunately, having a few tips for calming a fussy baby will allow you to calm and relax him.
Get enough sleep. Although it is contradictory, when a baby gets tired he can become fussy. Most children under 1 year of age sleep about 12 hours each night and two to three hours during the day. By the child's second birthday, sleep decreases to about 10-11 hours each night and one to three hours during the day.
- A warm bath. Use lavender soap designed for baby's sensitive skin. Allow your baby to soak and play in the warm water while having fun. This allows your muscles to relax and the sensations to be soothing.
- Sing slow, relaxing songs. Babies are very receptive to music. If you sing loud music, your baby will feel stimulated and excited; quiet music will make you relax.
- Take a stroller ride. It is not a mistake for babies to fall asleep in strollers. The vibrations of the stroller are soothing to your baby and will calm him down.
- Try using a hammock chair. These chairs are similar to the vibrations in a car or stroller. Allow your baby to sit in the chair and relax. If your baby starts to get sleepy, take him to the crib for a nap.
- Evaluate your baby's diet. Sometimes babies have allergies to food coloring that make them seem fussy. Pay attention to when your baby becomes fussy and watch what he has eaten in the last few hours. Discuss any pattern with your pediatrician.
- Be careful with the sugar. If your baby consumes solids in his diet, evaluate the amount of sugar he receives daily. Babies are sometimes sensitive to sugar, which makes them noticeably fussy with their parents.