FUSSY BABIES
CONTENT
What can I do if my baby is fussy
How to swaddle a baby
What can I do to help my baby go to sleep
How can I help my baby’s stiff or rigid arms and legs
What can I do if my baby avoids eye contact
Feeding problems
WHAT CAN I DO IF MY BABY IS FUSSY, HAS INCREASED ACTIVITY OR IS TREMBLING/SHAKING
If your baby is fussy you might try one or more of the following:
1. Turn down the lights around your baby.
2. Keep noise levels around the baby quiet (turn off the radio or TV, lower your voice when talking).
3. Wrap (swaddle) your baby snugly in a cotton blanket (see pictures in the Back To Sleep section).
4. Hold your baby close to your body to soothe and calm your baby.
5. Rock your baby in a slow and steady manner.
a. Most babies like to be held straight up and down when you do this.
6. Use a “snuggle sack” or front pack to keep your baby close to you.
7. Give your baby a pacifier.
8. Provide soft quiet background noise. This seems to calm babies
a. You could try a fan, hair dryer, etc.
b. Be sure to keep it a distance from the baby.
9. Touch your baby’s mid-chest, back or feet with a calm, firm hand.
10. Give your baby a warm, soothing bath.
11. Hold the trembling part of your baby firmly and calmly. This will help the trembling stop.
12. Watch for signs your baby is getting tired and decrease stimulation.
WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP MY BABY GO TO SLEEP
1. Darken the baby’s room.
2. Keep noise levels around the baby quiet (turn down the radio, TV, or telephone, speak quietly).
3. Keep your baby’s bed away from noisy parts of the house.
4. Give your baby a pacifier.
5. Avoid bouncing or jiggling your baby before bedtime.
6. Speak in a soft voice.
7. Play soft, soothing music, hum or turn on a vacuum cleaner.
a. Be sure to keep it a distance from the baby.
8. Rock your baby in a slow and steady manner.
a. Most babies like to be held straight up and down when you do this.
9. Swaddle your baby in a soft cotton blanket.
10. Avoid waking up your baby if he/she is sleeping unless it is for a feeding.
11. Give your baby a warm bath before bedtime to quiet and calm them.
12. Take your baby for a stroller ride (depending on the weather) or a car ride before bedtime.
13. Don’t talk to your baby during a nighttime feeding.
HOW CAN I HELP MY BABY’S STIFF OR RIGID ARMS AND LEGS
Your baby needs to be relaxed (calm) so he can move his arms and legs to explore his surroundings. You might try one or more of the following:
1. Give your baby a warm bath.
2. Try gently, calming massage of arms, legs, and hands & feet
Massaging your baby’s arm
Hold your baby’s wrist with one of your hands. With your other hand in the shape of a “C” start at the baby’s shoulder and stroke smoothly down to the hand. Change hands and repeat the stroke.
Continuing this stroking, changing hands, touching both the inside and outside areas of the arm.
Think about stress and tension leaving the baby’s body through the fingertips.
Massaging your baby’s hand
Stroke your baby’s palm gently with your thumbs.
If your baby makes a tight fist in response gently stroke the tops of the baby’s fingers to encourage him to relax and open his hand for you.
Massaging your baby’s leg
Support your baby’s foot with one of your hands. With your other hand in the shape of a “C” stroke the baby’s leg starting at the buttocks and moving down the leg toward the ankle. Change hands and repeat the stroke.
Continuing this stroking, changing hands, touching both the inside and outside areas of the leg. Think about stress and tension leaving the baby’s body as you massage.
Massaging your baby’s foot
Begin by stroking the bottom of your baby’s foot from the heel to the toes with your thumbs, one thumb after another.
3. Swaddle your baby in a soft cotton blanket so the hands are near the baby’s face and the legs bent up close to the body.
4. Put your baby on his/her tummy to help the movements that help your baby bend.
a. Do not put your baby on his/her back, unless they are sleeping, as this often causes arching or stiffness in the back
b. Put the baby on his tummy on your chest when you are lying down or across your knees
c. Be sure to stay with your baby when they are on their tummy.
5. Do not use a walker or jumper as this increases the stiffness of your baby’s legs.
a. Also do not have the baby stand on your lap. This can also increase the stiffness of the baby’s legs.
6. Carry or hold your baby in a semi-reclining position with their shoulders resting on your chest.
7. Use an infant carrier to support your baby in a semi-curled position that allows him/her to get his/her arms to the midline (center of the body).
a. This is important for babies so they learn to bring their hands together and to their mouth.
WHAT CAN I DO WHEN MY BABY AVOIDS EYE CONTACT WITH ME OR HAS DIFFICULTY FOCUSING AND DOESN’T ENJOY PLAYING WITH ME
1. Your baby is more likely to respond to you when he/she is awake, quiet and with his/her eyes open.
a. If your baby is active or moving about, it will be more difficult for him/her to focus on you.
2. While adults can talk, listen, see and move around all at the same time, your baby may not be able to do all of this at the same time.
3. Swaddling your baby in a cotton blanket may help him/her to become quiet.
4. Your baby is more likely to watch your face or listen to you when you hold them upright about 12-18 inches from your face.
5. There is a wide range of “normal” development.
a. Encourage your baby to develop control of his/her head
b. Encourage your baby to develop his/her balance
c. This allows your baby to learn to roll over, sit up, crawl and walk.
d. Play with your baby in a variety of positions.
On back reaching for a toy Supported in a sitting position
On tummy on soft pillow On side reaching for toys
6. It is important for your baby to spend time on his tummy to develop muscle strength and coordination.
7. Placing your baby in a standing position too early (soon) may make the muscles that straighten the legs too strong. This may slow down his ability to sit by himself or to creep (crawl). Instead, place your baby on his tummy or in a sitting position to play.
8. Constant wiggling in a jump seat and walker may distract your baby from using new, developing hand and eye-hand skills.
WHAT CAN I DO FOR MY BABY—SHE IS A POOR FEEDER, OFTEN SPITTING UP OR VOMITING? MY BABY ALSO HAS A POOR SUCK
1. Hold your baby in a sitting position with a slightly curved back during the feeding.
2. Keep your baby’s chin tucked downward so his/her head and neck are not tilted back.
3. If sucking is difficult for your baby, support the baby’s chin and both cheeks with your hand to increase the baby’s sucking skill.
4. Play soft, rhythmic music during a feeding. Rhythmical music may help your baby get into a steady suck-swallow pattern.
5. Offer your baby small frequent feedings.
6. Feed you baby in a quiet, dimly lit room.
7. Feed your baby slowly and burp him/her frequently.
Acknowledgement:
Cape Fear Valley Medical Center’s NICU Developmental Team
Operation PAR, St. Petersburg, Florida
Dan Griffith, PhD. Developmental Psychologist, NAPARE, Chicago, IL
Therapy Skill Builders, POSITION STICKERS
Tim Healy, MS, RT, Infant and Child Developmental Specialist, Santa Anna, CA
Texas Children’s Hospital
Helen Harrison, The Premature Baby Book.
Reviewed/Revised: 06/01…..01/10
Fussy Babies 7