New Research: How Carrying Calms Babies

It’s almost instinctive; parents around the globe have walked their infants up and down halls in their efforts to calm them. Now research confirms that this time tested calming ritual works!  A recent study shows that carrying your baby (defined as holding and walking at the same time), has more of a calming effect than holding alone.

Carrying Effects on Babies

Carrying causes 3 things to happen; it decreases voluntary movement of the infant; it reduces babies' heart rate, and it decreases crying. Why? Carrying actually calms the baby’s nervous system (if you want a really technical explanation of how this works, read the full journal article referenced below).

Carrying is Repetition to Soothe

Over the years, we’ve promoted “repetition to soothe” as a tool to calm your crying baby. Carrying is a perfect example of this. It both brings baby close to your body and involves repetitive movement.

How to Use Carrying as Repetition to Soothe

Anytime your baby cries, first you want to try to find out why he is crying. Check for the obvious reasons first, like hunger, discomfort, or a dirty diaper. Then check less obvious things like overstimulation (lights, noises, people, etc.) If your baby is still upset after you’ve fixed everything, then try repetition to soothe. Hold your baby close and repeat a calming action or words over and over. This is where carrying can be incorporated! You may be wondering though just how you are supposed to know if you’ve taken care of the reason for the crying, if it’s not completely clear. If there is an underlying issue (like pain or hunger), crying will continue after the carrying stops.

Slings and Soothing

Slings or other baby carriers are a great way to carry your baby and save your arms! Remember, the key to calming is the repetitive motion, so don’t stand still! For more information about slings, click here. Remember to follow all manufacturer directions to ensure safety when using any baby carrier.

What are some other examples of how you use repetition to soothe with your baby?

Reference
Esposito G, Yoshida S, Ohnishi R, Tsuneoka Y, Rostagno Mdel C, Yokota S, Okabe S, Kamiya K, Hoshino M, Shimizu M, Venuti P, Kikusui T, Kato T, Kuroda KO. Infant Calming Responses during Maternal Carrying in Humans and Mice. Curr Biol. 2013;23(9):739-45.

Sightings of Savvy Parent Travelers

Yes, we're back out on the road again. From San Diego, California to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, we're sharing ideas and hearing what others are doing to support babies and their families. Usually, we would post a photo and tell you that we'll be back soon. But this week, I was fortunate to observe some parents that have clearly done their homework when it comes to traveling with their babies and I wanted to share some of their great ideas with you.

1. Tag Team Security
With two kids, a stroller, baggage, and today's security screening requirements, parents typically are struggling and juggling all the way through the TSA line. But this last weekend, I saw two parents of an infant and toddler work through a closely choreographed routine that looked almost effortless, handing off kids, belts, shoes, bags, in perfect step and at just the right time to get everything through security with a minimum of stress. Several fellow passengers stopped to watch the "dance" and once we were through security, I asked them if they had practiced it all at home. "Oh yeah!" said the proud dad, "only about 100 times."

2. Baby Yoga at the Gate
On my second trip of the weekend, I arrived at the gate to find a young couple and a baby close to the windows doing yoga together. While dad stretched out, mom gently moved and stretched the babies arms and legs. She also sang a song and smiled at her alert and happy baby. After a few minutes, dad kept the baby busy while mom went through a few poses. The mom told me that they always stretched during layovers. She said, "Makes sitting in planes and car seats easier when we take these breaks."

3. Toddler Take Off
Even though I couldn't see them, I heard a young mom talking to her older toddler. "What does the plane do?" The baby made a rumbling sound and mom made a rumbling sound. I heard her say again, "What does the plane do?" The toddler laughed while mom said "Zoooooommm!" They repeated this game several times before the plane actually took off and just as the plane lifted into the air, I could hear the baby laughing and making the rumbling sound as loud as he could.

4. Aisle Stroll
One of my flights was nearly 4 hours long, and as soon as the fasten-seat-belt sign went off, I noticed a dad, holding a young baby, pacing back and forth in the aisle. As flight attendants and fellow passengers moved around the cabin, he kept closer to their seats, but he kept walking for about 40 minutes. The baby was alert, relaxed, and looking around as they passed by my seat several times. When someone commented on what a "good baby" he had, the dad said that the walking made a big difference in keeping the baby happy, even if the baby didn't fall asleep. I didn't hear his baby cry at any time during the flight.

Obviously, these parents had a lot of experience traveling with young babies and toddlers. Given the press in the past about parents' struggles with their kids on planes, I really wanted to share some stories of parents who really do it right. So, how about you? What do you do to make air travel with your baby a little easier?

“My baby does not like being in a sling!” Tips for parents that want to babywear

Some babies like being worn in a sling or other baby carrier only in specific situations or they just may not want to be in it all the time. This is normal! Your baby-wearing experience may also be very different from one child to the next. It’s also normal for babies to love sleeping in the sling but then want to be out of the sling once they awaken, especially as they get older. Here are some tips to try to help your baby enjoy baby wearing.

·       As your baby gets older she will have motor drives that push her to practice motor skills. This could explain some of her frustration while she is awake and in the sling. She wants to be on the ground practicing crawling, sitting up, pulling up, etc. Giving her enough time to practice these skills on the ground will probably help her enjoy sling time more.

·       Try different positions before you give up. It may be the hold that she is uncomfortable with. Many babies do not like the traditional cradle hold and may prefer a hold where they can move their arms and legs more freely. They are learning all about the world around them and so may want to face out at times so they can explore.

·       Overstimulation can occur when you are out and about, even if your baby is in the sling. If your baby is fussing while in the sling, pay attention to your surroundings and if it seems you r baby may be overwhelmed, turn her to face you to help  limit her visual stimulation.

·       As the weather turns warmer, think of how your baby is dressed in the sling. Is she too hot? That alone could make her fussy. It can take time for your baby to get used to a sling. Try it for a few weeks before giving up!

·       Make sure your baby feels comfortable and snug (and that the sling fits you well). If you are uncomfortable in the sling, your baby might be too.

·       Try different carriers. Don’t give up until you find one that works for you and your baby. Sometimes you can borrow different types from a friend or family member to “try before you buy” or find a store that lets customers practice using the sling with their babies.

·       Move, move, move! It’s pretty common that babies like you to be moving while they are in the sling.

·       Disengagement cues are not specific. If your baby gets upset in the sling, it may not be the sling that’s upsetting her. Your baby may be reacting to loud noises, strong smells or other things in her environment.  Sometimes changing the environment will help while other times taking her out of the sling is what she needs.

Baby wearing can be a great experience for both parent and baby. Hopefully the tips above will help make your baby more comfortable and happy in whatever carrier you choose!

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Baby-Wearing Hula: Movement with your Baby

Picture this: a circle of women, babies worn in various types of slings or carriers on their mothers’ chests, all swaying to the beat of a Hawaiian tune. What am I describing? Baby-wearing hula!

I was fortunate enough to travel to Hawaii to teach baby behavior to staff of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) in Hawaii. As my flight took off, I was flipping through the pages of the in-flight magazine and came across an article about baby-wearing hula, a weekly mother-baby class offered at a small hula studio, in the very town I was visiting. In a past post we talked about the benefits of baby-wearing, noting the benefits and risks of using baby slings and reporting on studies showing that wearing your baby improves infant attachment and reduces crying.

Baby-wearing hula is a great example of combining exercise, bonding, soothing and baby-wearing. What I found most interesting about the description of the class was that the instructor was not focused on how many calories the mothers would burn, like so many other fitness classes, but on the babies themselves. The class allowed the babies to direct how much and how fast the class would go. Sounds to me like they are probably paying attention to some baby cues! Slow dancing with your baby is also a great example of repetition to soothe .

There are other mother-baby (or daddy-baby!) classes that may be offered in your area that would have similar effects. Mother-baby yoga classes are quite popular and beneficial to both parent and baby. There are even some exercise videos out there that are made especially for baby-wearing parents. When my daughter was a baby I used to do a really fun baby-wearing video with Latin dance moves. My daughter loved the music and moving with the rhythm.

Multitasking moms will also appreciate that you can combine bonding time with healthy movement. We encourage you to watch your baby’s cues to see when he or she is getting tired or over stimulated in the new environment. Taking a short break may help. You can always return to the activity once your baby is ready to engage again. Experiment with the direction your baby faces and see what he likes best. If he gets tired, you may want to face him in toward your body to minimize his stimulation. Read steps to help prevent overstimulation here. If he shows engagement cues, wanting to interact and play, face him outward to engage with other babies in the room. For more information about how babies use cues to communicate their needs, click here.

How do you incorporate movement into your life with your baby in tow? We would love to hear your ideas.

Your Baby's Senses: The Magic of Touch

In prior posts in this series, we've talked about your baby's senses - taste, hearing, sight, and smell. Last but certainly not least, we'll turn to a sense that has a powerful influence on your baby's behavior, touch.

The sense of touch (the somaesthetic system) is the earliest to develop of all the sensory systems in the body. While the skin's sensitivity to touch, pressure, temperature, or pain is only part of the somaesthetic system, it is the part that most people think of when they hear the word "touch." From the first moments after birth, our instincts tell us to gently touch our babies, often starting with just a light stroke along their tiny arms or legs with our fingertips. We seem instinctively to understand that our touch plays a powerful role in our babies' lives. And so it does. The research into babies' somaesthetic system is filled with some older animal studies, dark circumstances in orphanages, and more recent and ongoing work. The findings are clear, a caregivers' touch is important for babies' growth and development.

Touch As A Basic Need
In the 1950s, a psychologist named Harry Harlow conducted a very dramatic (and likely unethical by today's standards) experiment with baby rhesus monkeys. He took the baby monkeys away from their mothers and put them into cages with 2 fake "mother monkeys" made of wire mesh, one bare and the other covered with terry cloth. The wire mother monkeys each had a bottle pushed through the wire so that the baby monkeys could feed. At the time, scientists thought that babies bonded with their mothers solely because mothers were a source of food. It was a surprise when all of the monkeys spent as little time near the bare wire monkey as possible and all their time clinging to the terry cloth covered mother monkey. Harlow revolutionized child care at the time, concluding that babies needed more than something to eat, they also need soft familiar touch. Tragically, human babies who have been removed from conditions of neglect (like in overcrowded and understaffed orphanages) struggle to function, socialize, and communicate. While the lack of touch is not the only reason for these children's problems, it is considered by developmental scientists and as a powerful contibutor.

Touch Plays a Role in Communication
Touch has been shown to be a way that caregivers and babies communicate. When mothers use touch as part of games that they play with their babies (like tickling their tummys or gently touching their noses), they are rewarded with bigger smiles and more playtime.Most parents understand that a light tickling touch or a firm stroke on baby's back communicate different messages. Using touch, parents can help babies stay alert and encourage their babies to explore their world. A restraining touch can also be used as a warning and to  prevent babies from hurting themselves.

Touch Can Help Calm Babies
When babies cry, adults instinctively want to hold and touch them gently. We somehow know that while we can reassure our babies with our words, touch plays a special role in helping babies feel safe and loved. Repetitive touch (like rubbing a baby's back) is a common part of parents' efforts to calm babies and babies who are touched spend less time being fussy. An interesting side effect - when parents calmly stroke their babies' backs, they tend to become more calm themselves.

The study of babies' sense of touch is relatively new. While the research into the need for touch goes back more than 50 years, today's researchers are learning the role that touch plays in the development of babies, physically, emotionally, and socially. Stay tuned and we'll talk more about touch in future posts.

References
1. Harlow HF. The nature of love. American Psychologist, 1958: 13: 673-685.
2. Provence S and Lipton RC. Infants in institutions. New York; International Universities Press, 1962.
3. Stack DM. Touch and physical contact during infancy: discovery the richness of the forgotten sense. In: Infant Development (2nd Ed), Wiley-Blackwell, 2010.

Barriers to Building Relationships with Babies: Marketing and the Perfect Parent

More than 4 million babies are born each year in the United States, millions more are born in other countries around the world. For companies selling goods and services to new parents, these babies represent a perpetual marketing opportunity for an enormous array of products that seem to make it possible to be a “perfect, confident, and carefree” parent. Unfortunately, such marketing may result in desperate parents spending money on things that they don’t need and don’t work. Even worse, some of these products may interfere directly with parents’ relationships with their babies.

Lot’s of Choices, Lot’s of Money

A quick look at baby products listed on a popular discount store website revealed 234 different products intended to help you keep your baby occupied including more than 50 baby gyms, 23 baby swings, and 54 bouncers and “entertainers.” These products ranged in price from about $20 to more than $200 each. The time and costs involved in finding and buying the "best" bouncer or the "perfect" swing must seem staggering to new parents. In addition to the expense, there is another downfall to having so many gizmos available for today’s baby. Much of this baby “gear” (as it is called on the websites) is meant to keep babies quiet and distracted and away from their parents. As you know by now, we emphasize the need to look at your baby, to watch for cues, and to respond. All of these actions build trust and give your baby the best start for future relationships. We’ve also told you how talking to your baby helps your baby build language skills. All the “gear” in the world cannot replace your vital role in your baby’s life. Now, we’re not saying that you shouldn’t have or use any of these products but their overuse can be harmful and you certainly don’t need to have any of them to help your baby grow and develop.

The Case Against Baby Einstein (and other videos targeted to infants)

Over the last few years, videos targeted for infants have also grown in popularity. Many of the manufacturers imply that watching the images and listening to the music on these videos results in enhanced development, increased intelligence, and early school readiness. One of the most well-known of these products in the US is sold under the brand name of “Baby Einstein.” Last October, the Disney Company, the current owner the brand, offered purchasers refunds on the DVDs because of a growing concern that the advertising claims for the videos were not supported by research. In fact, some of the research had indicated that viewing videos at very young ages (6 to 16 months) had actually been associated with temporary delays in language development. Other researchers have found that having a television on in the room mesmerizes babies and reduces their interactions with their caregivers. For young babies, it may not be possible to pay attention to both the images and the sound on videos, limiting their ability learn words associated with the pictures that they see. Babies’ brains are not hardwired to watch and learn from video images, they are hardwired to watch and learn from you! We don’t want you to panic if you’ve been using baby videos to keep your baby occupied during the day. The researchers report that these potential negative effects of video exposure disappear as babies get older. But, you should realize that TV is not a reliable or trustworthy babysitter and lots of TV isn’t good for anyone. The American Academy of Pediatrics has solid evidence behind their recommendation that babies under 2 should not watch TV or videos.

The Good News and the Bad News

The good news is that you really don’t need any of the baby entertainment products to be a wonderful parent. The most valuable entertainer, teacher, and soother for your baby is you. Nothing extra needs to be purchased. The bad news is that your baby really needs your time and energy, just when you might think you don’t have any left to give. Human babies need human beings to comfort, teach, hold, and talk to them.

A large number of you probably just said (maybe out loud) “Get real! How am I supposed to cook dinner, pay the bills, get ready for work, or even take a shower without the swing/cradle/bouncer/baby gym/video products?” You probably think I’ve forgotten about how hard it is to be a parent AND live a life with moments and responsibilities that don’t involve wipees. You might be partially right; it is amazing how the rough parts of parenting fade away with time. Fortunately, I am surrounded by women in the "trenches" ready to share their tips about how they managed to get things done and get through the day without $1400 worth of products or baby videos.

Next time: Some tips for entertaining your busy baby without breaking the bank.

Repetition in Baby's Daily Life: The Power of Routines

As human beings, we rely on our daily biological rhythms to know when to wake, to work, to eat, and to sleep. These rhythms are controlled by internal things (like hormones) and external things (like light/dark cycles and alarm clocks). Babies are born with somewhat "flexible" rhythms that are influenced by the environment as they grow and develop. This flexibility allows babies to adapt to their parents' world. Most parents don't believe it, but they have enormous influence over their babies' daily rhythms. Routines are an important tool to help parents and babies get in synch.

Right away, I need to clarify that routines are not the same thing as "schedules" that might be forced on babies. Routines refer to patterns of actions, doing the same thing in the same order (as in dance or gymnastic routines). Schedules usually refer to actions that are dictated by the clock rather than the baby's needs.

Predictable daily routines help babies develop rhythms that are just like mom and dad's. As a side effect, they also help babies build trust, social skills, and self-control. Most parents instinctively settle into routines at bedtime, bathtime, and when feeding their babies. Because babies love repetition (see our last post), routines can help babies feel calm and secure. For example, let's pretend that your 3-month-old shows signs of being drowsy. You might take the following steps to lead the baby gently to sleep.

1) Hold the baby close and start using the same words over and over to tell the baby that it's time for nap.

2) Change the baby's diaper and clothes, close to the place where she takes her nap, maybe while singing a special nap time song.

3) Put her down on her back to sleep and gently rub her tummy while still singing or saying the same words over and over.

4) As the repetition lulls her into feeling more and more sleepy, you can step away and let her fall asleep on her own.

To reinforce a routine, you need to repeat these steps before every nap. Routines can be used for most of baby's daily activities. Once babies are older than 2 1/2 to 3 months, they start to develop their own rhythms and even settle into their own loose schedules, sleeping and eating at similar times each day.

I'll be honest, routines won't always make your baby sleepy or happy. But if you keep using them with your baby, your routines eventually will become familiar "dances" and you'll both know all the steps. Routines can be especially helpful for busy toddlers, but that's another post...

Next time: We'll share some fun ways to communicate with older babies.

Baby Behavior Basics Part 4: Crying: Your Baby’s Super Power

Newborns seem to be so tiny and helpless. They need their parents to keep them fed, safe, warm, and dry yet, they can’t use words to describe what they need. How then, can babies make sure their needs are met? Instinctively, they use their ultimate “super power;” they cry.
To most adults, a baby’s cry is one of the most irritating sounds on earth. When babies cry, stress hormones are released and parents spring into frantic action as they search for reasons for the crying. With all this activity, it is certain that the child’s needs eventually will be met. By using their special super power, babies, out of necessity, control their little worlds. One of the biggest secrets of baby behavior is that babies’ ability to cry is really a wonderful talent. Of course, most new parents won’t agree.
A better understanding of why babies cry and what parents can do to calm their babies can help everyone feel better. In this post, we’ll provide an overview of infant crying. We’ll talk about “colic” in later posts.

Crying Babies Aren't Always Hungry
Babies cry whenever they feel uncomfortable or distressed. For babies, being hungry is very uncomfortable and healthy babies cry if they are not fed in response to early hunger cues (see Baby Behavior Basics Part 3). However, babies also cry when they are:
· Tired
· Wet or have a dirty diaper
· Over stimulated
· Too cold or too hot
· Startled or scared
· Bored or lonely
· Sick or in pain
· Frustrated

Using Crying Babies' Cues
Since young babies cry to indicate any kind of distress, parents have to rely on other cues to understand why their babies are crying. Generally, babies who are hungry use many cues to make sure that food is on the way! For details about these and other baby cues, see our last post, Baby Behavior Basics Part 3. Babies who are not hungry will use other cues when they cry. For example, babies who are over stimulated by too many sights, sounds, smells, or well-intentioned relatives may cry and use “disengagement cues” such as turning or arching away. Babies who are over tired, may open and close their eyes and nod their heads as they cry.

If babies don’t get a response to their subtler cues, they will cry. That means responding to early cues can help reduce crying. Remember, young babies can't communicate specific messages and you need to think “big picture” when trying to interpret your baby's cues. Fortunately, as you and your baby get to know each other, you’ll get better at anticipating your baby's needs and recognizing her cues.

Calming the Storm: Repetition, Repetition, Repetition
Unfortunately, fixing the problem (such as removing the barking dog or changing the diaper) doesn’t always stop the crying. Sometimes, babies cry even if there is nothing obviously wrong. Fortunately, there is a solution. Babies are hard-wired to respond to repetition by calming down. That’s why singing, rocking, or riding in the car can help quiet crying babies. Many parents will instinctively pick up their crying babies, hold them close, rock them back and forth, and softly repeat the same words. These instincts are great! Problems start when parents give up too soon because their babies may not calm down right away. Depending on how upset they are, babies can take awhile to relax. By trying lots of different things to stop the crying, parents can make their babies even more upset. Be patient! Keep doing the same thing over and over until your little one feels better.

When the Crying Makes You Crazy
Infant crying is very stressful and in these challenging times, one more stress might be just too much to take. If you feel angry, helpless, or overwhelmed in dealing with your baby’s crying, it is time to get help. While your baby has his “super power” to make sure his needs are met, it is important that you don’t try to be “super human” and deal with your rollercoaster emotions on your own. If you feel out of control, ask a trusted friend or family member to care for your baby or put your baby down in a safe place so that you can take a short break. Every new parent has moments of extreme frustration and fatigue. Talk to your doctor if these moments don’t pass quickly.

Next time: You’ll meet the rest of the moms at the UC Davis Human Lactation Center!