How to Use Ballroom Dancing to Calm Fussy Infants

For parents who both work at brick-and-mortar establishments and take care of their children afterwards, fussy infants can be a bit unnerving at times. Put your worries aside because, by following the steps below, you can be sure to gain your sanity back. Keep in mind that at 2 to 3 weeks, fussiness is a common 2-to-4-hour dilemma. What makes this phenomenon more interesting is that once a specific technique is already used, the temporary luxury of calmness will often give way to yet another creative method to be executed. In order to effectively diagnose this problem, it is helpful to understand its root causes. Factors like illness, food sensitivities, rash or loneliness can all contribute to fussiness. What to do then? Please read below.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Patience and lots of it
• Good source of music
• Soothing ballroom dance tapes or CD's
• Baby sling or carrier (optional)
• Diaper bag

1. Take care of the infant's basic needs first. Are the clothes soiled with dirt? Be sure to change them. How about the diaper? Change that undergarment, too, if needed. See if the baby is hungry and then proceed to nurse the child. Do not forget to burp your infant afterwards to reduce annoying gassiness. If all of these needs have been met already, do observe the child's temperature to rule out illness.
2. Play some soothing waltz- or slow-dance-based music. Relaxing songs can certainly comfort the irate child. If possible, do sing as a mother's voice is exactly what a young baby needs to hear. You might also wish to turn on some "white noise" from a nearby fan to promote an atmosphere of magical peace.
3. Change the pace a bit. Place infant in a carrier or sling and take a walk outside. Spontaneously do a little samba here and there while making small rocking movements to distract the child's focus into something else. In fact, such motions can even make the baby laugh!
4. Be patient. Children tend to become upset when their parents lash out at them. Instead, give your child many doses of kisses, hugs, dances, and love!

Tips & Warnings

• Give your baby a pacifier to help calm him down.
• Be creative with your dancing motions but be careful as well.
• Do not strain your back while carrying baby in sling or carrier.
• Never ever shake a baby no matter how irritating the crying can be. Remember, it is not their fault nor yours. Instead, seek more comforting techniques in maintaining the silence by providing a soothing environment.