This Trick to Calm a Crying Baby Will Change a New Parent’s Life
Everyone knows the catharsis of a good cry — even celebrities. But when your wee one is sobbing up a storm, it usually signals something is wrong, and new parents know what a stressor it can be to both you and the baby. Dr. Robert Hamilton of Pacific Ocean Pediatrics in Santa Monica has a solution that is a major gamechanger.
Dr. Hamilton posted a video of what he calls “The Hold” to YouTube this week and it already has over 9 million views — proof that new parents are out there looking for a solution to this problem.
Here’s how it works: You take the crying infant, position her facing downward, cross her arms over her chest and hold them there with one hand. In your other hand, put the baby’s bottom in your palm. Then, at a 45-degree angle, gently rock, swing or bounce that little bundle of tears — err, joy.
This should stop the infant crying almost immediately, as Dr. Hamilton demonstrates in the above video. The gentle rocking is essential to not alarm the child, and the 45-degree angle helps baby hold his still-soft head up correctly, offering a simple solution if your little one keeps fussing. After two to three months, the doc advises that baby might get too heavy for your tired arms. Also, at this point, if the baby continues to cry, that might signify they are sick or hungry.
Life hacks come in sizes big and small, apparently. We can hear new moms and dads thanking us for that extra hour of sleep…
(Photo via David D/Flickr)
