Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on September 27, 2008 - 7:54pm.
Our hospital gave us a list of 20 things to try to calm a screaming baby. I can't tell you how many times I went through this list patiently trying each thing, until inevitably something on the list would be the magic solution. I'm not sure where it is now; however p. 22 of http://www.evergreenhealthcare.org/NR/rdonlyres/FDF5098D-F577-4B63-BC77-...
has most of them. I recommend you actually type up a list and print it out and tape it to the wall near where you would comfort the child. For some reason when the baby screams, the mind shuts down and coherent thought becomes impossible. Just having a list of things to try at 4am can be reassuring to you.
Rocking the baby standing up, standing on tiptoes and thumping your heels into the ground, and singing were especially good with our babies. It takes months, but eventually you'll figure out your child's cues and be able to more quickly calm them. Both of our kids also went through several phases where they preferred one parent (sometimes mom, sometimes dad) and the other parent had a harder time calming them down.
Re: Uncontrolled screaming
Our hospital gave us a list of 20 things to try to calm a screaming baby. I can't tell you how many times I went through this list patiently trying each thing, until inevitably something on the list would be the magic solution. I'm not sure where it is now; however p. 22 of
http://www.evergreenhealthcare.org/NR/rdonlyres/FDF5098D-F577-4B63-BC77-...
has most of them. I recommend you actually type up a list and print it out and tape it to the wall near where you would comfort the child. For some reason when the baby screams, the mind shuts down and coherent thought becomes impossible. Just having a list of things to try at 4am can be reassuring to you.
Rocking the baby standing up, standing on tiptoes and thumping your heels into the ground, and singing were especially good with our babies. It takes months, but eventually you'll figure out your child's cues and be able to more quickly calm them. Both of our kids also went through several phases where they preferred one parent (sometimes mom, sometimes dad) and the other parent had a harder time calming them down.