Soothe your crying baby

If your child's habit is not causing him harm -- for example, if his hair twiddling is not irritating his scalp -- don't worry about it. Be pleased, in fact, that your child has found a resourceful way to soothe himself. Most children outgrow their comfort habits by the time they are three or four years old. Sometimes they will give up a habit for a time, and then begin again when they suddenly find themselves facing a new stress such as the birth of a sibling or starting preschool. Once the child enters daycare or school, peer pressure usually finishes off the habit. Be aware that your constant nagging on the subject may serve to reinforce it.

Interaction
Chronic thumb- or finger-sucking after age five can seriously damage the formation of your child's teeth and palate. Consult with your doctor and dentist for advice on how to manage the problem.

Sounds are also effective. When your baby begins a fussy cry, you may find that a music box, a gentle voice, or other soft sounds can quickly stop it. If the crying has intensified, loud music or white noise works better. Babies in the second half of their first six months are also very responsive to faces. Sometimes, just seeing your face up close is enough to cut short a grumbly cry.

Remember, too, that if your baby is particularly active and alert, he may also be easily bored. Do not wrap him up too tightly; he needs to be free to move his arms and legs. And let him be around you as much as possible if your baby can see you or, better still, hitch a ride in a sling or a pack as you go about your day, he will have plenty to keep his growing mind active.

The dangers of losing control
If you ever feel that, with the baby's sustained crying, you might lose control and shake him put him down carefully in his crib and get away from him. An infant's head is large compared to the rest of his body, and his neck is relatively weak. A shake, even a mild one, can induce bleeding inside the skull, which can cause brain injury, blindness, mental impairment, and epileptic seizures.

Go to another part of the house and take some deep breaths. Cry or scream to release the tension. Call a friend or neighbour for help, or call a support line or your doctor. Don't return to your baby until you have regained control or have found help.

Excerpted from Growing with Your Child: Pre-Birth to age 5 by Christine Langlois. Copyright 1998 by Telemedia Communications Inc. Excerpted, with permission by Ballantine Books. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.