Why do babies cry, and what can a frantic parent
do to satisfy this tiny 8 pound being?
This being who, essentially, has become the emperor/empress of the
house?
Oh, I remember those days years ago where we parents
were enthralled by this sweet little infant who was waving fists and screaming
red-faced.
 |
| I am look darling, but.... |
First child: frantic; second child: not so much;
but, third child? We would have moved
heaven and earth when she started crying.
We figured out the basic answers, however, the
last one leaves us baffled. These are:
The baby is tired, but is in denial.
The
baby is hungry. No problem.
 |
| Our own grandson after taking a three-pacifier nap. |
The
baby wants to go on a car trip, even though it is 3 a.m.
Do not feel obligated to watch the entire 28 seconds.
Maybe the baby has heard about the recent House of
Parliament appointments?
Maybe the last presidential elections went the
wrong way?
Maybe the baby wants the wall in the nursery repainted?
While these are obviously ridiculous answers, desperate
times call for desperate measures.
Even if you have not had children or even plan to in the future, all of us have gone on a plane with a baby screaming in seat 27A, while our own seats are two rows ahead, 25AB.
p.s.
Our babies are adults with children of their own. We grandparents smile and nod our heads with
no sage advice to give. God is good.
I guess that is what Mom called, "Paying for your raising"!
ReplyDeleteWhat is that karma saying? What goes around, comes around?
DeleteMy grandmother could sooth any child. It went across her lap, belly down, face hanging over a bit. She stroked its back and crooned everything you mentioned: parliament will soon improve, don't fret; your mommy and daddy will repaint your room tomorrow, don't fret; and so on. By the time she got to the presidential elections, the child was a rag doll and could be moved to bed. Belly down, as I recall.
ReplyDeleteSome grandmas have the touch, don't they. Watching her work her grandma magic must have been quite a sight. Precious woman.
DeleteThankfully all I`ve experienced is the plane so far, so I haven`t had to answer anything to them lol
ReplyDeleteThen you have lived a charmed life.
DeleteBabies grow up so fast, they're so full of life and cute. It can be tough to accept something so precious turns into one of us - an adult.
ReplyDeleteLooking at my babies who are now in their 30s, I wonder how in the world they survived our ineptitude. But, they are wonderful, independent, and caring.
DeleteYou can guarantee that if there is a crying baby anywhere around, I will be seated nearby. Be it plane, restaurant, or anywhere else.
ReplyDeleteWhen I hear a baby crying, my arms long to hold it. Even on an airplane.
DeleteI've been on plenty of plane trips like that... Maybe the baby would like to ride with the luggage?
ReplyDelete...or perhaps you could ride in the luggage?
DeleteYou missed one that happened to me once when I was baby sitting. I had to call my mother because I didn't know what the problem was or what to do... teething. Mom rubber the baby's gums with an ice cube. Worked like a charm. (There also colic.)
ReplyDeleteColic trumps every thing. Fortunately products are on the market that soothe that tummy
DeleteI am amazed at what a trigger that sound is. And how gender specific. My partner's sister and her new baby stayed with us. The baby was thrown out of his routine (a flight to Oz from the UK while teething). He cried ALL night. In the morning his sister apologised profusely. Smaller portion had slept through it. My non-parenting heart had been torn. Repeatedly.
ReplyDeleteThat crying is a real heart-breaker.
DeleteIt's sad if you can't figure out the problem and it just keeps going. You can't pull the plug or take out the battery :)
ReplyDeleteNo, it doesn't work that way. Sorry.
DeleteGreat post! When I saw the image with the baby and the text accompanying it, it brought back memories of what my mother told me. When I was a baby my mother was very nervous about me, because I didn't wake up like normal babies do during the night for feedings! I slept through the night. My mother had four miscarriages before I was born, and she had a boy 6 years before I was born, but she lost him as well, but not through a miscarriage this time. He died at the tender age of 7 months...bronchiole pneumonia. This is why my mother was so worried about me.
ReplyDeleteIf I had been her, I would be hovering over you every moment. What tragedy for your mother to experience. At least, God provided you at her point of need.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteSo glad those days are behind us but it was all worth it. Now she plays the saxophone and digs jazz. Way cool.
ReplyDeleteRewards come with all that hard work.
DeleteI worked in a toy store for years. Got so I didn't hear the babies crying. Those babies weren't my problem, anyway. But it shocked people that I could tune that out.
ReplyDeleteNow, when I'm in charge of the kiddo, that's a different story.
when one enters the parenting arena, things change.
DeleteMy first baby cried from six weeks old to seven weeks old. I had no idea what was wrong. Turns out she was hungry. And I was ignorant. All the baby books I'd read told me babies will begin to sleep through the night from six weeks old and I'd taken them at their word. Put her down after her 10pm feeding and expected her to sleep until 6am. I cried along with her for a week, then she suddenly gave that up and slept all night.
ReplyDeleteWhen my second baby was born, his hungry cry was very distinctive and only then did I realise what I'd done to my poor firstborn. But again, from 7-8 weeks he slept through the night as did babies 3 and 4.
We parents in the early years did not know a thing. I have a lot of guilt issues about the first child.
DeleteI mean she cried at night. Day times were pretty much cry free.
ReplyDeleteI figured that out...night time is a different problem altogether.
DeleteI've never been able to figure out why babies cry. :)
ReplyDeleteWhen I go on airplanes, I always make sure I have toys in case of an encounter with a screaming kid. I have had to pull a few out on occasion to calm a crying kid (not my own). Once, passengers even clapped after I managed to get a particularly cranky kid to be quiet. :)
Excellent! You are a compassionate traveler!
DeleteHi Susan,
ReplyDeleteThis is Kim at My Field of Dreams. You asked about lemons. I still have lemons and I am going to try this. Take your lemons slice thin, put one sliced lemon and sprinkle with a bit of sugar. Keep doing this until the jar is filled with lemons and sugar. Let sit and the juice will fill up the jar and keep in the fridge. You can use the juice for tea if you like lemon in your tea. I think it sounds nice but I haven't tried it yet. I mainly make lemon aid with the lemons. I hope this helps.
That is such a good idea! Our tree is bowing down with lemons; I will give most of them to neighbors, but would like to try something else! Thanks!
DeleteHa! Delightful!
ReplyDeleteApparently you have been there, as well!
DeleteGood to meet you!
ReplyDeleteChildren always provide a new aspect.