When we have a baby, one of the most frustrating and worrisome situations for us as mothers and fathers, is when he cries and we fail to calm him despite having reviewed that all their needs were covered and met.
And although we know that every baby is different and what may work for one does not work for others, a new study found that the most effective way to calm a crying baby is by combining three sensory stimuli. We tell you what they are.
The study, published in the magazine Plos One, was made by researchers from the University of Amsterdam, who wished to find a method that is effective in calming babies under six months who will cry excessively.
In Babies and more Seven ways to calm your baby's cryThe purpose of your study it was also to help the physical and emotional well-being of the parents, because the frequent crying of babies is related to exhaustion and depression in the parents, and in extreme cases, with the shaken baby syndrome, which can occur when the parents have lost patience or nerves when the baby cannot calm down.
Investigators they analyzed different methods to calm crying babies, including tests with smart cribs (that automatically rock the baby or come with relaxing sounds), and analyzing the influence of the baby's age on the effectiveness of each method.
After performing different tests, the researchers found that the most effective way to calm a baby was the combination of three sensory stimuli: wrapping, sounds and movement. We explain each of them and how they work.
1) Wrap
Wrap baby It is an ancestral technique that consists of wrapping a sheet or blanket around the baby's body, with the purpose of trying to give him the same security and comfort that he enjoyed when he was in the womb.
It is important to mention that wrapping the baby does not mean tightening it until it is immobilized, because even that could have negative consequences on the development of its bones. What should be done is to wrap it with a little firmness, but leaving enough freedom to move arms and legs.
2) Sound
The second of the effective sensory stimuli to sleep the baby is sound. We know that babysitters or nursery rhymes are effective in relaxing a baby and making him sleep. At this point, the whisper, sing in a very soft voice or put on some relaxing music May it help us calm him.
In Babies and more101 songs to sleep your baby: classical music, instrumental versions of modern songs and much more3) Movement
Finally, the third element of the most effective combination for sleeping a baby: movement. Since swing it while we walk with him in arms, until rock it while we're sitting in a rocking chair, the movement is another resource that we can use to reassure a baby.
Combined is better
Although each of these three ways to calm a baby is good and can work on its own, the researchers found that together they are more effective for the baby to stop crying, because when combined, similar results were obtained when the parents supported the babies and when they were placed in smart cribs.
The researchers clarify that although there was not much difference between the parents' arms and the crib when using the three stimuli together, Babies need human contact by nature to feel comfortable and calm, and that the cradle - accompanied by these three stimuli - can simply be of great support for parents.
In Babies and more An investigation shows why the crying baby should always be taken care ofSo, although each situation is different, if your baby usually cries frequently or you have tried to do each of these methods separately, maybe By testing the three sensory stimuli of wrapping, sounds and movement, you can help your baby calm down and feel better both.
