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Every parent wants a happy baby. They want the cooing, gurgling, smiley baby they see in diaper commercials.
They want to be able to anticipate their little ones needs and be able to cure any frustration or issue their child may have immediately if not sooner.
They want to feel in control and secure and look like the parents they see in the movies.
But reality does not always (or ever) mirror the images Hollywood and Madison Avenue send out.
Babies will not always be happy. They will get upset for no reason.
They will cry for no apparent cause at times. They will try their parents' patience and nerves and their loud cries can break anyone's heart.
That said, there are some key ways to help a baby be the happiest they can be (knowing they will not be happy all the time).
Listed below are BabyCenter.com's suggestions for three things parents can do to create a happy baby:
1. Learn to read the baby's cues.
Very quickly most parents learn when their child is hungry or needs to be changed, but there are other subtle reasons that may cause a baby to be distressed and therefore to wail like there's no tomorrow.
These signs are based on a child's personality and temperament. A particularly sensitive baby may cry because of slight heat or light variations.
Loud noises might elicit an immediate almost fearful sounding cry from one child, while another acts like loud noises are a lullabye.
Pay close attention to the sounds and facial expressions the baby makes to try to figure out what puts that baby in a happy state.
2. Leave room in the schedule for fun.
The over-scheduled child is now passé. The over-scheduled baby is now "in".
Between music class, Mommy and Me yoga, and early learning DVDs, many parents are not leaving enough time in the day for pure fun. Parents and caregivers should not forget to be silly with their baby.
Babies learn from a variety of sources and do not need to be stimulated during all of their waking hours.
3. Let the child struggle with problems.
This may seem counter-intuitive, but letting a child, even an infant, struggle with an issue will help build his/her confidence later on.
The exception is the baby's first six months of life when caregivers need to respond to a baby's needs immediately. Contrary to what many people may think, most experts agree that it is impossible to spoil a baby during their first six months.
However, after six months of age children need to learn how to handle some distress and unhappiness for short periods. This teaches them coping strategies that will help them be happier as they grow older.
While there is no magic bullet for creating happiness in children, active, engaged, and loving parents will give a child a great head start in the happiness department.
Sources:
Babycenter.com. Web. 1 August 2012. "How to raise a happy baby: birth to 12 months".
http://www.babycenter.com/0_how-to-raise-a-happy-baby-and-child-birth-to-12-mo_1490882.bc?page=1
Psychologytoday.com. Web. "Where are all the happy babies?".
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/moral-landscapes/201108/where-are-the-happy-babies
Reviewed August 2, 2012
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith
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