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Common Parenting Article Analysis

Good Essays

As a first time parent to a three week old baby girl, I listen to a lot of crying everyday. It is becoming unbearable, even though I know it is common and my baby is healthy. As a result, I decided to look on the internet for helpful tips for new parents when their babies will not stop crying. I will also consult a parenting textbook that I was given from a friend. While researching my common parenting issue of crying, I will compare and contrast the various information I find. Specifically, I will be examining an article from Parenting with one from Help Guide, as well as the information from “The Process of Parenting” textbook. In the Parenting article titled “Soothing a Crying Baby” it began by grouping parents and letting them know …show more content…

Simple soothing strategies include re-creating the womb (swaddle, white noise, jiggle baby gently, pacifier/finger to suck on), using your hands to stimulate the baby, talking, singing, driving, bathing, and distraction. Additionally, it is important for new parents to stay calm and not get too frustrated. A baby will pick up on the frustration and will likely cry for a longer amount of time. The article suggests letting the baby cry it out on their own for five minutes before intervening, which gives the parent time to regroup. Also, there are certain ways to hold your baby that have been shown to be the best. This includes the cradle-carry, the sit-and-rock cradle, the football hold, the over-the-shoulder hold, and the heart-to-heart. Each of these methods will help make the baby feel more safe and comforted. The article offered advice about the meaning of the baby’s various cries. There is a scientific difference between a newborn’s cries with the cries of a hungry or in pain baby. Lastly, the Parenting article discussed some of the strategies that parents should avoid when trying to stop a baby’s cries. Although providing a pacifier right away may quiet the baby, the reason the baby was crying will remain unknown. Do not automatically feed or nurse a baby, as this will teach them that eating is for comfort, which leads to overeating. Take your time trying two …show more content…

This website is a non-profit resource that helps readers resolve their health issues. The article begins by explaining that it is common for new parents to feel frustration, anxiety, and anger when they have a baby who will not stop crying. Next, it instructs parents to never shake a baby, as Shaken Baby Syndrome can cause one hundred percent preventable death. Coping strategies for parents who are dealing with crying, colicky, or unresponsive babies include recognizing their own limits, remembering that the crying will lessen as the baby gets older, reaching out to others for support, and acknowledging that they do not have to be perfect. This article also reminds parents that all babies are different, so there are babies who cry less, and others who cry more. The first comforting tip is to ask yourself what your baby needs, as crying is their form of communication. The second comforting tip is to pay attention to your baby’s signals, as all babies have different sensory needs. The third comforting tip is to evaluate your own emotional state, and not to necessarily blame yourself for your baby’s crying. The fourth comforting tip is to watch for attachment milestones, as it is important to monitor your baby’s attachment process. The fifth comforting tip is to recognize and understand colic, and how to sooth a baby who has colic. The sixth and final

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