Comforting an Uncomfortable Baby

You know your baby the best, we want to encourage you to remember that sometimes learning new skills is challenging and takes time, perseverance, and sometimes resistance and tears.

Not all babies will be calm and relaxed in the water from the get go. It doesn’t necessarily mean that your child doesn’t like being in the water.

Consider all factors when a baby is resisting the water or these exercises. Could baby be upset due to being: hungry, tired, uncomfortable with the way water feels in their ears, having an off day and wants to be cuddled, do they feel fear or anxiety you may have, is the water or room temperature too hot or too cold, are they teething or just plain having a bad day, are they ready for a different position, toy or a new song?

Don’t give up if baby really protests the first time, or even the second… Children need to try something new 4 times before it becomes something that is familiar for them. Evaluate the situation and try again at a different time. If you are nursing and feel like baby is hungry or needs comfort, nursing in the bath can be a good option as it is soothing and comforting. Some babies will need further encouragement to really enjoy the water. Making it a positive experience with fun toys, soothing songs and a solid routine, these parent and baby sessions can help baby become more relaxed and eventually enjoy being in the water. While it may be hard at first, stick with it, it will be worth it in the end!