And whoever does not provide for relatives and especially family members has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (1 Timothy 5:8)
Almost
all parents feel angry on non-stop crying of the baby especially when all
tricks have already been made (rocking, walking, feeding, cuddling, singing,
talking, swinging, and everything else that one could think) but nothing
happens. At this point, the mother feels
like she’s at the end of her rope, being clueless on what else can she do, as
if losing her mind by the crying of the baby. At any rate, the mother loves her
baby and does not want to be angry, but trapped in a situation where she’s unacquainted
on what else to do.
Getting
annoyed at a screaming child is normal but not the parents who flip their kids
off behind their backs, or made seriously childish angry-faces at them, or who
mutter under their breaths, or just go to sleep. It’s interesting to note that
even adults are bored doing things that are stereo-type, so same goes with the
babies who can’t be content by just sitting down but by exploring a lot of
things that are eye-catching and appealing to their senses.
I
should know because I myself as an uncle to my younger brother’s sibling have
been able to experience babysitting. And it’s given that as a babysitter, one
should be creative enough on how to respond to their desires which can only be
understood through their cries and body movements, because giving them toys
only last for approximately 5 minutes and changes after.
So
what I do when dissatisfaction is implied after all the offering of different
kinds of foods and toys that don’t work out is to bring him to the park where
he basically interacts with the other children and plays by himself with no one
touching him, as if he’s learning for what is called freedom than be confined
constantly in the four corners of the walls.....I simply miss them (Aaron and
Adam) because they have just left this morning (March 31) fetched by their
grandmother on the mother’s side, which is actually the saddest part especially
that I’ve been used to be bonded with the child emotionally. On the other hand, my sister-in-laws mother
should not also be deprived because this child was also under their care when
he was newborn until 5 months so they also felt that we have felt.
When
I was a child, I enjoyed being with kids because this was the opportunity that
I would take care of my younger siblings on a number of occasions that my
mother stepped out of the house for her daily errands outside of our home. This was the time that my creativity to take
care of the little kids was gradually developed, from bottle-feeding, entertaining,
preparing baby food, singing lullaby for them to sleep, changing diapers (at
the time disposable pamper were not yet developed so it needed pins every
change of diaper). Mind you, 5 of my younger siblings had been under my care
when our mother would leave the house for her daily errands.
Exposure
on care-giving was not only during my childhood but even now, with my
nephews. In fact, I’m more expert as
compared with the rest of my loved ones at home, in comforting my youngest
nephew whenever he cries uncontrollably.
Thus,
once given the opportunity to be a father or be hired as a caregiver, I can be
effective in nursing the babies.
Experience
is the best teacher as the saying goes. However,
my personal exposure on babysitting can be more convincing if I’ll relate it
with the other experts on it, those who are professionally skilled, to
reconcile my actual experience versus scientific studies.
What is the
significance of crying?
Crying
operates in quite a lot of practical purposes for the babies. It provided the
babies a means to call for help when they’re hungry or uneasy. That’s one way
of their communicating their concerns when they need to shut out sights,
sounds, and other sensations that are too extreme to go well with them. It
helps them to release tension.
Occasionally,
it can be noticed that babies are hard to please throughout the day, even
though they’re not hungry, uncomfortable, or worn out. Nothing can be done at
these times that will cheer them up but right after these spells, they may seem
more alert than before and shortly thereafter they may sleep more deeply than
usual. This kind of fastidious shrieking seems to help babies chuck out of
excess energy so they can return to a more comfortable condition.
Take
notice of the baby’s different cries. The mother/baby-sitter can soon be able
to tell when they need a lift, comfort, or a motherly care. One can tell when the child appreciates the
approach of tending them. Personally, my
nephew who at the age of one year and 3 months would hug me when he is pleased
by my singing of lullaby or when he is entertained, which feels good to a
caregiver experiencing it. Further,
simply leave them alone if they are contented.
Mothers/babysitter
may even be able to pinpoint their specific needs by the way they cry. For example,
a hungry
cry is typically brief and low-pitched, and it rises and falls. An angry
cry tends to be more confusing – a lot of choices have already been
laid down before hitting the right choice. A cry of pain or distress
generally comes on abruptly and noisily with a long, high-pitched screaming
coupled with a long pause and a flat wail. The “leave-me-alone” cry is
usually comparable to a hunger cry, which does not take long before they are
given with a pretty good idea of what their cries are trying to tell.
From
time to time, various types of cries overlap. For instance, newborns usually
wake up hungry and cry for food. Unhurried response may give way the infant to
a wail of anger. Difference can be noticed. As the babies mature, their cries turn
to be more persistent, louder, stronger, and change more as if to communicate something
else- needs and desires. The finest technique to cope with crying is to respond
on time to the babies whenever they cry during their first few months. Infants cannot
be spoiled by giving them attention, and once calls for help are responded, they’ll
cry less generally.
Try
to meet the babies’ most pressing need first when responding to their
cries. Warm them up, change their
diaper, and then feed them, if they’re cold, hungry or with diaper that’s wet. Consider the likelihood that a piece of
clothing or something else is making them uneasy if there’s a shrieking or
panicky quality to the cry. Maybe a strand of hair is caught around a finger or
toe. Once they are warm, dry, and well fed but nothing works to cease the
crying, try the following comforting methods to find the ones that work best
for the babies:[1]
·
Rocking,
either in a rocking chair or in the arms while swaying from side to side
·
Gently
stroking the babies’ head or tapping their back or chest
·
Swaddling
(swathing them cozily in a receiving blanket)
·
Singing
lullaby or talking
·
Playing
gentle music (my nephew could easily sleep when there’s a music)
·
Walking
them by arms, a stroller, or a carriage
·
Riding
in the car (secure her in her car safety seat as it should be.)
·
Placing
them in a musical noise and vibration
·
Burping
to relieve any trapped gas bubbles
·
Warm
baths (most infants prefer, but not everyone)
At
times, if all else does not work, simply leave the baby alone. Many babies
cannot doze off without crying but fall asleep more quickly once left crying
for a moment. The crying shouldn’t persist if the baby is really fatigued. The
babies maybe sick if they are inconsolable in spite of the several methods
taken. Check their temperature rectally and if it is over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius), the baby could
have an infection so approach a pediatrician.
Consoling
the child is easier when the mother/babysitter is relaxed. Even very young infants are susceptible to
tension around them and respond to it by crying. This reminds me of my sister-in-law when at
some point she spanked her one year and three month old baby who was
unstoppable from crying. It was funny
yet alarming because obviously the babies have no perfect awareness yet on what
they’re doing, not to mention that they can’t speak yet for them to concretize
their needs.
Listening
to a screaming newborn can be worrisome, but allowing irritation to turn into
anger or losing nerve only intensifies the babies’ shrieking. Ask assistance
from another family member or a friend in the presence of a difficulty to
manage the situation. By this approach, the mother is not only relieved but assisted
in a circumstance where all ploys are already taken but nothing works- the new
face asked who takes in charge may pacify the baby. Personally, I usually grab the baby from my
sister-in-law when the baby does not quiet down. Since we’re also taking care of our father
who’s a stroke survivor, I ride them in the wheelchair and go around basically
in the morning and afternoon. I explore different places and evidently the baby
enjoys more when taken to nature especially that the new subdivision near us
which is presently under development is beside an 18-feet creek where birds and
stream could be spotted. The baby really
explores every angle of the area that he appreciates by going down on the
wheelchair.
What are to be
avoided in nursing a baby?
Do
not shake the baby no matter how impatient or angry a mother/babysitter could
feel. This can cause blindness, brain damage, or even death.
Don’t
take newborn’s crying personally. They’re crying not because they could sense
someone who is a bad parent or because they don’t like you. All babies cry,
habitually without any obvious cause. They normally cry a total of one to four
hours a day as part of their adjustment to this strange new life outside the
womb – stage development that is.
No
mother can console a child “every time” she/he cries, so don’t expect to be a
miracle worker but rather take practical tricks to the situation by lining up
some help, taking sufficient rest, and enjoy all those mind-blowing moments
with the child.
Controlling
the seemingly uncontrollable crying
Definitely
everybody in the family misses the baby’s cry especially after an occasion that
they are grabbed and pacified then start to chuckle, which is therapeutic. Nevertheless, the mother/baby sitter stands
out at this unavoidable circumstance of non-stoppable crying of the baby when
well-equipped with different alternatives to reduce the amount of stress and
anger associated with it. So sit back and relax while absorbing these pointers:[2]
·
Exercising Deep
Breaths
Simply
take some deep breaths when the babies shriek uncontrollably and can’t seem to
be consoled. Place them in the crib, pack n play, bouncer, or swing and take a
seat to practice some deep breathing exercises.
Mothers/babysitters
may want to walk in the room, the bathroom, and just take two minutes to
breathe and relax. By being calm one can be more likely to pacify the baby than
when stressed. Keep in mind that just because the caregiver calms does not mean
that the baby will cease screaming, but it might give the power to overcome
impatience for another few hours.
·
Turning Off by
Tuning On
Occasionally,
mothers just need to turn their ears off. It seems this is impossible
considering that the cry of baby crying can be ear-piercing, but one can learn
to tune out the sounds of baby’s crying. Individuals who have ever lived near a
train track or a freeway, the noise might affect at first but one can learn to
tune it out. The same goes with infant. Mothers/babysitters need to learn to
turn off the crying not to get annoyed and distressed.
·
Turn on Some Pleasant
Music
Sporadically,
turning on some music can help mothers hear the music rather than the baby
crying or at least to neutralize the noise that’s ear-piercing, which may be
helpful to calm the child simultaneously. For my part, I tried it with my nephew
at 9am and 3pm which is the period where the baby sleeps (except if he’s busy
enjoying on something) and this is effective although there are instances that
the baby just enjoys the music which causes him to sleep but opens his eyes
when put down.
·
Know That the
Crying Will Stop Eventually!
Remember
that the baby will eventually stop crying to avoid being pinned down in an
incensed and disconcerted mood. Recognizing the fact that the babies will stop
crying when they are ready gives confidence that babysitters/mothers can manage
their emotions much better than taking it up to the babies. Babies cry for a
reason which has to be figured out. Stay calm, breathe deeply, and never allow that
negative emotion to harm the “helpless child.”
References:
[1] American Academy of Pediatrics, Caring for Your Baby and Young Child:
Birth to Age 5, Last Updated 11/21/2015,
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/crying-colic/Pages/Responding-to-Your-Babys-Cries.aspx
[2] How Can I Stop The Anger I Feel When My Infant Cries?, http://www.thelaboroflove.com/articles/how-can-i-stop-the-anger-i-feel-when-my-infant-cries
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