Start by checking the baby’s diaper and offering them a bottle. [4] X Expert Source Denise SternParenting Specialist Expert Interview. 19 February 2021. You can also try offering them a pacifier if they use one. However, never try to force a pacifier into a baby’s mouth. [5] X Expert Source Jessie DavidsonChild Care Specialist Expert Interview. 11 June 2021. If the baby is teething, offer them a teething ring. [6] X Expert Source Jessie DavidsonChild Care Specialist Expert Interview. 11 June 2021. Rock or soothe the baby if they’re still upset. Sometimes, babies just need to be physically comforted when they’re crying. [7] X Expert Source Jessie DavidsonChild Care Specialist Expert Interview. 11 June 2021.
Hold a baby toy a few inches away from their face. Try moving the toy back and forth. Younger infants will watch the toy with their eyes, older infants will actually reach and grab the toy. Dance! Cradle the baby in your arms and gently move from side to side and sway to the music. Any music will do as long as it is not loud or inappropriate. Avoid this right after eating; wait about a half an hour after eating before trying this activity. Action rhymes and games are fun. Try “Hickory Dickory Dock. " Move your fingers up the baby’s body while you say the rhyme. Pinwheels are nice. Hold the pinwheel 6 inches away from the baby’s face. Blow on it and watch the pretty colors! If the infant has an activity quilt that they can lay on, an activity gym, a baby bouncer, or a baby swing, lay them or sit them in one of these. Try pointing out the toys and activities, and encouraging interaction. Gently bounce or swing a baby if they are in a swing or bouncer, this calms them and helps them learn the difference between cause and effect, trust, and body awareness.
Read books. Books for infants should be cloth or board books to avoid infants from chewing up the pages or tearing them out. Many bright pictures with little text are usually best. When the infant starts to lose interest, stop reading, even if you are in the middle of the book, and move on to something else. Books with different textures in them are also great for babies. Try mirrors! Use unbreakable mirrors made for children. Hold the mirror in front of the baby and let them see themselves for a while. Then, sit them on your lap and hold the mirror in front of both of you. Make faces such as silly, a frown, a smile, and twitching your nose.
Never leave a baby in its crib on its back with its bottle in its hands because the baby could choke. After the baby is asleep, sit in the baby’s room with it and wait to make sure the baby will stay asleep, and that the baby’s sleep environment is safe. Make sure there is nothing that the baby could play within the crib. It could distract the baby and it won’t want to go to sleep. Also, soft toys should never be in a crib, because a baby could suffocate. Keep big, fluffy blankets or pillows out of the crib. Babies don’t really need them and they are actually dangerous. Keep bed covers away from baby’s face. [17] X Research source Do not lie a baby on its tummy, ever, even if the parent tells you to. Always place it on its back. Placing it on its tummy is very dangerous, and potentially fatal. (If the baby is old enough to flip itself over on its tummy by itself, though, it’s okay if he flips himself over). [18] X Research source
