Have you ever woke up to brain fog and your child seems to have extra energy? I did. Hope, was born when I was 38. (I was 50+ when she was a tween. Thats when I really felt the age difference.) But I was very conscious of the fact that there was a huge gap in our energy through out her life. She was so much fun and lived in the moment so if I woke up in a brain fog, I was going to feel it all day. Caffiene was not something that I could use. So I really just studied up and found helpful information for when I was lagging and she needed extra.
So I want to dedicate this page to help you during those moments. It's basically a list of information on things that that I wish I had known and was able to use.
Although it’s healthy for toddlers to be full of energy, there are times when you need your active baby or toddler to simply calm down. Whether you need to make dinner or put your baby to sleep, these tips are sure to help.
• Dim the lights If all the lights are on, your toddler is probably getting ready to run around your home and explore. If you want your hyper toddler to calm down a little, try dimming the lights. This will not only cause your toddler’s body to think it’s close to bedtime, it will help prevent your toddler from seeing all those toys hiding in the shadows. The less your toddler sees, the more they’ll be able to calm down.
• Play soothing music Soothing music can help calm down a hyper child. Try different types of music, such as lullabies, classical music or any type of soft music. Tracks such as animal sounds, waterfalls and ocean sounds can also be calming for toddlers. Either way, you’ll be surprised how quickly soothing music can calm down a hyper toddler.
• Read a story to your kids Another effective way to calm your hyper child is to read them a story. If you have one, sit in a rocking chair and have your child sit in your lap. The combination of the chair moving back and forth along with your soft voice will soothe your toddler.
• Play with puzzles If your toddler can’t sit still long enough to read a book or cuddle with you, try sitting with them with a puzzle. Then they can have fun but are forced to sit still for awhile. Having to focus on the puzzle and sitting in one spot will help your toddler’s little body to unwind and calm them down. Plus, puzzles are beneficial to their development.
• Do some coloring Toddlers love to color and it’s another great way to get them to sit still and focus. Set them up with some coloring books and crayons and watch all that high energy they have stored up disappear.
• Have bath time If nothing else works, a nice warm bath filled with bubbles can really do the trick in helping calm your toddler. Relaxing is the easiest way o unwind and most toddlers love bath time.
• Try some Highchair Activities- PLAYDOUGH---MESS FREE PAINTING---MUSIC---DRAWING IN DRY GOODS---CEREAL PROJECTS---WHAT CAN YOU MAKE WITH...?
Blow some bubbles with your baby Play calming music Give the baby a bottle or a drink with a straw while you have some tea Provide a super safe sensory bin or tinker tray for baby/toddler Utilize your "Yes Space or Safe Space" for your baby/toddler Take them outside to run off thier extra energy
Take a dip - water balances energy Go for a walk together Go outside-Fresh air and freeplay for baby/toddler always helps... (let them cut loose)
Ways to Soothe a Cranky Baby
Finding your baby’s ‘calming reflex’ buttons
Calming and soothing your baby is all about replicating some of those womb-like sensations. So, most soothing techniques involve one or more of the following:
rhythmic motion
deep-pressure touch
low-lighting
regular/rhythmic noise
holding baby close (for calming smell)
feeding (but beware the ‘comfort feed’ – more on this later)
However, in order to quickly calm and soothe a very fussy and inconsolable baby you want to try and trigger the ‘calming reflex’. You need to find out where your baby’s on switch is hiding.
In the womb, this ‘calming reflex’ is almost continually switched on, with the specific combination of touch, sound, visuals, taste and smell, keeping your baby calm and fuss-free.
(You may notice how certain music you listen to or food or drinks you consume may get your baby in a bit of a tizz with a frenzy of activity and indignant kicks maybe – but will never reach the level of upset that you’re experiencing now.)
While you cannot replicate the womb exactly, using as many of the senses as possible, particularly touch and movement (which are highly developed in a newborn) and experimenting is the way to go.
It’s a case of finding the method that works for your baby.
7 things to try to calm your baby
1. Dr. Karp’s 5s’s
Dr. Harvey Karp believes his specific calming method, the 5s’s, when carried out together and in a particular way should trigger baby’s calming reflex. It kind of sends baby into a trance, instantly calming baby and inducing sleep. (Really, it does work.)
Even just one of the S’s, alone, can be total game-changers for settling. But the real magic happens when they’re done altogether (there’s a video of Dr. Karp demonstrating further down.)
Swaddling is the most important of the s’s – helping to soothe baby
The 5s’s are as follows:
Swaddle
This is the most important ‘S’. Given that baby’s sense of touch is so well developed at birth, due to all the deep pressure touch they received in the womb, it’s no wonder.
Outside of the womb, remember that baby is going to feel completely lost with all that freedom. Swaddling restricts movement, creating deep pressure touch.
Then there’s the startle of ‘Moro’ reflex which all newborns have to battle with for a good 3 months…one of several newborn reflexes that ensures baby’s survival (although the Moro reflex is redundant now and a remnant of our tree-swinging days).
So swaddling is not only an essential settling tool but also prevents the Moro reflex from disturbing and waking baby, therefore encouraging longer sleeps too.
This video gives a good demo on swaddling a plastic baby – makes it look easy but don’t be fooled. A wriggly, fussy newborn with a floppy head can be quite a different story.
Or for a written step-by-step with pictures, here’s a how to swaddle guide in pictures.
(Alternatively buy a fancy swaddle that does all the hard work for you – there are a tonne on the market and some great no-nonsense reviews, such as this one.)
Side or stomach position
Lying baby on her side (for example lying on your forearm) or stomach (lying over your shoulder) is much closer to the position baby was lying in when in the womb.
Generally, any position is more comfortable than lying baby on her back. Which is frustrating when it comes to baby sleep, since the most important safe sleep guideline is to sleep baby on her back… So if you calm and settle baby using side or stomach position if and when you put them down to sleep, you’re going to have to gently roll your baby onto her back.
Shush
This is all about replicating the type of noise AND the volume your little one was accustomed to in the womb.
You can say ‘shush, shush, shush’ loudly in baby’s ear. The alternative is to use white noise, but it has to be the right type of white noise:
low-pitch (think the low, rumbly and monotonous drone of the car engine)
loud (remember the sound level baby heard in the womb was louder than a vacuum cleaner) – think 60-75 dB.
Or, if you’re a fan of free (who isn’t) youtube and many streaming services (e.g. Apple Music) have white noise specifically designed to calm and soothe babies – try this one from youtube. Just to remember to turn it up enough – think the level of a decent shower.
Swing
Dr. Karp claims that slow, gentle movements won’t be enough to calm a fussy baby, but small, quick movements will in a maneuver he calls the Jell-O head jiggle:
“For many babies, the Jell-O head jiggle is key to calming (quick little movements like a bobble head) To do it, always support the head/neck, keep your motions small; and move no more than 1 inch back and forth.”
Check the video coming up to see this in action.
Suck
Baby’s love to suck; the action of sucking is very soothing, but it’s a little baby dependent quite how effective this will be; some babies are very ‘sucky’, others not so much.
If you’re going to try as many of the 5 S’s together (you are, right?) then baby’s going to be sucking on a pacifier, since it’s not possible to feed AND do the Jell-O head jiggle. (Did I try? Me? Never…)
But a word of warning on using this 5th S in isolation, by feeding.
A pacifier is your best bet to satisfy your fussy baby through sucking, the 5th S
Beware the comfort feed
A breast or bottle-feed can work wonders for calming and soothing. And it’s not only for the sucking sensation. Feeding is normally accompanied by lots of other calming stimulation; being close to mom, dad or another regular caregiver provides calming touch and smell too.
BUT beware of feeding only for comfort – the so-called ‘comfort feed’. If you suspect that your baby may be upset due to gas pain and isn’t actually hungry, then more milk may only make matters worse.
You may also see your baby actively rooting and trying to suck, but beware! This isn’t only about hunger.
Rooting to suck is not only a cue for hunger, but also a sign that baby is either tired and overstimulated or has gut pain. Baby is trying to suck to seek comfort.
Skin-to-skin (or kangaroo care), which is simply holding baby naked against your skin, is incredibly soothing and calming for a newborn.
You probably did a little skin-to-skin straight after birth and were perhaps encouraged to do this regularly with your baby back at home. There are a whole host of well-researched benefits of skin-to-skin to baby, from helping to regulate temperature to a stronger immune system.
From a calming perspective, it’s the calming touch and your familiar smell that your baby will love; it’s fantastic for bonding too (hint, get dad onto this!)
Babywearing just adds another dimension to skin-to-skin. You’re adding in soothing and calming motion plus deep pressure touch.
When baby is small, say birth to 3 months, a ‘baby wrap’ is the way to go. Essentially a very, very long strip of stretchy material that is a pain in the butt to tie up (it takes a bit of practice), but once on it can be a complete game-changer and very rapidly calm your little one.
My favorite baby wrap here (not an affiliate link) and a video tutorial on how to tie it here.
At a later stage you can then upgrade to more of a ‘carrier’ which is a bit more structured (so easier to get on and off but has a higher price tag.)
My favorite baby carrier here (not an affiliate link). No video tutorial necessary.
So pop your newborn in the wrap (it might be more like ‘wrestling’ rather than ‘popping’ if your if baby is in a state and you’re not yet well-practiced at putting that darn wrap on…) and start pounding up and down the hallway, streets, stairs or your back yard.
Babywearing also works well in conjunction with an exercise ball; all that rhythmic bouncing while wrapped up tightly to your chest is sure to settle your little one.
Hopefully, it won’t take long for your baby to calm down. In fact, this is such an effective calming strategy that you’re probably going to find your baby falling asleep not long after calming down.
One word of warning on baby wearing
Beware if you don’t want baby to sleep all day long (hint: you don’t, since that’s an invitation for baby to be up all night…)
Remember to take baby out at some point and let her wake up naturally. Or wake baby up. (Yes, you read that correctly. Key to reversing any day-night confusion and getting baby to sleep longer periods of night, is to wake baby up in the day.)
Getting outside can help calm baby and mom (Yes, that’s me. Don’t I look full of beans?)
3. Get outside
This is one of my favorites because not only did it instantly calm my baby, it did me the world of good too. (Trying to calm a crying baby is incredibly exhausting, frustrating and upsetting, right? So a change of scene and some fresh air can help all those things…)
So strap your baby in the buggy, grab your shoes etc and get walking.
The regular movement sensation of the buggy, particularly on a slightly rougher pathway is first choice. The small vibratey-type sensations are similar to the Jell-o head jiggle of Dr. Karp’s 5s’s. This is also normally accompanied by some kind of rhythmic rattly noise, depending on how rattly your buggy is.
This can work well with either a car seat attached to the buggy or a bassinet clipped to the buggy, dependent on the route you went. If you chose the latter, swaddle baby first to restrict movement, which can add to the distress, and to add-in that deep pressure touch.
You may also need to shield baby from direct sunlight – also remembering that the dark can be soothing. So if you can fully and safely cover the buggy, that’s first prize. (I used a snoozeshade – apologies I cannot find this on Amazon right now, probably due to Covid-19. You can just use clip a baby blanket to your buggy with clothespins.)
But if not, watching the world go by can also help calm. Passing trees and leaves wafting gently in the breeze can also have a bit of a hypnotic affect.
4. Distract, distract, distract
For this one, my dad has to get a mention. He was not very useful when it came to the whole baby thing, like most grandfathers I should think. But where he came into his own was coming up with random distraction tactics.
I know I said to remove from excessive stimulation and from other family or friends but my dad was a relatively familiar face to my babies. (We live in the sticks in the African bush a looooong way from a good hospital so, or birth and much of the newborn phase), I decamped to my parents in the UK.)
So my dad’s tactic of choice was baby aerobics. Sadly I don’t have a picture – I think I was always so gobsmacked that this had any effect which, combined with serious mommy brain, meant I never captured anything on camera.
But basically, my dad would sit down on the sofa as in the picture below: feet resting on a stool or the side of the table, so his legs were on an incline, then lie baby on the incline in the groove of his legs.
The position you need to sit in with your baby to give baby aerobics a go.
Then he’d hold baby’s hands and simply cross her arms to the opposite side rhythmically, doing some kind of random chant and grinning like a madman.
It worked. Not every time, but enough times!
Other distraction tactics that might help:
Turn a tap on and let baby watch the water running – calming sound and visuals
Take baby to a mirror to look at herself or show her some pictures of other babies or your own family – babies love to look at faces
Take your newborn to a dark room or turn the lights out and create a light show using a torch – or buy a light show for your baby. These are great to use when your baby’s falling asleep and can then be used as a nightlight when older.
(I loved this baby monitor which also has a light show – still in use every night nearly 5 years later, the light show now acts as a nightlight.)
5. The Colic Carry (or Tiger In The Tree)
This is a comfortable front lying position for baby – so a specific version of Dr. Karp’s second ‘S’ (side or stomach settling). It’s particularly good if baby is gassy, got trapped wind or lower gas pain and crying inconsolably, i.e. is colicky, hence the term ‘colic carry’.
It’s a very simple and stable hold; you lie baby over your forearm, with her head towards your elbow and your hand supporting her crotch. The gentle pressure on the abdomen helps to expel any trapped wind.
You can also add in some movement sensation by a brisk stroll around the house or put on some music and have a little dance….
The ‘colic carry’ or ‘tiger in the tree’ is very comfortable and can instantly calm a fussy baby, particularly if baby is gassy
6. Put some tunes on and dance
Turn your lounge into a dance floor, get baby into a comfortable hold and put some music on. This is another great mom calmer too. Nothing like some good tunes to de-frazzle you.
In terms of how to hold baby, it’s a case of whatever works for you. The colic carry was my go-to with my second born, a terribly gassy baby. My first-born, only really got frantic when overtired so any hold would do. So I either cradled him in the crook of my arm, just as if I was going to do rock-a-bye baby, or held him face in towards my chest, with a hand firmly on his back.
Then pick some music and get moving. Sway gently to some classical music (babies seem to love classical music) or try something more upbeat.
Experiment and see what your baby likes – you’d be surprised how differently they can react to different types and tunes… (My firstborn loved Michael Jackson. Okay, I admit it, it was me but he didn’t object…)
If there’s any music you listened to while pregnant that’s definitely worth a try – baby’s have a good memory for sounds. Hearing the same music baby heard when in the womb can be calming and reassuring.
Some say that bathing a baby can calm and soothe but…. while I do believe bathtime is an essential ingredient to any good bedtime routine, it’s not for when baby is wound up good and properly. In this instance, a bath is a total nightmare and can do more damage than good….
Legs and arms flailing everywhere as you desperately try not to drop your frantic baby all the way into the water. Then you’ve got to get baby out and dress them – another invitation for more tears with the slightest waft of cool air on the bum or a stubborn arm getting lost in those ridiculously fiddly clothes…
So this one uses the calming element of bathing – the warm water and the sound of running water – in a far more effective way, because baby is fully dressed and swaddled.
All you need is a sink with a mixer tap, so you can get the temperature just right.
Then you’re going to be the hairdresser giving your baby a hair wash. Hear me out, I’m not crazy, really.
So, baby is all wrapped up in a nice neat swaddle – this should start calming right away of course. Turn on the tap and get the water to a comfortable temperature – exactly the same as if you were bathing her (that’s 100 F or 37-38 C if you want to check with a thermometer).
Now, hold baby horizontal lying on her back along your left arm, if you’re right-handed. Put her head over the sink nearish the tap and start to wet her head with water. Once her hair is a little wet you can put her head a little under the water.
Let the warm water wash over your baby’s head and hair and keep stroking the hair and scalp down with the water.
Your baby will love the sensation of the water washing over her hair along with the sound of the running water, all while snug and secure in her swaddle.
Then, once calm and a bit happier, you now have no drying or dressing to do.
Winner.
What to do next
Once your newborn is a little calmer and happier (and possibly asleep), next step is figuring out the cause of all the upset. So you can avoid it next time if possible.
Often the issue is overtiredness and overstimulation – the symptoms are very similar to gas pains and discomfort. So make sure not to keep your newborn awake too long (up to 3 months most newborns can’t stay awake longer than 2 hours max.)
More on figuring out exactly how long your baby can stay awake in this baby awake times post.
Perhaps your baby is very gassy. This could well be the case if your baby hasn’t been awake too long (i.e. isn’t overtired) and is arching her back, curling into the fetal position, clenching fists and is grimacing or red-faced.
Now I went to several tummy specialists for Hope and none of them helped. So who helped me get through it -GRANDMA.
Room temperature bottles- never microwave or warm formula for a baby with tummy issues.Try Old fashioned Coke Syrup- Chamomile or Sleepy Time TeaA big breasted women (that meant she would stay for awhile).
Never underestimate GRANDMAS WISDOM. She has seen what works and what doesn't for babies in your gene pool.
Figuring out what they need is no easy task. You need to learn your baby’s cues – the unique signals he or she uses to communicate. There are subtle differences between all those different body, face, hand and mouth movements. Then there are the sounds your baby makes. All should give you clues as to what exactly is up.
The 6 newborn baby cues are:
The key is to spot the early warning signs and act accordingly. The longer your baby’s needs are not met, the more upset she will become and the harder it becomes to know what’s wrong and therefore how to console her.
What the flip is my baby saying? 6 newborn baby cues you need to know: (printable chart!)
Understanding baby cues, in particular your newborn’s cues or signals is something that should just come naturally, right?
Like many things “motherhood”, I thought I’d be able to understand what my baby needed and when. Instinctively. Because that’s what I was put on this earth to do…
Oh, my naivety…
If you’re here I’m guessing you’re also having a few struggles in the “how the heck do I know what my baby needs” department too.
I clearly understood that crying meant something was wrong but what took me a lot longer was figuring out what was going on beforehand, so we could avoid the screaming-at-the-top-of-the-lungs-in-desperation-because-mom-is-clueless altogether…
What are newborn cues?
Babies use a lot of signals aka “baby cues” to communicate with us, both with their body and their voice or “newborn cues” if they’re still in teeny tiny (less than 3 months).
Body movements include that of the face, arms, hands, legs, torso; baby will normally use a combination of all of these.
Some are subtle but when you start to look and listen closely, many are actually quite obvious.
Newborn baby cries/sounds
Baby cries are subtly different; if you listen carefully you should quickly be able to distinguish several different ones.
We’re talking about low level, whinginess, the precursor to screaming the house down type crying – the latter is the type of cry that will result if any of your baby’s cues are ignored for long enough, whatever the initial need.
Luckily for us parents, Priscilla Dunstan worked with and studied the cries of hundreds of newborns and decoded what she calls the “Universal language of newborn babies”. (Within this baby cues post I’ve included video clips of those sounds.)
So to summarize:
“Newborn cues” & “baby cues” are the sounds/cries and body movements your baby will make to indicate exactly what she needs.
How long can I rely on cues to tell me what my baby needs?
Up until your baby starts to talk, well out of “baby” status as a toddler, your little one will use cues to communicate with you. With growth and development comes greater coordination and mobility, so your baby’s cues will gradually change. For example, when hungry, rooting and sucking will be replaced by walking towards the source of food.
The newborn/baby cues described in this post apply to the first 6-9 months of life, though your baby may still use some a little older. Don’t worry, by this point you should be well attuned to your baby, plus the changes will be gradual enough for you to keep up with.
Why is it important to learn to read a baby’s cues?
Learning and understanding baby cues will make your job a lot easier; it’ll prevent a lot of excessive crying if you’re able to respond to your baby quickly and effectively (and I’m not just talking about baby here…) Because there’s nothing more frustrating, exhausting and upsetting than not knowing what the dot-dot-dash is wrong… (Believe me, those days still haunt me now we are firmly in the equally testing delightful toddler years…)
There are obvious benefits to your baby who’s in need of food, help to burp, have a dirty diaper etc. A slow response to most baby cues will leave your baby physically uncomfortable and only get worse the longer she or he has to wait. Not to mention that it’ll be extremely unhealthy to leave a small baby without food for an extended period of time (a young newborn will need to feed every 3 hours, at the very minimum).
But there are also secondary benefits about understanding newborn baby cues:
Builds trust and bonding, facilitating healthy attachment
Promotes emotional and physical security and confidence in your baby, who’ll feel listened to, cared for and loved
It’s the first step in baby’s ability to regulate her own emotions
All of these facilitate normal healthy brain development. No pressure then?! Fear not…
Wondering if you’ll ever be able to understand your baby’s cues?
Just like understanding how to breastfeed successfully your newborns sleep patterns (what “pattern” I hear you say) and how to leave the house with a newborn in less than 45 minutes, understanding baby cues or signals (both body language and their cries) is something you can learn.
If I managed, you can too!
In time you will instinctively know when your baby is tired vs. itching to play; you will know how to tell if baby has wind or is hungry and when he’s saying “I’ve had enough, I need a break.”
A baby sucking can be a confusing baby cue – is baby hungry or is it something else?
#1 Baby cues for hunger to watch for: “FEED ME”
Some hunger cues are pretty easy to read (trying to latch on anywhere near the milk bar is a pretty clear sign your baby is hungry) but some of the early cues are a little more subtle…
Early baby hunger cues: “Is it dinnertime now?”
lick and smack lips together
open and close mouth (think goldfish)
suck on lips and tongue
suck on anything near mouth (your finger, chest etc)
suck fingers, thumb or hands (babies 6-8 weeks+)
Active baby hunger cues: “I’m getting really hungry”
rooting reflex/root to suck (turn head, open mouth and suck when cheek stroked)*
try to get to the breast/into feeding position
launch towards the breast (nipple diving)
wriggle and squirm
hit mom/whoever is carrying her on the arm or headbutt the chest (older babies)
breathe fast
clench fists
start to fuss and cry – more on the hunger cry in a bit
The newborn baby cry/sound for hunger = “NEH”
This is also an active hunger cue – so if you hear the “neh” it’s time to feed that baby.
The video below should start playing at the “neh” cry – we will get to the other cries later and link as relevant so no skipping ahead!
Late baby hunger cues: “I’m flipping starving, feed me now!”
move head frantically from side to side in search of a nipple
turn bright red
cries are also long, low-pitched and repetitive, and will grow in intensity and pitch the longer she is made to wait. Feed that baby!
Newborn baby hunger cues summary chart
This baby feeding cues chart clearly outlines the early, active and late hunger cues. Feed baby when you spot early feeding cues; always try to avoid getting to late hunger cues.
Newborn hunger cues that can confuse
This is super important – hence the pink shaded box!
For older babies (6-8 weeks old or older) sucking and rooting to suck isn’t always a sign of hunger, but one of the desire for comfort…
Sucking is also baby trying to calm down and seek comfort if tired, overstimulated or uncomfortable due to gas pains…More on these in the relevant baby cue sections coming up.
BEWARE THE COMFORT FEED! It may be tempting to feed your baby to provide this comfort, but this is not without risk! If baby still has a full tummy, this can overload her digestive system causing discomfort, fussiness and agitation.
It’s also easy to mistake a chewing motion with the tongue poking out (think sulky teenager chewing gum), for rooting to suck. This is not a sign of hunger but actually an early wind cue which we will get onto later…
Tips for responding to baby’s hunger cues
1 – Respond early to hunger cues before baby is crying
The earlier you respond the better; so as soon as you notice the first signs that your baby is hungry you want to respond and feed your baby. (Refer back to the baby feeding cues chart.)
I’m a big advocator of a routine, even for a newborn baby (this is the newborn sleep and feeding schedule that my babies loved), but when your baby is hungry, you feed that baby!
In full screaming pelt, your baby’s tongue is high up on the roof of her mouth which makes latching on to the breast or bottle extremely difficult. Then once latched, baby may frantically gulp down milk and suck in air in the process. For this reason, responding quickly to your baby’s hunger cues is an absolute must-do avoid a gassy baby.
2 – If baby becomes frantically hungry, calm her first
Firstly, you will need to calm her before offering the breast/bottle.
If your baby has been waiting for a feed and is really upset, even if you manage to calm her enough to latch on and feed, her suck is likely to be disorganized and inefficient = more air sucked in.
In addition, she may be exhausted from crying and only take a small feed before falling asleep. This, of course, means that she will probably sleep for a very short time then wake for another feed as her tiny tummy quickly empties…
Again – feed when you spot those early hunger cues.
3 – Don’t automatically assume rooting to suck means hunger
As noted above, older babies 6-8 weeks+ will also root and look to suck for comfort.
Try to establish whether baby is really hungry before feeding (the upcoming baby cues sections should help with this)
4 – Don’t mistake a chewing motion with tongue poking out for rooting to suck
This is not a hunger cue! More on this is in the trapped wind baby cue section…
“I want to play” baby cues includes an ‘ooh’ shaped mouth and baby trying to engage with you
#2 Baby cues for seeking engagement: “PLAY WITH ME!”
Baby is calm but alert and keen to interact with the world. Your newborn will give you the following cues that she wants to interact and play:
purse lips and make ‘ooh’ shapes with mouth
coo and babble
smile
bright eyes, relaxed breathing and facial expression
open eyes wide and try to make eye contact
turn and look towards sounds
relaxed body with slow, smooth body movements
actively respond to you when you engage with her e.g. stare into your eyes, smile, babble or coo
Wondering what these look like? Check out the babies in this video below.
Tips for responding to your baby’s “play with me” signals
Interacting and playing with your baby is not only a wonderful chance to bond but is an important part of her healthy development. Interactions that stimulate the different senses, from listening, to vision, to movement is important for the development of more complex skills later on.
Luckily, ‘play’ in these early days and even for several months of your baby’s life doesn’t need to be anything complicated. Interacting with you and the world around her will be more than enough.
So talk and sing to your baby, play “Round and round the garden, like a teddy bear”, rock her in your arms, bring your face close to hers and let her study it, take her for a walk…
2 – Watch carefully for signs that baby has had enough
Small babies cannot stay awake very long and tire easily. Keep an eye on how long baby has been awake (the ‘awake’ time) and watch carefully for signs of tiredness and overstimulation – see newborn baby cue #3.
Turning away and frowning are both cues that baby needs a break
#3 Tiredness & overstimulation baby cues: “I NEED A BREAK, I NEED TO SLEEP”
Baby can only play and stay awake so long before becoming tired, overstimulated and needing a break. The younger your baby, the quicker this can happen. Young babies can’t stay awake all that long before becoming tired and their new surroundings (vs. inside the womb) are still very new, so overstimulation can happily quickly and easily.
Being awake/becoming tired and a lot of stimulation eventually lead to the same place: the need to take a break and sleep.
Again, the quicker you respond the better. Picking up on early stress signals means you can avoid overstimulation and overtiredness.
Early cues indicating sleepiness: “I’m getting a bit fed up and tired”
Easy-to-spot tiredness cues include yawning as well as rubbing eyes and ears (in older babies). But there are a lot more tiredness and overstimulated cues to look for.
Baby may try to withdraw from what’s going on around her and:
*Note how rooting and sucking can be a sign of the desire for comfort rather than hunger
Mid cues for sleepiness “Leave me alone”
Your baby will attempt to withdraw further from the situation and:
avoid eye contact
stare vacantly, eyes glazing over
splay fingers or put hands in front of face to say leave me alone
Signs of tension in her body and in her face also indicate tiredness or overstimulation:
frown or knot eyebrows
clench fists or clasp hands together
straighten legs and generally look less relaxed
Baby may also show her discomfort to the feelings of tiredness and overstimulation and become clingy.
The newborn baby cry/sound for tiredness = “OWH”
Listen out for your baby making a sound similar to a yawn. If you yawn yourself (pretty much a given if you have a newborn) you will hear the ‘owh’ sound too.
The video clip below should start at the “owh” cry.)
Late cues your baby is tired – “I’m totally over this now, I need to sleep!”
With continued exposure to stimulation, baby will find it increasingly difficult to self-soothe; there’s just too much sensory input to overcome.
Eventually, your baby’s body will go into defensive mode and react with a
fight-or-flight response
, releasing the stress hormones cortisol and adrenalin. This is baby’s way of coping with the overstimulation and/or overtiredness.
At this point your baby will show a lot of tension in her body and face:
frantic, jerky movements and seem to have a lot of energy
wriggle and squirm*
arch back and neck*
spit-up*
grimace and screw up face*
go bright red or very pale in the face*
seem generally uncomfortable, irritable or agitated*
*These are better known as symptoms of trapped wind and gas pains.
As your baby becomes increasingly agitated and disorganized in her movements, she may even sneeze or hiccup.
The cries that follow: Cries will start out low and slow and gradually build in intensity until it becomes a full-blown and ear-deafening cry. If baby is still not removed from excess stimulation and/or allowed to sleep, baby will become inconsolable…
Overtired newborns react with inconsolable crying – “I’m unable to cope now…”
Baby is now in a high state of stress. This fight-or-flight response helps baby cope with the overtiredness and overstimulation, specifically by helping her stay awake.
Unfortunately, this is what makes it so hard to console and calm your baby; she will appear to fight sleep because her body is doing exactly that…pacing the streets with baby in a sling or driving around the block for hours is where you’ll be at.
Overtiredness and overstimulation are best avoided! So don’t make the mistake of thinking that the longer baby stays awake the better he or she will sleep.
Tips for responding to baby’s tiredness & overstimulation cues
1 – Watch your baby closely to learn her unique signals for tiredness and overstimulation
The list of cues that a baby shows to signal their need for rest is long and varied plus the fight-or-flight response kicks in quicker in some babies.
So learning the signs of overtiredness and overstimulation for your baby is key.
Maybe the biggest indicator of tiredness is your baby becoming still (fight-or-flight takes a while to kick-in)
Or maybe your baby starts to become increasingly hyperactive, moving jerkily (fight-or-flight kicks in quickly)
It’s a case of watching and learning your baby’s cues and listening for the “owh” until you become attuned.
2 – Once you’ve spotted tiredness/overstimulation cues, reduce stimulation and/or allow baby to sleep
The response to stress and tiredness cues are the same, though there may be a few subtle differences if you suspect tiredness is the bigger culprit than stimulation or vice versa.
baby did not sleep well earlier in the day or even the day before (has only taken short naps or woke multiple times at night)
baby is having a growth spurt or going through a developmental phase
So get baby into sleep mode; take baby into a sleep-inducing environment and carry out your normal sleep time routine to encourage baby to sleep. Aid baby if you need to.
Or it may be that excess stimulation is the main culprit; look at your baby’s environment.
A new environment and different stimulation (including new and unfamiliar friends and family wanting a cuddle) may overload baby’s senses and tire her quicker.
In this case, reducing the stimulation – stop playing taking baby into a quiet or familiar room, prying her from the arms of doting aunties or putting a cover over the buggy may be all it takes to calm and pacify her. If baby is tired and wants to sleep then you’re also giving her the chance to do that.
3 – Respond early! Don’t keep baby awake too long
Overtiredness = fight-or-flight response = baby impossible to settle.
And it gets worse…
Short naps, multiple-night wakings and waking at the crack of dawn are also symptoms of overtiredness and overstimulation.
So if you’re looking for baby to take lovely long 2-hour naps, sleep through the night and wake around 7am, (sounds good, right?!) don’t let your baby get overtired.
That means watching awake times, ensuring baby has plenty of day naps and enough sleep in total…
4 – Careful not to misinterpret baby wanting to suck; beware the comfort feed!
Try to establish WHY baby is sucking before offering a feed.
Be sure to remove baby from the environment/reduce stimulation before offering a feed.
As mentioned in the hunger cue section, feeding baby with a full tummy (as a means of calming and pacifying) can physically overload the digestive system causing discomfort and further upset.
It’s also easy to develop a feeding to sleep association by constantly calming your baby by offering a feed – since overtiredness is part of the issue baby is highly likely to fall asleep mid-feed.
The windy smile… an easy-to-miss newborn baby cue for trapped wind!
#4 Trapped wind baby cues: “I NEED TO BURP”
It’s totally normal and natural for babies to swallow air while feeding. It’s more likely in bottle-fed babies for a few reasons e.g. the seal between bottle teat and baby’s mouth is not normally as good as between boob and mouth.
In breastfed babies, poor latch, fast let-down and different feeding positions can cause baby to suck in extra air, while a baby with a tongue-tie will struggle to feed without swallowing extra air, whether breast or bottle-fed.
Interestingly, wind trapped in the upper regions of the stomach and throat of the newborn has a purpose (other than to irritate and cause discomfort). According to Phillipa Murphy, postnatal educator, author, mom and founder of BabyCues:
Ingested air is the initiator and/or helps to progress vision, smiles, mastication, first ever controlled arm movements and the first gooing and gaaing
This means that there are other cues that baby has trapped wind, long before you notice discomfort and irritability; early wind cues.
Early newborn wind cues
These include:
the windy stare (gazing in the distance at nothing in particular)
rolling or fluttering eyes
windy smile (lips at corner of one or both sides of the mouth flickering up, often when baby is asleep) – see photo above
a chewing motion with the tongue sticking out
(Sorry to burst your bubble if you thought your baby gave you an early smile, but social smiling only starts around 6 weeks of age.. )
Baby will be quite content for some time after showing these early wind cues but if this wind is not released and more air is ingested it’ll start to irritate and you’ll start to notice late wind cues.
Late wind cues your baby is holding too much air in their stomach
This is when you may see your baby:
look tense across her face
wriggle and squirm*
flail arms and legs
look generally uncomfortable & irritable*
refuse to feed
Check the how-to-burp video to see some of these symptoms in action.
*Baby may also show these symptoms if tired and overstimulated.
The newborn baby sound/cry for the need to burp = EH
If you try and burp yourself, you’ll notice the natural ‘eh’ sound you make. So the ‘eh’ cry that you’ll hear is your baby trying to burp.
This is the same baby cries video, but this time it should start playing at the ‘eh’ cry.
This shouldn’t develop into a full-on cry. The discomfort will continue until the wind has passed. If the trapped wind is not passed it could lead to discomfort and gas pains in the abdomen, baby cue number 5.
Newborn baby cues for trapped gas/wind summary chart
Newborn baby trapped gas/wind cues that can confuse
You may have already spotted a few baby cues that have the potential to confuse.
How to tell if baby has gas or is hungry
A chewing motion with the tongue sticking out is often mistaken for rooting. It’s not of course, it’s a not particularly well-known early wind cue. The two are subtly different so you’re going to have to watch your little one closely to learn the difference. Feeding when baby isn’t hungry is best avoided as it can cause gassiness and discomfort.
Of course, tuning into your baby’s sounds is the way to go. “Neh” is the one to listen out for to indicate that your baby is hungry, “eh” means baby has trapped wind and needs to burp.
How to tell if baby is tired/overstimulated or has trapped wind
First step, listen to those baby cries: ‘”eh” for the need to burp vs. “owh” for tiredness.
If in doubt, assume tiredness/overstimulation is the cause FIRST, so remove baby from the stimulation and try to calm and pacify her. Hold her in a comfortable position that will also encourage baby to burp (e.g. the colic carry, see below) rather than frantically trying to wind your baby, which may only stimulate and irritate further.
Tips for responding to baby’s need to burp
So you’ve worked out how to tell if baby has wind or is hungry and wind is the issue. So what should you do, both short- and long-term?
1 – Burp baby at the first sign of wind/gas
If you spot any of those early signs of wind (i.e. your baby is smiling but is younger than 6 weeks old) then respond and burp your baby. This should prevent further discomfort and more severe gas pains.
2 – Burp baby a lot – more than you think
Wondering how many burps is enough? Well, it’s probably a lot more than you’re thinking. Babycues recommends the following total number of burps during/after a feed:
baby aged 0 to 2 weeks: minimum of 10 burps
2 to 6 weeks: minimum of 10 burps but aim for 20
6 to 12 weeks: minimum of 15 burps but aim for 25
This is obviously just a guideline; 1 large burp may be equivalent to 3 small ones. Plus, this number will vary depending on just how gassy your baby is.
3 – Experiment with different positions to help stubborn trapped wind and keep baby comfortable
There are a lot of different burping techniques but as a rule you want slow, firm movements that put pressure on the abdomen and squeeze the air out.
Certain positions like the ‘colic carry’ and tummy time are also helpful in squeezing out a burp as well as alleviating the discomfort of trapped wind at the same time:
Tummy time – place baby on her front and let her explore her surroundings. As she stretches up gentle pressure will be placesd on her abdomen, helping to expel gas. This is also great for strengthening the core and neck muscles.
Colic carry (also called Tiger in the Tree) – lie baby with her tummy along your forearm. The photo should clarity my arguably fuzzy explanation!
Unfortunately, so far there’s no evidence that gas drops (simethicone), so Gerber Gas Relief Drops, Mylicon, Phazyme or Infacol help alleviate trapped wind.
The ‘colic carry’ or ‘tiger in the tree’ helps baby released trapped wind and is comfortable for a colicky baby
4 – Figure out what is causing your newborn to be gassy
Clenched fists, extreme irritability and fussing are often a sign that baby is suffering from a lot of discomfort in the gut
#5 Baby cues for gut/gas pain: “I HAVE A LOT OF DISCOMFORT & PAIN IN MY GUT”
Inadequate burping can mean that air ingested when feeding remains trapped and is eventually pushed down into the gut, causing pain and discomfort.
In addition, they also often experience abdominal pain due to gas produced in the gut, for various reasons:
1 – An imbalance of gut bacteria
Research has shown that gassy babies that cry a lot have too many bad bacteria and too few good ones leading to more gas being released in the gut. This could be due to antibiotics, upsetting the balance. Infant probiotics (such as BioGaia Probiotic Drops) can help.
2 – Comfort feeding and over-feeding
In both, undigested milk is forced from the stomach into the gut. This milk ferments in the gut which produces gas.
3 – Hind/foremilk imbalance if breastfeeding
Caused by oversupply in mom or switching breasts before baby reaches the hindmilk (hence making sure the breast is fully drained before switching to the other is one of the 5 golden rules for successful breastfeeding.
4 – Sensitivity to breastfeeding mom’s diet or formula
A baby who is uncomfortable or in pain due to gassiness will be fussy and generally irritable, and show tension in her body and face:
flail arms and legs
clench fists – see photo above
grimace
be red-faced
Baby may try to alleviate the discomfort and:
curl into fetal position
arch back and neck
suck or root to suck
Severe gut/gas pain
A high-pitched shriek is a sign of more severe gas pain, and may be worth investigating further. It could indicate silent reflux or, if accompanied by excessive spit-up, acid reflux (the burn of the acid hitting the esophagus causing baby to scream out.)
My daughter suffered badly with reflux and it was a huge struggle for her (and for me). Luckily there are lots of things you can do to get to help your baby as well as medication if all else fails. Check out this reflux remedies post for details.
Baby may also grunt, groan and strain in an attempt to pass a poop, which, when passed, should instantly relieve the discomfort.
The newborn baby sound/cry for gut discomfort and pain = “EAIRH”
This is the noise that baby makes as she squeezes her abdominal muscles and strains to expel gas out of the other end…just like when you have a stubborn one (sorry to get graphic but it makes it easy to understand and remember this specific baby cry if you mimic the associated action!)
The cries that follow: The ‘eairh’ sound will develop into a loud, rhythmic and intense cry until the discomfort passes.
Newborn baby cues for gut/gas pain summary chart
Newborn baby cues for gut & gas pain that can confuse
Yup, more confusion to decipher…
How to tell if baby is tired/overstimulated or has gas pains
Clenched fists, grimacing and a red-face and curling into the fetal position can indicate tiredness or gas pains. Again, those cries or sounds will help you deciper this baby cue: “owh” for tiredness” vs. “eairh” for gas pains.
In any case, the short-term solution is pretty much the same – to calm and pacify baby.
How to tell if baby is hungry or gassy
Sucking & rooting to suck can indicate hunger in older babies 6-8 weeks+ as well as the desire for comfort, due to gassiness in the gut.
So if you’re wondering how to tell if baby is hungry or wants comfort, the answer is pretty much the same: you need to listen out for the “neh” to indicate hunger vs. “eairh” for gas pains. You do want to be pretty sure baby is genuinely hungry before feeding, since “comfort feeding” can lead to further gassiness and discomfort.
Tips for responding to baby’s gas/gut pain
You may have figured out how to tell if baby is hungry or gassy and come to the conclusion that gas and gut pain is the answer. But what to do? That low down pain can be tricky to help baby with..
2 – Figure out what is causing the gassiness and pain
This is where it gets even trickier…
Does a comfort feed lead to more pain and irritation? If so, that could be the issue – so try to avoid comfort feeding and find other ways to calm and pacify baby.
So look for probiotics which contain L. reuteri DSM 17938 (such as these BioGaia Probiotic Drops.)
For more on trapped wind, abdominal discomfort and gas pains, and all the causes and solutions, be sure to check out the full gassy baby post.
NB: please ignore the bottle of, what I think is meant to be, antacid in the baby cries video. Antacids should only be given to babies with severe reflux (and are only available on prescription). You can read all about reflux and reflux remedies here.
3 – Wait it out
If your baby is straining and pushing a lot, it may be a case of waiting for one hell of a poop to pass… This will release the trapped wind and instantly ease the pain.
4 – Beware the comfort feed!
I’m beginning to sound like a broken record now, but if gas pain is the issue, feeding baby could add to her discomfort, making the situation worse…
#6 Baby cues for discomfort: “I’M UNCOMFORTABLE/SOMETHING IS IRRITATING”
This is normally a reaction to something irritating the skin. A dirty nappy is the most common one (so these are baby cues for a diaper change) but a babygro that’s too tight or has an itchy seam would cause the same reaction.
Being too hot or too cold could also have the same effect.
Your baby might:
arch away from the discomfort eg the dirty nappy, itchy seam
wriggle and squirm
feel hot to the touch, if too hot
feel cold to the touch, if too cold (remembering that babies hands and feet are always cool relative to their body temperature)
The newborn baby cry/sound for discomfort = “HEH”
Same video below – this time playing the ‘heh’ sound.
The cries that follow: come in short, mild bursts but if you don’t respond and make baby more comfortable, volume and intensity will increase!
Hopefully, this chart will help to summarise all that information.
Baby cues & behaviors that signal different needs
This has been pointed out throughout the post and is also indicated in the newborn baby cues summary chart above that there a few different behaviors that indicate different needs.
For example, sucking and rooting to suck (a hunger cue but also one of comfort) and things like grimacing, clenching fists and arching of the back and neck (which can indicate overtiredness and overstimulation as well as gas pains).
Tuning into those baby sounds or cries is key! This can really help to crack the baby cues code.
Final thoughts: following your newborns cues can help make the 4th trimester easier on both mom & baby
Hopefully, that’s given you a bit of guidance into what your baby is trying to tell you. Of course, not all babies will use all the cues mentioned all of the time and your baby will have her own unique way of communicating her needs to you.
Refer to the baby feeding cues chart and other summary charts and listen to those baby sounds alongside your own baby’s, and you’ll be halfway there to understanding baby cues.
Remember that the baby cues for tiredness and overstimulation can be particularly variable between babies; you’re going to have to watch and listen to your baby like a hawk until it becomes a little clearer.
The quicker you respond the better, whatever the baby cue, but particularly when it comes to tiredness and overstimulation. So, once you’ve figured them out and start to spot them, make sure you allow baby the chance to take a break and fall asleep before that flight-or-flight response kicks in (a sure-fire way to an inconsolable overtired baby).
But, if baby is is sucking or rooting to suck, PAUSE FIRST. This is also a sign of the need for comfort; the desire for comfort may be due to gas pains, tiredness or overstimulation. You need to learn how to tell if baby has wind or is hungry.
AVOID COMFORT FEEDING which can overload the digestive system resulting in discomfort and irritability. It’s also an easy route to a sleep association (that’s anything but easy to break).
Finally, when you see the signs of trapped wind then burp, burp, burp and if baby frequently has gas pains, getting to the root of the gassiness needs to be next on the agenda! (Not easy, I know, I’ve been there….)
Hope this was useful! Any questions, let me know in the comments.
Wrapping up
I’m so hoping one of these calming strategies will have helped you soothe your baby and given you both some much-needed peace.
It’s not easy, I know. My thoughts are truly with you as you struggle with your fussy baby. I’ve been there. But you got this.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Good luck and you go girl.
Emotional Regulation for Toddlers (and How to Use Nature)
When big emotions hit, it can feel impossible to help your toddler settle back down. Emotional regulation is developed when children can connect with trusted, responsive adults.
What Is Emotional Regulation?
Humans are not born with the ability to regulate their emotions. This means that for much of a person’s very young life, they are not able to return their emotional state back to neutral or express their feelings in appropriate ways. At least, they are not able to do this on their own.
Big anger, giant joys, deep sorrows, full-blown giggle fits, and stark terrors are all big emotions that children feel. And those feelings can grow and grow. Very young children do not have the ability to reel those emotions back in. Self-soothing and self-awareness are skills that need to be learned and practiced. The only way a child can properly learn social-emotional skills is with help from adults. When a parent or caregiver soothes a child in emotional distress, they are co-regulating.
Emotional regulation is a piece of the greater, overall self-regulation. Self-regulation refers to our ability to regulate our emotions, our thoughts, and our behaviors. Self-regulation is the foundation that all academic education is built upon. Social-emotional skills are core school readiness skills. In my experience working in the field of early childhood education, I have heard from Kindergarten teachers that children are entering schools without appropriate self-regulation skills. With all the pressure of academics, these teachers still are more concerned that students are coming in unable to appropriately express their emotions and appropriately build social relationships with adults and peers.
Why Do We Want To Build These Skills In Our Children?
We can start with the obvious first. We would prefer our children did not throw emotional tantrums and constantly act in defiance. In the long term, we would love for our children to grow into functional, relatively chill adults. Am I in the realm of accurate here?
For toddlers, symptoms of emotional dysregulation are screaming, destroying items, struggling with transition, refusing redirection, and difficultly delaying gratification. (These are also entirely typical of being a toddler, for the record). Children who struggle to express their emotions or calm themselves will also struggle with learning, handling frustrations, or building relationships with others.
If a child cannot emotionally regulate, they will struggle with all pieces of self-regulation including behaviors and cognitive skills. For toddlers, a lack of self-regulation could not look like the inability to focus on a task, pay attention to others, or engage in play. They also may not be able to process the information you tell them.
Dysregulated children grow into dysregulated adults. Like so much of who we are, our ability to regulate our emotions is largely established in early childhood. Yes, you can build these skills throughout your life. But those of us lucky enough to learn the skills from adults in childhood have had a whole lifetime of practice. Adults with regulated emotions can appropriately express their emotions to others and can cope with emotions they are experiencing. They also know when to seek out help when coping with their emotions becomes overwhelming.
How To Build Emotional Regulation Skills
The younger the child, the more physical touch is necessary to help a child regulate. When an adult responds sensitively and gently to an upset child, they are co-regulating. Think about holding, swaddling, or patting a baby. These are physical interactions that regulate emotions. There is a connection between physical touch and easing emotional distress. Our bodies and our minds have never been separate. Toddlers still need hugs and need held, but they also start learning language and can be soothed by your words.
Children will find ways to communicate their own preference on what calms them down and how much interaction they want and need. You will be much more effective at supporting emotional regulation skills when you are tuned into what they need. Some toddlers want you near but do not want held.
An infant and toddler can only use self-soothing skills effectively when they have established trust that an adult will meet their needs. Self-soothing skills for very young children are meant to be a short-term comfort during moments when they have to wait for an adult. The older the child, the longer they can be expected to wait. I feel compelled to point out that this is not a linear skill development. A toddler who could be patient yesterday may struggle to wait today. There is a lot going on in their world that influences their ability to regulate.
How can I help you calm down?
What is inherent in all children is that they will always need a connection to the adults in order to regulate. Only once a fully developed adult (more like 25ish than 18ish) can a person regulate solo. And even then, we rely on loved ones and trusted professionals to guide us through regulating the biggest of emotions sometimes.
Inappropriate Emotional Regulation
Emotional catharsis can come in inappropriate forms like biting, hitting, kicking, or throwing. It is terrifying, but some children even self-harm by biting themselves or hitting their head. Safety for everyone is always first priority. There are developmentally appropriate alternatives such as screaming into a pillow, throwing a ball, or squeezing a toy tight. As children grow and develop, they will continue to learn new age-appropriate coping techniques with adult guidance. Be patient while teaching your child appropriate ways to handle their emotions. If you have serious concerns, reach out to your pediatrician or an early intervention service.
Consider Your Own Emotional Regulation Skills
A dysregulated adult is kind of terrible at helping children learn to regulate, to put it gently.
When little people are overwhelmed by big emotions, it’s our job to share our calm. Not join their chaos. L.R. Knost
Reflect on how much you might be contributing to your child’s chaos. I am not shaming. Life is hard and parenting is hard. But understanding toddler behavior means you have to appreciate how their feelings and behaviors are an extension of their favorite adults.
When you’re stressed or anxious, you are inherently not regulated. When you are upset, be intentional about modeling the regulation skills you want your children to develop. Yelling, slamming things, or holding in feelings until you suddenly blow up are not appropriate ways to express emotions. As adults, we definitely still display the behaviors that we desperately do not want our children to repeat.
A big step is to make it a habit to take a deep breath before connecting with a child who is feeling big emotions. This helps you begin to regulate your own emotions before tending to theirs. *Insert that overdone metaphor about oxygen on an airplane.*
Nature-Based Emotional Regulation
My deep-dive into eco-psychology and environmental psychology is only just beginning. But it has been established that time in nature promotes both physical and mental health. A goal of mine is not to just help families increase their overall wellness through nature, but also to realize that nature is crucial to our health. Nature can be so powerful for well-being that we need to ensure everyone has access to it.
Easy Ways To Use Nature For An Emotional Reset
Big breathes of fresh air – a big temperature contrast can be especially restorative to your senses
A change of environment can clear your mind
Once outside, check in with your senses. What do you see, smell, hear, feel?
Take a brisk walk for fresh air and body movement.
Nature As A Holistic Approach To Wellness
Make it part of your family’s regular experience with walks, hikes, camping, or time in a park. In those moments when you’re wondering what to do this weekend, pick time outdoors.
If you live in a place with seasons, make sure your children experience the outdoors in all types of weather. Remember: “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes.”
Draw your attention and your children’s attention to nature. Point out what you find interesting, talk about an article you read, acknowledge behaviors that are good or bad for the environment.
Eat foods closer to natural state. If I may toe the line of policing your diet, you should eat whole foods and avoid highly processed ones. They make you feel good because, well, nature.
Big Emotions
One key aspect of toddler emotional development is learning to cope with big emotions. Research gives us insight into how we can help toddler boys, in particular, learn emotional regulation}
If you are a parent of a young boy you know that, despite the cultural stereotypes, boys feel strong emotions just as much as girls. Unfortunately, in our society we often (perhaps unwittingly) encourage boys to hide their emotions or “be a man.” I think more awareness of this issue has emerged in recent years, but it is still an important topic to consider when thinking about toddlers’ emotional development. Helping young children understand and cope with big emotions is a key component of toddler development.
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Research on Toddler Emotional Development
New research is shedding light on the importance of helping young children, especially boys, learn how to cope with their powerful emotions. Researchers at the University of Illinois investigated how parents reacted to their toddlers’ negative emotions (e.g., anger and social fearfulness). Two possible parental reactions that were examined included:
minimizing the child’s emotions (e.g., saying, “stop acting like a baby”)
punishing the child for their emotional outburst (e.g., sent to room or having a toy taken away)
The results indicated a clear association between parents punishing their child for their emotions and a greater chance of the child being withdrawn or anxious at a later time point. Perhaps most importantly, this finding was stronger for little boys, especially those who experience more frequent negative emotions. Researchers point out that when parents punish children for negative feelings, they soon learn to hide their emotions and can become withdrawn or anxious. In other words, punishing big emotions doesn’t do anything to actually help toddlers’ emotional development.
As parents of young children, we deal with emotional toddlers every day. As an adult, this is mentally and emotionally taxing. Sometimes it may seem easier to punish or scold your child for his or her outburst rather than helping them cope with the emotions.
This research clearly shows, however, that remaining calm and talking with your child to help them understand their strong emotions will aid them more in the long term. Toddlers are sometimes overwhelmed by the strength of their emotions and they need our help. We have the opportunity (as challenging as it is) to model for them how to cope with difficult emotions–this is a key part of social and emotional development in early childhood.
How Can I Improve My Toddler’s Emotional Development?
In the heat of a tantrum, it’s often difficult to think about the best way to respond calmly to our toddlers. That’s why it’s often helpful to consider beforehand what your larger goals are for your child’s development. Keeping this big picture in mind is a useful approach in helping us prioritize how to handle day-to-day interactions.
For example, if we prioritize emotional development over blind compliance (and quiet) then we can help our kids learn the emotional regulation skills they need to cope with big emotions.
Here are a few ideas for how to foster emotional development in toddlers through daily interactions:
SET LIMITS ON BEHAVIORS, NOT EMOTIONS
This is one of the core facets of positive parenting that has been an “aha” moment for me. We can set firm limits on behavior while at the same time supporting kids’ emotional needs.
For example, we can tell our kids that it’s okay to be madat your sister for taking your toy, but we don’t hit each other.
You are allowing for their toddler emotions to be expressed (anger) but we are setting limits on inappropriate behavior (hitting). While subtle, this distinction can really help our kids understand that emotions are just emotions; they are part of the human experience. We can learn to cope with emotions in healthy ways, but they don’t have to control us.
FOCUS ON A TIME-IN RATHER THAN A TIME-OUT
Many parents trying to incorporate a more positive parenting approach have begun to use a time-in corner or calming corner. The idea of a time-in is that it gives the child a place and time to practice their own self-regulation.
BRIEF TODDLER STORY- We were at her at my friends home. She asked if she could play on the trampoline. I said no and explained that we only had a minute longer and I didn't want her clothes to get wet. It had just rained. All of a sudden I saw her head bopping up and down. So I headed to the backdoor, where I found every stitch of clothing that she had on, and she was on the trampoline buck naked...but not getting her clothes wet. She also got some needed time to unwind on the trampoline.
Kids need time in a Safe Space or Yes Space where every toy is developmentally safe and they can use them anyway they want...a place where there is no need for the word "no" or the ten ways to say no without ever actually saying "no".
So you, as parents and caregivers will always be the best judge as to the spot, the kind of toys and objects to put in there. Just make sure they are safe, easy, and interesting for them to work with independently. Cater to their likes and interests and make it a joyful spot.
A time-in spot (or calming corner) might have books about emotions, sensory items (stress ball, etc.) or other calming tools. In addition, you may have to practice with your child certain breathing techniques or exercises they can do to calm down during a time-in.
As parents, we often forget that young children don’t have the tools to cope with big emotions. We adults know that we need to go for a walk to blow off steam or go talk to a friend when we have a problem. Young children usually do not have these emotional tools in place…yet. Part of our job as parents is to help them build these skills to cope with big emotions in positive ways.
We can offer suggestions for how to cope with emotions that aren’t destructive: “you can ask for the toy back instead of hitting your sister.”
Other helpful calming techniques to foster toddler emotional development:
exercising to release stress and emotions: run outside, run up and down the stairs, etc.
reading books about emotions and coping techniques:
MOST IMPORTANTLY TAKE TIME TO RECONNECT
It may not seem like it to us, but toddlers’ big emotions kind of scare them at times. They feel out of control and sometimes don’t have enough emotional development to know how to calm themselves. We can step in and explain the emotions, “you were so sad when we had to leave grandma’s house.” Comforting a child during an emotional outburst isn’t “rewarding” their behavior. It’s simply offering them a way to regulate before they have the skills to do it all on their own.
Over time, this explanation of emotions will help build their understanding so that when they are more mature, they can calm themselves down. Your language and calming presence will eventually become their internal voice.
We all know that toddlers lose their cool easily. It’s part of being a little person learning to live in a big world that they don’t completely understand. This research on toddler emotional development reminds us once again that a calm, responsive approach to their big emotions is the way to their heart and mind. The more we can help them learn strategies to cope with big emotions, the more likely they will grow up to live a healthy emotional life.
Need more ideas for how to set boundaries with kids (while building emotional skills)? Read about these Positive Discipline Scripts to give you real-life examples:
Learn How To Set Boundaries and Build Emotional Skills ** PLUS you'll receive ongoing strategies for confidently nurturing your child's emotional development.
I did this before the start of the school year for the girls and then realized I needed to do it for myself. Making a list of what makes you happy allows you to go back to the list when you’re not. For some reason, the color yellow is making me happy lately. So I went out and bought 2 yellow shirts and wear them whenever I’m feeling down. As a matter of fact, I wore the same shirt 2 days in a row last week because I needed the color yellow in my line of sight. I didn’t care that it was dirty. I didn’t care that people may have noticed. It was what I needed and what I need is important.
AVOIDING SOCIAL MEDIA
Social media is a blessing and a curse. It makes it easy for us to stay connected but also exposes us to the negativity that lives and breeds on the internet. I’ve been staying off of social media more and more lately and I realize it’s making me happier. Sure, I miss some things but my well being is more important than being up to date on everyone all the time.
STOP TRYING TO DO IT ALL
As humans, we can’t do it all. It’s impossible. If we made a list of all the things we wanted and needed to do and then actually accomplished it, we’d only add more to the list.
Pick and choose what’s important to you and your family and do only those things first. Pass up on what’s not necessary during this time. It can be hard to let things slide and it may give you more work eventually (I’m specifically thinking of laundry).
However, your state of mind is more important than clean laundry. Remember that dirty shirt I wore two days in a row? That’s okay. Give yourself a break and some grace.
How to Get Energy Naturally and Quickly
You don’t have to go through your day feeling sluggish and worn down. You also don’t have to turn to unhealthy or unnatural energy boosters. With these tips, you can take advantage of natural energy boosters that will give you the pick-me-up you need in 10 minutes or less!
I also read that caffeine makes breastfeeding painful because it constricts your blood vessels. The pain may be sharp, shooting or stabbing. Yikes, we certainly don’t want that.
Personally, I’m not a big coffee or tea drinker simply because I want to adopt a healthier lifestyle. If you’re like me, here are a few caffeine-free alternatives for sleep-deprived mums:
Caffeine-free alternatives that are safe for both mum and baby
Water
You are like, what?! Water? But it’s true, dehydration can lead to fatigue. Increasing water consumption is especially important for breastfeeding mothers. You should aim to drink a big glass of water before and after every nursing session. It’s also calorie-free!
To make water more palatable, you can infuse it with lemon, cucumber, mint, strawberry or rosemary.
Bananas
Bananas are one of the best foods for energy. They are an excellent source of carbohydrates, potassium and vitamin B6, all of which can help boost energy levels in your body. That’s why many gym-goers have a banana before their workout.
Apples
I tend to reach for an apple as a snack. Apples can provide a slow and sustained energy release due to their rich content of natural sugars and fiber. It also contains a good number of vitamins and antioxidant. All good stuff for ourselves and babies!
Hummus
I love hummus! It’s a great source of energy and fiber. It is made with all-natural ingredients such as chickpeas, sesame seed paste, olive oil and lemon. The combination of these ingredients makes hummus a good source of energy.
It’s a bit of work but I prefer to make my own at home because the store-bought ones are quite expensive and may contain preservatives.
BRAND’S Essence of Chicken
You probably know this one from your school days when your mum tried to load you up during exam seasons. It turns out that our mums were right all along. BRAND’S Essence of Chicken is great for easing fatigue because of many reasons:
Better concentration
By now, you should have discovered that pregnancy brain tends to linger long after the actual pregnancy. Most new mums are just as forgetful as their pregnant counterparts. Maybe it’s due to hormonal changes, lack of sleep or maybe it’s a combination of both.
Whenever I find myself losing concentration, I reach for a bottle of BRAND’S Essence of Chicken. I’m not sure whether is a psychological effect, but I do feel better afterwards and able to carry on with the task at hand.
Studies show that BRAND’S Essence of Chicken improves blood flow to the brain, especially to the Prefrontal Cortex – the part of our brains which is responsible for problem-solving, decision making, attention, working memory and planning. More oxygen and nutrients in our blood to this are area = better concentration.
Studies have also shown that those who consumed BRAND’S Essence of Chicken for an extended amount of time were more alert and able to respond quicker than those who didn’t.
Having three kids and juggling work from home at the same time, I must say I’m pretty good at multi-tasking and switching between tasks efficiently.
Reduces tiredness
I sleep for an average of 6 hours every night. It’s not ideal but I’m glad that BRAND’S Essence of Chicken has helped to increase my metabolic rate, thus boosting my energy levels. This is similar to taking caffeine, without having the side effects.
It’s actually the opposite, drinking BRAND’S Essence of Chicken can help to manage stress levels and lowers stress hormones resulting in less anxiety!
Improved Quality of Breastmilk
Breastfeeding mums would love this one. Besides keeping you alert, BRAND’S® Essence of Chicken can also promote early milk secretion and improves milk production while maintaining your breastmilk quality. This benefits the overall immunity and gastrointestinal development of your baby.
More Eco-Friendly Living Tips
Now that you know how to get energy naturally, are you ready to discover even more excellent tips to live a more eco-friendly life? Check out some of our other popular posts:
Many parents trying to incorporate a more positive parenting approach have begun to use a time-in corner or calming corner. The idea of a time-in is that it gives the child a place and time to practice their own self-regulation.
Traditionally, a time-out is a time for kids to spend by themselves as sort of a punishment for misbehavior. In contrast, a time-in can be solitary or not but includes tools or practices for kids to learn to calm themselves.
What is Yes Space?
Let me define “yes space” for you:
A yes space is a spot in your home where you don’t say NO to a child for anything.
In order to not say no, we need to make sure everything in this yes room OR rie yes space is safe enough for the child.
So much so that you should be able to leave them by themselves in that place without you being worried about their safety.
So if it is a baby like a year or less than a-year-old, I would make sure that there no little objects, that can be swallowed by them.
Or if it’s a toddler I would not leave the electrical outlets open for them or I would not keep a chair or a couch in that area, so they don’t jump off it and hurt themselves and preferably a gated play area for toddlers.
These were just a couple of examples.
Basically, you need to create a safe play area where you can trust your child and let them be by themselves and not be worried about their safety.
Every family is going to have their own flavor for their yes space or calming corner.
For some people, it is going to be that child’s room or nursery where they have put up a baby gate and are comfortable with leaving their child in that room.
For others, it is a gated area in the living room, or it’s a home office turned it into a yes space.
I know some people who work from home with their children playing independently in their yes space. (And this idea is such an ideal scenario to me!)
It’s your comfort level and it’s your area also. Sometimes we get tired of imposing rules and telling them no in 10 different ways for their safety in the real world or and we get edgy. My daughter has a personality that she is always trying to find and explore "loopholes" rather than cooperating. It was cute and clever when she was little.
BRIEF TODDLER STORY- We were at her at my friends home. She asked if she could play on the trampoline. I said no and explained that we only had a minute longer and I didn't want her clothes to get wet. It had just rained. All of a sudden I saw her head bopping up and down. So I headed to the backdoor, where I found every stitch of clothing that she had on, and she was on the trampoline buck naked...but not getting her clothes wet. She also got some needed time to unwind on the trampoline.
Kids need time in a Safe Space or Yes Space where every toy is developmentally safe and they can use them anyway they want...a place where there is no need for the word "no" or the ten ways to say no without ever actually saying "no".
So you, as parents and caregivers will always be the best judge as to the spot, the kind of toys and objects to put in there. Just make sure they are safe, easy, and interesting for them to work with independently. Cater to their likes and interests and make it a joyful spot.
A time-in spot (or calming corner) might have books about emotions, sensory items (stress ball, etc.) or other calming tools. In addition, you may have to practice with your child certain breathing techniques or exercises they can do to calm down during a time-in.
As parents, we often forget that young children don’t have the tools to cope with big emotions. We adults know that we need to go for a walk to blow off steam or go talk to a friend when we have a problem. Young children usually do not have these emotional tools in place…yet. Part of our job as parents is to help them build these skills to cope with big emotions in positive ways.
We can offer suggestions for how to cope with emotions that aren’t destructive: “you can ask for the toy back instead of hitting your sister.”
Other helpful calming techniques to foster toddler emotional development:
exercising to release stress and emotions: run outside, run up and down the stairs, etc.
reading books about emotions and coping techniques:
MOST IMPORTANTLY TAKE TIME TO RECONNECT
It may not seem like it to us, but toddlers’ big emotions kind of scare them at times. They feel out of control and sometimes don’t have enough emotional development to know how to calm themselves. We can step in and explain the emotions, “you were so sad when we had to leave grandma’s house.” Comforting a child during an emotional outburst isn’t “rewarding” their behavior. It’s simply offering them a way to regulate before they have the skills to do it all on their own.
As a parent you give your children a good start in life—you nurture, protect and guide them. Parenting is a process that prepares your child for independence. As your child grows and develops, there are many things you can do to help your child. These links will help you learn more about your child’s development, positive parenting, safety, and health at each stage of your child’s life.
Information about developmental milestones and tips for things that parents can do to help their children during each stage
“Learn the Signs. Act Early” Program CDC’s “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” program aims to improve early identification of children with autism and other developmental disabilities so children and families can get the services and support they need.CDC has fact sheets, milestone checklists and products, brochures, and more in English, Spanish, simplified Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese.
Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) People with ADHD have trouble paying attention, controlling impulsive behaviors, and in some cases, are overly active. CDC has materials for families.
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) ASDs are a group of developmental disabilities that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. CDC has fact sheets, posters, a growth chart, and more in English and Spanish.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs) FASDs are a group of conditions that can include physical problems and problems with behavior and learning. CDC has materials in English and Spanish for families, health professionals, and others on FASDs.
Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is the most common known cause of inherited intellectual disability. CDC has materials in English and Spanish for families and researchers
Hearing Loss in Children A hearing loss can happen when any part of the ear is not working in the usual way. CDC has brochures, fact sheets, and other educational materials in English and Spanish for families and health professionals.
Hemophilia Hemophilia is an inherited bleeding disorder in which the blood does not clot properly. CDC has brochures, fact sheets, tips, and guides for families and health professionals.
Sickle Cell Disease Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of inherited red blood cell disorders. CDC has tip sheets for people living with sickle cell disease.
Spina Bifida Spina bifida is a major birth defect of a person’s spine. CDC has brochures, fact sheets, and other educational materials in English and Spanish.
Tourette Syndrome Tourette Syndrome causes people to have “tics”. Tics are sudden twitches, movements, or sounds that people do repeatedly. CDC has brochures, fact sheets, and other educational materials.
Health Information for Parents of Infants & Toddlers (Approximate Ages 0-3)
Being a parent or caregiver of a baby or a toddler can be both fun and hard work. If your child is age three or younger, this information is meant for you.
These links will help you learn how to give your child a healthy start to life.
The early years of a child’s life are very important for later health and development. One of the main reasons is how fast the brain grows starting before birth and continuing into early childhood. Although the brain continues to develop and change into adulthood, the first 8 years can build a foundation for future learning, health and life success.
How well a brain develops depends on many factors in addition to genes, such as:
Proper nutrition starting in pregnancy
Exposure to toxins or infections
The child’s experiences with other people and the world
Nurturing and responsive care for the child’s body and mind is the key to supporting healthy brain development. Positive or negative experiences can add up to shape a child’s development and can have lifelong effects. To nurture their child’s body and mind, parents and caregivers need support and the right resources. The right care for children, starting before birth and continuing through childhood, ensures that the child’s brain grows well and reaches its full potential. CDC is working to protect children so that their brains have a healthy start.
The importance of early childhood experiences for brain development
Children are born ready to learn, and have many skills to learn over many years. They depend on parents, family members, and other caregivers as their first teachers to develop the right skills to become independent and lead healthy and successful lives. How the brain grows is strongly affected by the child’s experiences with other people and the world. Nurturing care for the mind is critical for brain growth. Children grow and learn best in a safe environment where they are protected from neglect and from extreme or chronic stress with plenty of opportunities to play and explore.
Parents and other caregivers can support healthy brain growth by speaking to, playing with, and caring for their child. Children learn best when parents take turns when talking and playing, and build on their child’s skills and interests. Nurturing a child by understanding their needs and responding sensitively helps to protect children’s brains from stress. Speaking with children and exposing them to books, stories, and songs helps strengthen children’s language and communication, which puts them on a path towards learning and succeeding in school.
Exposure to stress and trauma can have long-term negative consequences for the child’s brain, whereas talking, reading, and playing can stimulate brain growth. Ensuring that parents, caregivers, and early childhood care providers have the resources and skills to provide safe, stable, nurturing, and stimulating care is an important public health goal.
When children are at risk, tracking children’s development and making sure they reach developmental milestones can help ensure that any problems are detected early and children can receive the intervention they may need.
Learn more about supporting early childhood experiences:
To learn and grow appropriately, a baby’s brain has to be healthy and protected from diseases and other risks. Promoting the development of a healthy brain can start even before pregnancy. For example, a healthy diet and the right nutrients like sufficient folic acid will promote a healthy pregnancy and a healthy nervous system in the growing baby. Vaccinations can protect pregnant women from infections that can harm the brain of the unborn baby.
During pregnancy, the brain can be affected by many types of risks, such as by infectious diseases like Cytomegalovirus or Zika virus, by exposure to toxins, including from smoking or alcohol, or when pregnant mothers experience stress, trauma, or mental health conditions like depression. Regular health care during pregnancy can help prevent complications, including premature birth, which can affect the baby’s brain. Newborn screening can detect conditions that are potentially dangerous to the child’s brain, like phenylketonuria (PKU).
Healthy brain growth in infancy continues to depend on the right care and nutrition. Because children’s brains are still growing, they are especially vulnerable to traumatic head injuries, infections, or toxins, such as lead. Childhood vaccines, such as the measles vaccine, can protect children from dangerous complications like swelling of the brain. Ensuring that parents and caregivers have access to healthy foods and places to live and play that are healthy and safe for their child can help them provide more nurturing care.
CDC is committed to supporting early brain health through evidence-based programs and partnerships within communities. Below are just a few examples of CDC programs that support early brain health:
Walk into any health store and you’ll see rows of supplements and drinks that say they can increase your energy. But you may be wondering how to get energy naturally and how to do it fast.
Taking care of the house. Working at your job. Running after your kids. Handling all your chores. You always have so much to do, and it feels like you never have enough time to do it. Especially if you’re tired.
Fortunately, there are several natural ways to increase energy. Read on to learn 10 tips on how to get energy naturally in just 10 minutes.
If you think yoga is only good for flexibility, think again. Studies have also shown that it improves posture, helps build strength, reduces stress, helps with breathing, can slow the heart rate, lower blood pressure, and even fight fatigue.
If you’re feeling tired, yoga is one of the natural ways to boost energy. A few quick poses that can restore energy naturally that you can try include the child’s pose, downward-facing dog, and upward salute.
You might already know that it’s easy to mistake hunger signals for thirst, but did you also know that sometimes fatigue is a sign of dehydration? If you’re feeling tired, a tall glass of water might be all you need to perk up again.
I admit I sometimes have a hard time remembering to drink enough water. That’s why I got this water bottle with time markers to make sure I’m hydrating enough throughout the day. Best of all? It’s glass, so I don’t have to worry about dealing with BPA or any other harmful chemicals from plastic.
I know I’m guilty of skipping breakfast if I’m feeling rushed in the morning and need to get out the door in a hurry. However, studies show that people who eat breakfast are in a better mood and have more energy throughout the day.
Of course, making sure you eat the RIGHT thing for breakfast is also important.
Yes, that pastry looks and tastes good, but that sweetness will only make your blood sugar spike before plummeting back down and leaving you feeling even more tired than before.
Instead, go for healthy and high-fiber foods, such as oatmeal, nut butter on whole grain bread, berries, or Greek yogurt.
I admit I love to sing. I also admit no one is going to be signing me to a record label any time soon. But that’s OK. I still run around the house singing the latest song stuck in my head.
It turns out that singing is helping me in multiple ways. Scientists say singing not only has a calming effect and is a natural antidepressant, but it’s also energizing. So if you’re feeling tired in the morning, don’t be afraid to belt out your favorite tune in the shower.
Of course, if you don’t want your coworkers giving you weird glances during the workday, you might want to leave your best performances for when you’re driving to and from work
5. Grab a Handful of Almonds
Sometimes you might be feeling lethargic because you’re low on some key vitamins and minerals. If you have a slight magnesium deficiency, you could find it difficult to get up and get moving.
Women should be getting around 300 milligrams of magnesium a day, and men should be consuming around 350 milligrams. If you’re feeling sluggish and want to make sure you’re getting enough magnesium, almonds and peanuts are natural energy boosters.
If you’re looking to make your almond snack as healthy and eco-friendly as possible, consider Almond Lane products. I like Almond Lane because the nuts are grown in California using sustainable growing practices and the company uses steam pasteurization instead of chemical pasteurization.
6. Go for a Quick Walk
Even though it seems like moving around when you’re tired is only going to make you more tired, the exact opposite is true. Increasing physical activity when you feel tired, especially by going for a walk, is one of the great natural ways to boost energy.
When you take a walk, your heart starts pumping oxygen-rich blood to your muscles and brain, which increases your energy. Even something as simple as a 10-minute brisk walk will help.
In fact, as a study done at California State University by Robert Thayer, PhD shows, not only did a vigorous 10-minute walk immediately increase energy, but the effects also lasted up to two hours after the walk was over. When participants in the study continued the daily 10-minute walks for three weeks, their overall mood and energy levels were also lifted.
Emotions and moods are contagious. Think about it for a second. When you’re around someone who’s negative and grumpy, you also feel like all your energy is sapped and you’re in the dumps. On the other hand, when you hang around happy and positive people, your energy levels can get a real lift.
If you’re feeling tired in the middle of the afternoon, give your upbeat friend a quick call and chat for a few minutes.
8. Have a Snack
Your brain and body need fuel to get up and get moving, and they get this fuel from food. When your blood sugar level starts to drop because you haven’t eaten in a while, you’ll begin to feel distracted and fuzzy.
That’s when you need to grab a snack. Snacks that have protein and slow-burning carbs, such as granola with berries or banana slices with nut butter, are an excellent option.
9. Sniff a Cinnamon Stick
Smell is an incredibly powerful sense that can actually influence brain activity. A quick sniff of a cinnamon stick can help reduce fatigue and make you feel more alert.
If you don’t have a cinnamon stick handy, look for a peppermint. The candy’s sweet and minty scent are said to be another great fatigue fighter.
Just a few minutes of walking outside in the sunshine can improve your memory, put you in a better mood, and give you a boost of energy. If you can’t squeeze a couple minutes to take a quick walk outside, at least stand next to a sunny window.
You don’t have to go through your day feeling sluggish and worn down. You also don’t have to turn to unhealthy or unnatural energy boosters. With these tips, you can take advantage of natural energy boosters that will give you the pick-me-up you need in 10 minutes or less!
I also read that caffeine makes breastfeeding painful because it constricts your blood vessels. The pain may be sharp, shooting or stabbing. Yikes, we certainly don’t want that.
Personally, I’m not a big coffee or tea drinker simply because I want to adopt a healthier lifestyle. If you’re like me, here are a few caffeine-free alternatives for sleep-deprived mums:
Caffeine-free alternatives that are safe for both mum and baby
Water
You are like, what?! Water? But it’s true, dehydration can lead to fatigue. Increasing water consumption is especially important for breastfeeding mothers. You should aim to drink a big glass of water before and after every nursing session. It’s also calorie-free!
To make water more palatable, you can infuse it with lemon, cucumber, mint, strawberry or rosemary.
Bananas
Bananas are one of the best foods for energy. They are an excellent source of carbohydrates, potassium and vitamin B6, all of which can help boost energy levels in your body. That’s why many gym-goers have a banana before their workout.
Apples
I tend to reach for an apple as a snack. Apples can provide a slow and sustained energy release due to their rich content of natural sugars and fiber. It also contains a good number of vitamins and antioxidant. All good stuff for ourselves and babies!
Hummus
I love hummus! It’s a great source of energy and fiber. It is made with all-natural ingredients such as chickpeas, sesame seed paste, olive oil and lemon. The combination of these ingredients makes hummus a good source of energy.
It’s a bit of work but I prefer to make my own at home because the store-bought ones are quite expensive and may contain preservatives.
BRAND’S Essence of Chicken
You probably know this one from your school days when your mum tried to load you up during exam seasons. It turns out that our mums were right all along. BRAND’S Essence of Chicken is great for easing fatigue because of many reasons:
Better concentration
By now, you should have discovered that pregnancy brain tends to linger long after the actual pregnancy. Most new mums are just as forgetful as their pregnant counterparts. Maybe it’s due to hormonal changes, lack of sleep or maybe it’s a combination of both.
Whenever I find myself losing concentration, I reach for a bottle of BRAND’S Essence of Chicken. I’m not sure whether is a psychological effect, but I do feel better afterwards and able to carry on with the task at hand.
Studies show that BRAND’S Essence of Chicken improves blood flow to the brain, especially to the Prefrontal Cortex – the part of our brains which is responsible for problem-solving, decision making, attention, working memory and planning. More oxygen and nutrients in our blood to this are area = better concentration.
Studies have also shown that those who consumed BRAND’S Essence of Chicken for an extended amount of time were more alert and able to respond quicker than those who didn’t.
Having three kids and juggling work from home at the same time, I must say I’m pretty good at multi-tasking and switching between tasks efficiently.
Reduces tiredness
I sleep for an average of 6 hours every night. It’s not ideal but I’m glad that BRAND’S Essence of Chicken has helped to increase my metabolic rate, thus boosting my energy levels. This is similar to taking caffeine, without having the side effects.
It’s actually the opposite, drinking BRAND’S Essence of Chicken can help to manage stress levels and lowers stress hormones resulting in less anxiety!
Improved Quality of Breastmilk
Breastfeeding mums would love this one. Besides keeping you alert, BRAND’S® Essence of Chicken can also promote early milk secretion and improves milk production while maintaining your breastmilk quality. This benefits the overall immunity and gastrointestinal development of your baby.
ON THE DAYS WHEN YOU DON’T WANT TO BE THE PARENT ANYMORE…
“Why does my child hate me?” “Will anything ever go right?” “I wish this was different.” “I just want to give up.” “I thought this would be better.” “Why is this so darn hard?” “I don’t want to do this anymore!” “Why isn’t this easy?” “Shouldn’t this be fun at least some of the time?” “I hate this life.” “Why did I have kids?”
This is a part of parenting people don’t want to talk about. How do you verbalize when your child is literally sucking the life (and the FUN!) out of you and your parenting journey with them?It’s almost like a secret club no one wants to belong to or even admit they’re in.
I TOTALLY GET IT.
I spent about 9 months feeling absolutely miserable and dreading every single day being a parent. Before you go and think this must have been before I was teaching parenting classes, no it wasn’t.
I felt this way last year.It was literally the hardest time of my entire life and that’s saying a lot.There are moments in every parent’s life where we just don’t want to be the parent anymore. It’s hard and tiring and thankless. By far, it’s the hardest job you’ll ever do. Mostly that’s because it takes a long time to see any reward for your effort.
Parenting can stink. When you throw daily tasks in the mix, it can make all of your life stink too. You keep your house semi-organized and clean, laundry is done, food is purchased, meals are cooked, and keep the kids alive. Doing all of this with your sanity intact can be a big feat some days.I want to start by saying every parent will go through a period where parenting just stinks. Everything is a phase and each phase comes and goes. It’s what we do during this phase that makes all the difference.What can you do when you don’t want to be the parent anymore?
These 12 ways will get you back on track when you don’t want to be the parent anymore.
PRACTICE SELF-CARE
9 times out of 10 if I’m feeling worn down it’s because I feel like I’m giving my all to the family and I don’t feel appreciated. (Lack of appreciation for your hard work is a whole other ball game and I’ll discuss it next.) If I’m doing things for myself it allows me to be filled up beyond needing anyone else’s appreciation and thanks. When I take good care of myself, it shows the entire family that I also matter.
We spend so much time doing things for everyone else and often we get left in the dust. Do things for yourself.
Go out to lunch with a friend, go for a walk, read a book, get your hair done, go on a trip, or stay in a hotel for a night. Sometimes self-care is hard for us to do. Women, especially, are hard-wired to be nurturing and take care of others. If we don’t have anything that belongs to just us, it’s easy to have resentment of the people who have things beyond their family.We begrudge the mom who has the family to watch her kids so she can get out for a run or we grumble over the woman who hires a sitter so she can go shopping. But here’s the truth: we often resent them because we don’t feel we can do those things for ourselves.
Now, I do know some people don’t have access to babysitters or have family available to help (or you don’t want them to!). In those cases, find a good friend to switch services with. If you have a child you know when another child comes over it is often more helpful. It changes the dynamic in your house, the kids stay busy, they usually don’t fight because they’re not kids who are always together, and they’re happy to be together.Take the leap and schedule something for yourself.
2. RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS
Our family has committed to doing Random Acts of Kindness every month. The most important thing it has taught our kids is appreciation. Appreciation for what they have and what we get to do as a family. It helps to reinforce why it’s important to think of others. You can follow along with our monthly Random Acts of Kindness and find a list of Random Acts of Kindness your own kids can do.
3. DO LESS FOR YOUR FAMILY
I know this may sound funny to read. Often we spend every day making sure every person in the house has what they need to be complete and happy. While that is a great thing to do, it’s not helping anyone in the long run and it drains YOU.
When kids need to do things for themselves, they tend to get more organized and be more responsible. Kids rise to our expectations. Give them responsibility and teach them how to handle it.
Here’s a true story: A few weeks ago, the girls were all running around the house before school. They were playing, screaming, and not getting ready. It was 7:50 am and lunches weren’t made. I love when our kids laugh and play together. I like it even more if they do it after they’re ready so it doesn’t prevent them from getting ready. I called them all into the family room and once they all finally trickled in I let them know we need to leave every morning at 8 am. Then I told them they had 10 minutes to finish getting dressed and make their own lunches. If they were late to school they would have to let the office know why.If Matt isn’t traveling he tends to make their lunches. He loves doing this for them and I think it’s almost a way for him to better connect with them when he’s home. If we’re running late and it’s my fault, I will always make their lunch and help them get ready. However, Matt was out of town and since they were choosing to run around and play, I wasn’t about to spend time making their lunches for them when I was still getting ready. I left the room to finish getting what I needed for the day.
We spend every night getting ready for a successful morning so I knew their school bags were packed. I knew they could pack their own lunches and I knew leaving at 8 am gave us a good cushion to get to school if they were still running late or if there was traffic.
Our kids moved like they have never moved before. They worked together to get their lunches packed, school bags loaded up in the car, and grab breakfast. Someone even took the dog out before we left. We made it to school in plenty of time and the rest of the week they played after we were completely ready for school.
4. MAKE CHANGES TO YOUR PRIORITIES FOR A WHILE
I had to put my business on hold. I had to step back and realize it could wait. When I slow down publishing blog posts and teaching courses it means I am working hard to keep my family at the forefront.
My work is the easiest part of my life that I can put on hold and it allows me to step back and take care of myself. It gave me more time for self-care and allowed me to work harder on connecting with them.
5. CONNECT WITH YOUR FAMILY
Connecting with your family is tricky when you don’t want to do it. When you’re exhausted from being a parent and a partner, you don’t feel like you have anything left to give at the end of the day.
This is when it’s important to connect in a way that is fun.The truth is if you are feeling disconnected from your family, they’re also feeling disconnected from you. This disconnect is a vicious cycle that continues until someone breaks it. We can’t expect our kids to know how to break it (they’re kids after all!) so it needs to be us. We need to be the adults.I like to do individual dates with the kids or do a fun family outing that is low stress. For me, I prefer going to a park. I try to find a park we haven’t been to before and we take the whole family there. Because it’s a new park to us, there won’t be as many complaints because it’s exciting to explore. I unplug during this time (I actually leave my phone in the car) and just focus on playing and having fun. I go down the slides and swing on the swings. I teach my kids how to swing on the monkey bars and watch as they climb everything in sight.When I let go and focus on the fun, it automatically connects us.
6. GET TOGETHER WITH FRIENDS
When I get overwhelmed it’s easy to close myself in and not want to go out and do things and see people. While this feels good in the moment, it truly fills my soul to spend time with other people. If you’re unable to physically get out of the house to see someone, use the phone. The phone is a great way to connect with the sanity of friendship. You could even invite your children’s friends and parents around to your house. Have the children play out in the garden, any babies or toddlers could play on a baby swing whilst the parents are talking. (See the babygearspecialist.com list of the best outdoor baby swings) This would help you to stop thinking about your children in a negative way as you will be with your child’s friends as well as yours.
7. MAKE A LIST OF WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY
I did this before the start of the school year for the girls and then realized I needed to do it for myself. Making a list of what makes you happy allows you to go back to the list when you’re not. For some reason, the color yellow is making me happy lately. So I went out and bought 2 yellow shirts and wear them whenever I’m feeling down. As a matter of fact, I wore the same shirt 2 days in a row last week because I needed the color yellow in my line of sight. I didn’t care that it was dirty. I didn’t care that people may have noticed. It was what I needed and what I need is important.
8. BETTER HEALTH
When I eat junk, I feel like junk. It tastes great in the moment but then I feel terrible for days. It’s time I focus on fueling my body just like I teach the kids it’s important to do. This also includes working out. I’ll be honest, I hate working out. When I do it I can get into a good habit but generally, I hate it. I hate getting sweaty and dirty and having to wash my hair every day. But again, just like I tell my kids, sometimes we have to do things we hate to make ourselves better. In this case, I try to go for a bike ride at least once a week. I ride about 6-8 miles, either alone or with friends, and while my legs feel like jelly afterward, it really gets my blood pumping and endorphins running.
9. OUTSIDE INTERESTS
I feel smothered when I don’t have anything going on outside of my family. I’m introverted so that means I recharge by being alone. However, I need to do activities and have interests that I don’t share with anyone else. I share almost every aspect of my life with my family: bike riding, sewing, watching tv, reading, hiking, cooking, playing with the dog, etc. It’s important I keep some things to myself. This is why I belong to a book club and volunteer at school and in our community. It gives me something I don’t have to share with them and allows me to keep my identity intact. I am not just a mother and wife. I am a person.
10. AVOIDING SOCIAL MEDIA
Social media is a blessing and a curse. It makes it easy for us to stay connected but also exposes us to the negativity that lives and breeds on the internet. I’ve been staying off of social media more and more lately and I realize it’s making me happier. Sure, I miss some things but my well being is more important than being up to date on everyone all the time.11. SLEEPLack of sleep is a huge trigger for me. If I feel tired I snap quicker at my kids. My bad mood can spiral faster than a balloon can float away from a little kid with a loose grip. I try my hardest to get into bed by 9pm and fall asleep by 10. This doesn’t always happen. My ADHD makes it difficult for my brain to shut down so I work extra hard to help myself fall asleep. Still, getting into bed (without a device like my phone or iPad) helps me get a head start.
12. STOP TRYING TO DO IT ALL
As humans, we can’t do it all. It’s impossible. If we made a list of all the things we wanted and needed to do and then actually accomplished it, we’d only add more to the list.
Pick and choose what’s important to you and your family and do only those things first. Pass up on what’s not necessary during this time. It can be hard to let things slide and it may give you more work eventually (I’m specifically thinking of laundry).
However, your state of mind is more important than clean laundry. Remember that dirty shirt I wore two days in a row? That’s okay. Give yourself a break and some grace.
It’s also important for us to evaluate our definition of parenting. Parenting isn’t doing the laundry or cooking dinner. Those are things we do because we’re adults, but they aren’t actual parenting.
Parenting is how we treat our children. It’s teaching them instead of punishing them. It’s giving them hugs and kisses before bedtime. It’s making them feel safe after they have a bad dream. It’s helping to patch up boo boos. Parenting is love.
Parenthood can easily squeeze the life out of you. Our sweet children can easily make us feel worthless and make us dread each and every day.
While this post doesn’t address how to get THEM back on track, it does focus on how to get yourself back on track. Taking care of yourself is the best thing you can ever do for yourself and your children.
More Eco-Friendly Living Tips
Now that you know how to get energy naturally, are you ready to discover even more excellent tips to live a more eco-friendly life? Check out some of our other popular posts:
I thought it would be easy for you to have a ton of the fabulous and fun baby play ideas all in one spot - Activities for Babies below. (These appear in random order.)
as well as hopefully introduce you to some great baby (and toddler and preschooler) play bloggers! For each site you'll see one representative photo, links to that blogger's top five favorite baby play activities, and you'll also find a link to their complete baby play archive. We've got all the bases covered - lots of great DIY sensory ideas, baby safe sensory bins, even baby friendly paint recipes! There are so many clever and creative ways to play with babies here - I have so enjoyed seeing the inquisitive and curious looks on all their tiny faces as I compiled this list!
I have seen lots of new moms struggle with which activities are suggested for their childs age, So, I decided to compile this helpful guide to share different activities for infants and toddlers that are mom tested and baby approved. If you stay at home with your child like I do, the days can seem to drag along. Hopefully these ideas are helpful and educational! Remember that just because something is listed for a certain age, doesn’t mean it isn’t beneficial for other ages as well!
Activities for 0-3 Months
Go for a walk outdoors. My baby did not like to be laid down, so I wore him in a carrier all the time. Babywearing is great for your baby to get tummy time practice and still be close to you. You can do things with your hands, and your arms won’t get tired from holding a sleeping baby in one position. You can also take your baby for a walk in a stroller. It is nice to get some exercise and fresh air.
Tummy time is great for building your newborns’ neck and head muscles. My baby didn’t love laying on his belly, but most babies love to lay on their parents’ chests. You can put a fun toy in front of your baby to give them something to look at while they practice.
Nurtured noggins has wonderful ideas for activities for infants.
Talk to your newborn about what you are doing throughout the day.
Activities for 4-6 Months
Build a fort with your furniture, pillows, and blankets. My baby loved doing this on the bed with his dad. It is so fun at any age to hide under a homemade tent and play.
Lay on a play mat with hanging toys. This wooden play gym is the perfect, non-toxic set up that you can move anywhere in the house for entertainment.
Babies love wrist rattles like the ones I put in my guest post on the best baby and toddler gift ideas. It is so cute to see your baby shake them and make their own music.
My baby loved plastic bag painting. We put a canvas inside a bag with different colors of paint, and he kicked and hit it creating his first piece of art. We still have it in his room hanging, and he loves to look at it and feel the texture now as a toddler.
Find some paper, and let your baby tear away! It was right around this age for my baby’s first Christmas, and he loved opening the wrapping paper more than the gifts themselves.
Shine a flashlight in a dark room. A lot of time is spent sleeping these days, so make light of it before a nap or bedtime. Your baby will love seeing the shadows and exploring light and dark.
Activities for 7-9 Months
Blow bubbles! This is one of the most fun and simple activities for infants and toddlers. You can find bubbles for a dollar at dollar tree or make your own. Bubbles provide amusement for days as your child will love to watch them float around.
Look in the mirror together. Your baby will get a kick out of seeing his/her reflection. Although, at this stage he/she probably won’t recognize the image as being his/her self. It is fun to make silly faces or play peek a boo.
Look at pictures of familiar faces. You can create your own cards by printing photos of your family members and friends. Then, I would suggest laminating them, because we all know how much babies love to put everything in their mouths. Plus, this helps keep the pictures from being torn or soaked with water. You can even take it a step further by gluing them to card stock, so they will be nice and firm to resist being bent.
Play with the steering wheel or explore in the car. This remains one of my toddlers favorite activities. Any time we are in the car, he likes to navigate through the back seat and press all of the buttons.
Look out the window. You can talk to your baby about what you see. They will love seeing birds, cars, people, and more! Sometimes they may even catch their reflection on the glass.
Roll a ball back and forth. This is one of the activities for infants and toddlers that helps their gross motor skills and hand eye coordination. My toddler giggles when we play with balls as they are his favorite.
Activities for 10-12 Months
Put balls in a muffin tin (teaches one to one correspondence). This activity can be done with any small balls you have. Most people should be able to find a muffin tin in their kitchens. If you don’t have one, children love to play with anything you have that isn’t a toy. My baby loves to play with bowls and spoons, pounding on them to make noise or rolling his ball around inside. Some of the best activities for infants and toddlers are just talking to them and involving them in your everyday activities.
Velcropuff ball activity: I love this idea! I found it when creating this blog, and it sounds so fun and easy. You just need velcro and puff balls, and your baby can enjoy sticking the puff balls on the velcro and pulling them off.Pull your baby around in a basket. The majority of people have laundry baskets in their homes. It isn’t the most comfortable for the parent, but babies get a kick of riding around the house in a basket. If you don’t have a basket you could use a large box.
Buy some magnets and let your baby place them on the refrigerator. My mom made DIY magnets by gluing little magnets on wooden animals from a craft store. Then, she put them in a metal container to carry for on the go enjoyment. This can be handy for road trips or while running errands to keep your child busy even at an older age.
Stacking games are great and can be done with everyday household objects like cups and bowls. Here is a post that talks about all of the benefits of these activities for infants and toddlers.
Create an obstacle course for your baby with pillows. He/she can have a great time just crawling over and around the mounds.
Activities For One Year Olds
Read board books. In my opinion this is one of the most beneficial activities for infants and toddlers, better yet children of all ages. We love to borrow books from our library. At this age I’ve found that board books are best, so you don’t have to worry about the pages getting torn. My toddler loves reading this book.
Play on the playground. Children need to spend time outdoors and get all of their energy out. This is one of the essential everyday activities for infants and toddlers. You should be able to find a playground near you that you can visit for free and your toddler can climb to his/her heart’s content!
Go on a walk in the stroller. If you don’t have a stroller, find a trail near you and let your toddler run around! They will love to explore nature and have the freedom without being told not to get into things they don’t belong in.
Dance! Put on some music and sing along. You can even dance without any music. Make up motions and sing nursery rhymes.
Make animal noises. My toddler is obsessed with all things animals. He loves to say the noises and sing old mc donald. These cards include amazing photos of animals.
Talk about body parts and get your child to point to them. It is never to early to practice naming different body parts. Toddlers love to show their smarts. Some of the best activities for infants and toddlers just require you being present, interacting, and engaging with your child.
Water play outside with bowls, spoons, and things to scoop. They can also have a fun time playing in the bath tub or sink with water. We got our toddler a water table that is great for all kinds of sensory play.
Tape streamers across the hallway. This is such an easy activity that you can throw together in a minute. Perfect for long rainy days stuck indoors or if you need to keep your toddler occupied for a little while. If you want to live on the wild side give them the streamer roll.
Poke a hole in a box and put ribbon through it for your toddler to pull. It will be exciting for them to see how much ribbon continues to come out. Have fun with these activities for infants and toddlers creating new games.
Create a DIY felt peekaboo house. This is such a cute idea. Similar to the familiar faces book I discussed earlier, except this plays on how much children love peek a boo. Your toddler should enjoy getting to open and close the felt flaps.
Make a ramp out of a book. We need to try this activity. I’m sure my toddler would have a lot of fun watching different toys roll and slide down differently. As you can see, a lot of activities for infants and toddlers don’t require that you buy a ton of toys.
I’m not sure how this DIY ball drop would hold up to my rough toddler. I tried creating something similar before, and he just ripped it off the wall. Ideally this would be a fun activity where your child can drop balls down a cardboard tube.
My toddler loves to just play in giant boxes that we get deliveries in. He drags them around, crawls inside, and has pretend play for days. This is one of the easiest activities for infants and toddlers.
We got this butcher paper and these non-toxic crayons. You can tape the butcher paper to the floor or a table. It is great to use for all art activities and coloring. This is a great open ended option on this list of activities for infants and toddlers.
Another activity I plan to try with my toddler that I think he would enjoy involves construction and contact paper. Your toddler can tear the construction paper and stick it to the contact paper to create their own work of art.
Here is a list of amazing montessori activities that are perfect for toddlers.
Activities For Two Year Olds
I plan to make this gluten and dye free playdough with my toddler. Clay is also great for molding and building your child’s fine motor skills. I love the activities for infants and toddlers that you can do with everyday items you have on hand at home.
This DIY feelings board book is so helpful for children at this age when they are dealing with so many big feelings frequently. It will be fun to make and get your child to pose for the photos. Then, you can refer back to it to help your child be able to recognize and label their feelings.
Create homemade nontoxic paint to finger paint with. My toddler would love the sensory experience. Your child will also have the piece of art that they make to cherish and be proud of.
Practice counting things around you. The more you expose your child to number the more comfortable they will be. This teaches them basic math skills through their natural environment. This is another one of the activities for infants and toddlers that can grow with your child.
Help clean up and organize. At this age children love to be involved and mimic what the adults around them do. Use this to your advantage and make cleaning a game.
Look at family photos. Children love to see themselves and look back on family memories. These activities for infants and toddlers are fun for the whole family. It’s nice to remember the past and review photos together.
Sticker sorting is your go to quick and easy activity for toddlers. You just need paper and an assortment of related stickers. This allows your child to practice classifying and grouping colors or whatever you choose to sort the sticker by.
Sticker line up is a fun activity for your toddler to hone in on their fine motor skills placing the sticker in a line.
Sensory Activities from Newborn to Early Toddlerhood
Baby sensory activities do not have to be elaborate or even messy. Parents and caretakers can take a developmentally appropriate activity and turn it into a wondrous sensory play experience.
Babies and young toddlers are in a stage of play developmentwhere the goal is to learn about their bodies and environment through the sense. Basically, everything is sensory play.
Take time to appreciate how small changes to tummy time or an extra few minutes at a meal can be turned into sensory play. That means do not spend too much time planning or setting up sensory experiences. In fact, most of these sensory activities are no mess, no fuss.
At What Age Should You Start Sensory Play?
Sensory play activities can start when a baby is born. For newborns and very young infants, sensory play activities are very simple, such as touching the fabric of their clothing or listening to a parent sing. Most babies will seek the sensory experience of feeling their caregiver’s skin and warmth.
Even mouthing toys is a sensory activity for babies. Babies love to put things in their mouths because while they do not have great control of their hands and fingers to explore, they can use all the nerves in their mouths.
Sensory activities will become more complex as a baby gets older.
How To Do Sensory Play With Babies?
Sensory play for babies is honestly super simple. Start with a developmentally-appropriate activity (hint: it isn’t screen time).
Next, think about how that activity could stimulate one or more senses.
Here is where I need to mention that there are two more senses: vestibular and proprioceptive, in addition to the 5 senses of smell, taste, touch, hearing, and sight. I still love to geek out on that.
Then consider the individual interests and skills of your baby. Adjust the experience to meet your baby’s interests or connect to their current learning.
Are they starting to roll over?
Do they love to shake toys or crinkle paper?
Do they dislike getting wet?
Have they started trying new foods?
Find a sensory activity that your baby adores. You can feel confident in doing that activity over and over again. As your baby develops new skills, you can modify the activity. If your baby is engaged, they will keep learning each time.
Always, always supervise babies during sensory play. Babies are constantly learning and developing new skills. You might not be able to anticipate how a baby will engage with a particular material.
Hang Loofahs For Kicking, Pulling, Swiping, Swinging
Hang loofahs of different sizes and colors from a baby play gym. Your baby can reach out to touch the unique textures. They can also use their legs to kick the loofahs and watch them swing.
Senses: sight, touch, vestibular, proprioceptive
Sticky, Tacky Contact Paper
Use masking tape to tape squares of contact paper to the floor, wall, or highchair tray. Let your baby explore the stickiness with their hands or with toys, pieces of fabric, felt, or ribbons.
Create a tummy-time space on the floor with layers of blankets and pillows. Babies can explore each item’s different colors, textures, and weight. Babies who are rolling or starting to crawl can work around the lumps of pillows. Adjust the space if your baby seems overly frustrated or tired trying to move around.
Senses: touch, sight, vestibular, proprioceptive
Exploring Weather: Step Outdoors In The Wind, Rain, Snow, Humidity, Or Fog
Senses: touch, smell, hearing, sight
Bubbles
Expert Tip: You can avoid getting lightheaded, out-of-breath by investing in a bubble machine.
Senses: sight, touch
Wet + Dry Sponges
Offer your baby two or more sponges, some wet and some dry. They can explore the different sensations of wet versus dry. You can also put a small amount of water on a tray and offer your baby a dry sponge that will slowly soak up the water.
Senses: sight, touch, taste, proprioceptive
8 To 14 Months (Sitting, Crawling, Cruising, Walking)
Exploring Temperatures
Touching cold windows
2 sensory bottles – one with ice water and one with warm water
Chilling teething toys or ice packs in the fridge
Water play with two trays of different water temperatures
Offer your baby a cup of cool water to pour while they are in the bathtub
Cut out 12″ by 12″ squares of contact paper and bubble wrap. Tape each square to the floor with masking tape. Encourage your baby to crawl or walk across the different materials. For a sensory bonus, do the activity barefoot.
Once your baby can sit up, it’s safe to slowly introduce drinking from an open cup. This is a great learning experience and a sensory activity all in one. For more sensory play, give your baby a dry washcloth that they can use to start wiping up spills.
Senses: taste, touch, proprioceptive
Exploring Light + Shadow
Rope lights or string lights
Children’s flashlights
Cover lamps with scarves
Translucent objects
Reflective objects
Explore shadows outdoors during dusk or nighttime
Senses: sight, touch
Goofy Moves
Encourage your baby to roll, dance, or turn upside down. Or you can gently perform these moves with your baby.
Spinning
Upside down
Rocking
Swinging
Rolling
Senses: vestibular, proprioceptive
Under + Through
If you don’t have a pop-up tunnel, you can create your own with chairs or by draping blankets.
A great way to incorporate sensory play into your home is by using loose parts. Exploring objects is an engaging, developmentally appropriate sensory activity during a baby’s first year.
Loose parts are items that babies can safely manipulate, mouth, and explore. Objects with various textures, colors, weights, and sounds create a sensory experience.
Many of the activities above could fall into loose parts play. Still, I want to highlight some of my favorite loose parts materials for babies.
Themed Treasure Baskets (find ideas in the ultimate guide linked below)
Fabric: scarves, felt pieces, fabric squares
Shaker Bottles: made with plastic bottles or empty spice bottles
Bangle Bracelets
Cardboard + Felt Cutouts
Lids + Containers
Cookie Cutters
Cooking Utensils
Sponges + Loofahs
Coasters
Why Babies Need Sensory Play
Sensory play is an essential part of development for babies. Young children need to experience the world through the senses to develop their motor skills, sensory processing, and cognition skills. For babies, sensory activities are an introduction to emergent science skills.
As a parent you give your children a good start in life—you nurture, protect and guide them. Parenting is a process that prepares your child for independence. As your child grows and develops, there are many things you can do to help your child. These links will help you learn more about your child’s development, positive parenting, safety, and health at each stage of your child’s life.
Information about developmental milestones and tips for things that parents can do to help their children during each stage
“Learn the Signs. Act Early” Program CDC’s “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” program aims to improve early identification of children with autism and other developmental disabilities so children and families can get the services and support they need.CDC has fact sheets, milestone checklists and products, brochures, and more in English, Spanish, simplified Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese.
Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) People with ADHD have trouble paying attention, controlling impulsive behaviors, and in some cases, are overly active. CDC has materials for families.
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) ASDs are a group of developmental disabilities that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. CDC has fact sheets, posters, a growth chart, and more in English and Spanish.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs) FASDs are a group of conditions that can include physical problems and problems with behavior and learning. CDC has materials in English and Spanish for families, health professionals, and others on FASDs.
Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is the most common known cause of inherited intellectual disability. CDC has materials in English and Spanish for families and researchers
Hearing Loss in Children A hearing loss can happen when any part of the ear is not working in the usual way. CDC has brochures, fact sheets, and other educational materials in English and Spanish for families and health professionals.
Hemophilia Hemophilia is an inherited bleeding disorder in which the blood does not clot properly. CDC has brochures, fact sheets, tips, and guides for families and health professionals.
Sickle Cell Disease Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of inherited red blood cell disorders. CDC has tip sheets for people living with sickle cell disease.
Spina Bifida Spina bifida is a major birth defect of a person’s spine. CDC has brochures, fact sheets, and other educational materials in English and Spanish.
Tourette Syndrome Tourette Syndrome causes people to have “tics”. Tics are sudden twitches, movements, or sounds that people do repeatedly. CDC has brochures, fact sheets, and other educational materials.
Health Information for Parents of Infants & Toddlers (Approximate Ages 0-3)
Being a parent or caregiver of a baby or a toddler can be both fun and hard work. If your child is age three or younger, this information is meant for you.
These links will help you learn how to give your child a healthy start to life.
The early years of a child’s life are very important for later health and development. One of the main reasons is how fast the brain grows starting before birth and continuing into early childhood. Although the brain continues to develop and change into adulthood, the first 8 years can build a foundation for future learning, health and life success.
How well a brain develops depends on many factors in addition to genes, such as:
Proper nutrition starting in pregnancy
Exposure to toxins or infections
The child’s experiences with other people and the world
Nurturing and responsive care for the child’s body and mind is the key to supporting healthy brain development. Positive or negative experiences can add up to shape a child’s development and can have lifelong effects. To nurture their child’s body and mind, parents and caregivers need support and the right resources. The right care for children, starting before birth and continuing through childhood, ensures that the child’s brain grows well and reaches its full potential. CDC is working to protect children so that their brains have a healthy start.
The importance of early childhood experiences for brain development
Children are born ready to learn, and have many skills to learn over many years. They depend on parents, family members, and other caregivers as their first teachers to develop the right skills to become independent and lead healthy and successful lives. How the brain grows is strongly affected by the child’s experiences with other people and the world. Nurturing care for the mind is critical for brain growth. Children grow and learn best in a safe environment where they are protected from neglect and from extreme or chronic stress with plenty of opportunities to play and explore.
Parents and other caregivers can support healthy brain growth by speaking to, playing with, and caring for their child. Children learn best when parents take turns when talking and playing, and build on their child’s skills and interests. Nurturing a child by understanding their needs and responding sensitively helps to protect children’s brains from stress. Speaking with children and exposing them to books, stories, and songs helps strengthen children’s language and communication, which puts them on a path towards learning and succeeding in school.
Exposure to stress and trauma can have long-term negative consequences for the child’s brain, whereas talking, reading, and playing can stimulate brain growth. Ensuring that parents, caregivers, and early childhood care providers have the resources and skills to provide safe, stable, nurturing, and stimulating care is an important public health goal.
When children are at risk, tracking children’s development and making sure they reach developmental milestones can help ensure that any problems are detected early and children can receive the intervention they may need.
Learn more about supporting early childhood experiences:
To learn and grow appropriately, a baby’s brain has to be healthy and protected from diseases and other risks. Promoting the development of a healthy brain can start even before pregnancy. For example, a healthy diet and the right nutrients like sufficient folic acid will promote a healthy pregnancy and a healthy nervous system in the growing baby. Vaccinations can protect pregnant women from infections that can harm the brain of the unborn baby.
During pregnancy, the brain can be affected by many types of risks, such as by infectious diseases like Cytomegalovirus or Zika virus, by exposure to toxins, including from smoking or alcohol, or when pregnant mothers experience stress, trauma, or mental health conditions like depression. Regular health care during pregnancy can help prevent complications, including premature birth, which can affect the baby’s brain. Newborn screening can detect conditions that are potentially dangerous to the child’s brain, like phenylketonuria (PKU).
Healthy brain growth in infancy continues to depend on the right care and nutrition. Because children’s brains are still growing, they are especially vulnerable to traumatic head injuries, infections, or toxins, such as lead. Childhood vaccines, such as the measles vaccine, can protect children from dangerous complications like swelling of the brain. Ensuring that parents and caregivers have access to healthy foods and places to live and play that are healthy and safe for their child can help them provide more nurturing care.
CDC is committed to supporting early brain health through evidence-based programs and partnerships within communities. Below are just a few examples of CDC programs that support early brain health:
