For many new Dads, learning how to cope with a crying infant is a new challenge that requires some unique skills that will develop with ingenuity and practice. The best way to approach the situation is remind yourself that crying is the only way your newborn has to communicate, and it does not necessarily mean something is wrong or that you are a lousy father. In other words, do not take it personally but adopt a resposible attitude. Learn to distinguish the types of cries your newborn makes to help you come up with the most effective solution to hush up the baby and restore peace and quiet.
Babies tend to have sudden, sharp cries when they have wet or soiled their diapers and are often awakened from their naps when they become uncomfortable. Babies who need changing tend to kick their legs and tug at their diapers while crying. Usually once you remove the wet diaper, the crying starts to subside, although it may continue a bit if you have to do any extensive clean up with cold cloths. Just know that once you have gotten baby’s bottom dry and a fresh diaper in place, the cries should cease, especially if you use soothing tones and distracting techniques to change the baby’s mood.
Persistent wailing is often a sign of hunger, and will continue to build until the baby is fed. Fathers of newborns are often at a loss as to how deal with a breast fed baby. Ideally, a supply of mother’s milk will be expressed daily and stored in the refrigerator for circumstances when the mother is unavailable at feeding times. If pre-made formulas are available, use them for a supplemental feeding. It is important for a father feeding a child to create the same sense of relaxed nurturing that comes naturally to new mothers. Being tense and uneasy can just make the baby more irritable.Part of being a new Dad involves learning to relax and express a sense of confidence and fortitude when faced with bottle feeding a crying baby.
Once a baby has been fed, a number of gastronomical events can cause sudden crying fits. Pressure from gas can be relieved by draping the baby over your shoulder and walking in a bouncing motion while patting the back. This allows gas bubbles to dislodge and move through the baby’s system, usually either resulting in a burp or flatulence. Hiccups can be treated in the same fashion, but with emphasis on patting the back in a rhythmic pattern to help the baby’s muscle spasms relax to stop the hiccups.
If the diaper is dry and the tummy is full but the baby is still crying, it may simply an act of frustration from not being able to participate in the surround activities. Bring the baby into the circle of activity and encourag interaction with others to stop this kind of crying. If the baby is easily distracted by tickles and kisses, you can be assured the crying was just a bid for attention.
Sometimes newborns who are having health issues experience a low level of pain that keeps the fussy and crying when they should be sleeping and recuperating. The hypnotic quality of rhythmic sound and motion is one of the tricks new Dads quickly learn. Taking a spin around the neighborhood with a crying baby in the car seat often provides just the right combination of motion and distraction to calm a cranky newborn. If you can’t take a drive, consider making a secure station for a baby seat on the clothes dryer and turning it on air fluff cycle.
The main rule to observe when confronted with a crying baby is to stay calm and maintain control of the situation. If you suspect the child is crying due to illness or injury, do not hesitate to call your pediatrician or medical professional for advice.