Dealing with high need babies
High need babies are wired differently than other babies; they
seem to be worried, intense, and easily overstimulated from birth.
If you have a high need baby, in this section we show you ways to
love your baby and take care of yourself.
Recognizing high need characteristics
Some parents think they have a baby with high needs until they
meet other parents who really do! Here are some common charac-
teristics that set high need babies apart from other babies:
-
They are intense.
-
They have high energy levels.
-
They nurse frequently, sometimes several times an hour.
-
They need to be held and comforted a lot.
-
They are highly sensitive.
-
They awaken frequently.
-
They are demanding.
-
They refuse to be left alone in a car seat, swing, or bouncer.
Loving a high need baby
If you have figured out that yours truly is a high need baby, you
need a change of perspective: Try to consider yourself blessed to
have such a special baby! The situation doesn’t have to be nega-
tive. These babies are definitely challenging, but they are easy to
love if you let go of expectations you may have about how your
baby “should” be. Your relationship with your high need baby can
bring out the best in both of you.Healing Your Baby’s Skin
Babies are prone to dry skin because their oil-producing glands
aren’t fully developed yet. Frequent bathing, dry air, static electric-
ity, and harsh detergents can also contribute to dry skin.
If your baby has dry skin, you can use massage as an opportunity
to rehydrate your baby’s skin. Here’s how:
-
Massage your baby after bathing. Be sure to keep your bath
time short; the hot water could be drying out your baby’s skin.
-
Use only 100 percent natural oils (see Chapter 4), which will
not affect your baby’s sensitive skin.
-
If your baby’s skin is very dry, consider massaging him with oil
twice a day. Even if you are short on time, you can do this by
incorporating massage on the changing table (see Chapter 10).
Following are a few additional ways to protect your baby’s skin:
-
Use only gentle baby soaps and shampoos on your baby’s
skin. You may also want to switch to a mild laundry detergent.
-
Run a humidifier during the winter months. The extra moisture
will not only help your baby’s skin but may also prevent her
from catching a cold.
-
Nurse your baby frequently. If you are formula-feeding your
baby, you may need to give her a daily water bottle.
-
If you are a breastfeeding mother, try increasing the Omega 3
fatty acids in your diet, which are found in salmon, flax seed
oil, canola oil, or supplements