We all know that babies could be difficult to understand in the first few months of their life because they still could not talk and would only cry for just about anything they need or want. Babies cry because they are hungry, feeling hot, feeling sick, afraid, need a diaper change or if they want to be picked up. Sometimes, babies cry for no apparent reason at all!
Faced with so many possible reasons why the baby is crying, those taking care of the baby might not know just what to do. Of course, there’s always the standard check for soiled nappies or trying to feed the baby but if everything else fails, there might still be one technique you haven’t tried yet: The Hold.
The founder of Pacific Ocean Pediatrics in Santa Monica, California, Dr. Robert Hamilton, shares the best technique to calm crying babies – and it is said to work most of the time in fussy babies.
In this video, Dr. Hamilton explains the mechanics behind the technique and shows just how it should be executed. Of course, considering that The Hold involves using the palms of your hands, not your entire arm, this technique is only applicable to newborns and babies up to 3 months old (4 months if you can still carry the baby).
“Everything you do is very gentle,” says Hamilton says. “You don’t want to do jerky motions ever.”
To perform the technique, pick the baby up and lock its right arm with your right hand. Place his left arm across his chest, with the hands meeting at the center. Gently move the baby to your left hand while making sure your thumb and index finger (pointer) form a circle that the child’s chin could rest on.
Then, use your right hand to support the child’s bottom and rock him gently. As you can see in the video below, the two babies immediately calmed down and stopped crying when Dr. Hamilton performed “The Hold”.
It is important to note that the child should be placed at a 45-degree angle because if you place him at a higher angle, he just might jerk his body and fall off your hands.
Warning: Be very careful if you are planning to follow this technique at home! Make sure to watch the video at least twice to learn how to execute this technique. Good luck!