Recently a discussion was posted in CafeMom about shaking a baby. Responders were asked if they had ever thought about shaking a baby when it cried, and while many responded with a 'Never' or 'No', there were some very heartfelt honest women who admitted it crossed their mind, but would never do it.
A crying baby is certainly very difficult to listen to. Grueling sleepless nights and incessant screams can push anyone to the edge. All parents know that a crying baby can be frustrating. We rock them, sing to them, talk to them, a few might even attempt a bribe; sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. When a person goes for a length of time without sleep, it is easier to lose control over their temper and think the unthinkable. But thinking is one thing and action is another.
Below the CafeMom discussion was a video of a man discussing what some, as he put it, "geniuses", have done to quiet down a crying baby, and proceeds to show us the result of what shaking a baby does to a baby's head with a Tupperware container full of raw eggs. It's scary. Never ever shake a baby. I've re-posted the video here for your viewing.
Here are a few tips for dealing with a crying baby:
- Walk away and take a breather
- Ear plugs
- Put on some good tunes
- Call a friend over to help
- Sing your heart out
- EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques: a series of tapping on different parts of the body to adjust the energy systems)
It's important to remember that babies are supposed to cry. It is how they communicate with us. Sometimes it may seem like there is nothing we can do, no matter what we try, but that's life. They do grow out of it. And if their screams sound like screams of pain, or have taken a new pitch, a quick call to the doctor might be warranted.
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