Babies thrive on love, attention and responsive feeding. Your perception of whether you have an easy baby or not may significantly affect how difficult you find parenting. Our handy guide may help you determine if you have a fussy or a ‘high needs’ baby – a term used across many parenting forums – and how to soothe and educate them if they are fussy.
1.Why is my baby so fussy? Colic vs High Needs
Before deciding whether or not your baby might be more high maintenance than others, it’s important to suss out other possible causes of long-term fussing, such as colic or tummy troubles.
If your baby is inconsolable as it cries for periods over 3 hours, 3 days per week,for more than 3 weeks, it might be colic. Colic is a condition where an otherwise healthy baby cries or fusses frequently for no clear reason. Babies usually outgrow colic in either a few weeks or by 4 to 6 months of age, so if your baby is 6 months or older and still being difficult, and you and your healthcare professional (HCP) can find no other reason for their fusiness, you may have a high needs baby on your hands.
The baby’s fussiness couldalso be due to body growthtummy troubles. They might be experiencing discomfort because a young baby’s digestive system is still developing. If you believe this is the case, speak to a trustedHCP for advice and possible treatments.
2.10 signs of a high-needs baby
There is no universally recognised list of high-needs baby signs, but here are the 10 most commonly reported characteristics of fussy babies:
- Intense, frequent, and prolonged crying
- A heightened desire for attention
- A near-constant need to be held and comforted (or the opposite, being extremely sensitive and resistant to most physical contact)
- A recognizably “demanding” personality
- A “dissatisfied” temperament that is difficult to please
- Erratic sleep patterns with short naps
- Easily overstimulated senses
- Restlessness
- Unpredictable behaviour and moods
- Overwhelming and aggressive fear of separation from mum or dad.
Of course, most babies exhibit these behaviours and attitudeson occasion. But if this sounds like your baby most of the time, then your baby might be more sensitive and need more soothing.
3.How to calm a fussy baby
- As much as you’re able, try to remain calm yourself. Pay attention and then tune into your baby’s cues and respond to them in a way that works best for the two of you. Soon you’ll learn to tell what triggers their outbursts most and that will grant you the ability to adjust your responses so you can calm them before the situation escalates.
- If they aren’t happy unless they’re being held, a baby-carrier is a valid option for meeting their need for contact or proximity while keeping your hands free for other tasks.
- If your environment seems to be upsetting your baby, patiently try changing it in a variety of ways until you find what’s bothering them—for example, dimming lights and lowering noise levels to provide a more calming atmosphere, or taking them away from a crowded place. There is no one simple fix for how to calm a fussy baby—what works one day might not work the next—so don’t be afraid to safely experiment.
- And remember, it’s important to always speak to your healthcare professional first for advice and possible treatments.
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Me and My Child – https://www.meandmychild.co.nz/
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