How to raise a happy baby? Check out our mom-tested trips below!
What can you read in this article?
- Getting off to a right start with your baby
- Causes of irritability in infants
- Mom-approved tips on how to raise a happy baby
The first time you laid your eyes on your child, you probably swore that you’ll do everything to make him happy. And why not? No parent would want to see their child sad. So you promised that you’ll do anything just to keep that precious smile on his face.
But what does it actually take to keep a child happy? Babies are easy. They’re not hard to please. They are so innocent that even just a silly face from Mommy can generate giggles from the little one.
Some parents think that the way to make a child happy is to shower them with material things like toys or books or food. But hundreds of resources (and movies and TV shows) prove that children don’t need external things for them to be satisfied.
But according to Edward Hallowell, psychiatrist, and author of The Childhood Roots of Adult Happiness, happiness isn’t something you give to babies. It’s something you teach. So you don’t just make babies happy, you raise them the right way so that they will be happy within themselves.
“The best predictors of happiness are internal, not external,” says Hallowell.
In fact, the psychiatrist said that over-indulged children – those who are showered with material things or shielded from emotional discomfort – are more likely to grow into teenagers who are bored, cynical, and joyless. They are the ones who grow up to be materialistic and ungrateful little brats who are impossible to please because they are not happy on the inside.
Fortunately, it doesn’t take a genius or someone with a Ph.D. in psychology to learn how to raise a happy baby. All it takes is some flexibility, creativity, and a lot of patience for a parent to lay the groundwork for a child to live a happy life.
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Tips on how to raise a happy baby
We’ve assembled a list of helpful tips and tricks that can help you make sure you’re raising the happiest, healthiest baby of all:
1. Respond to his cries
This first tip seems like a no-brainer. However, there are strategies that parents can implement to ensure that their baby is the happiest they can be. Despite the idea that you needn’t become a “slave” to your baby’s crying, it’s suggested that tending to your baby’s cries the majority of the time can be beneficial for your infant’s overall happiness.
Harvey Karp, MD, professor of pediatrics at the USC School of Medicine and author of The Happiest Baby on the Block and The Happiest Toddler on the Block, says
“Babies go through these tsunamis of emotion. For babies, it’s contentedness, serenity and security that make them happy. Twenty times a day, something upsets them, and magically, arms pick them up and they’re fed, or someone comes and rocks them.”
Moreover, recent studies revealed that infants whose mothers respond quickly, consistently, and warmly when they cry have healthier emotional development than infants whose mothers are less sensitive to their cries.
That said, it’s important to note the most common causes of irritability in infants, such as:
- Hunger
- Lack of sleep
- Discomfort from having a dirty diaper
- Colic
- Being too hot or too cold
- Discomfort due to an infection or an illness
- Teething
Some studies also conclude that a distant, anxious or less engaged parent or caregiver may contribute to a baby becoming fussy and irritable. However, it’s important to note that it goes both ways. Irritability in infants is also a common cause of depression and anxiety in parents.
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2. Establish good sleeping habits
A good night’s rest can drastically change your attitude and behavior over the course of a day. This goes for babies as well. If you consider the fact that they require way more sleep than you do, how could it not apply to them?
With that in mind, it’s important to develop good sleeping habits by instilling the importance and significance of sleep in your baby. Help them to understand that sleep is a pleasant state, and help do whatever it takes to get them to that point.
For many parents, that might mean finding exactly where your baby sleeps most comfortably and for the longest. Whether it’s in their own bedroom, or in a bassinet in yours, do what it takes to develop good sleeping habits in your baby and see how happy they are after a good night’s rest.
3. Cultivate healthy habits
As you respond to your child’s needs and establish good sleeping habits, you will notice that you need to take a more proactive step in keeping her healthy, physically and mentally. You’re not just playing defense. To win, you need to play offense too.
So help your child become a happy baby by giving her plenty of opportunities (and space) to release their energy – whether that means kicking their legs in the air, crawling around her play area, or going down the slide at the park – anything that puts her in a good mood and encourages her to keep moving.
Besides, exercising releases endorphins, the happy hormone, so more (age-appropriate) physical activities for baby means that her brain will release hormones that make her happy.
READ MORE:
Here are 3 A’s every parent should know to find happiness and to raise happy children
4. Buy a white noise machine
If your baby is the fussy, colicky type, Dr. Karp said that a white noise machine can be a wise investments for parents. He believes that these machines can produce high-pitch noises that can work to soothe crying fits, as well as low-pitch sounds that can help relax and calm babies which helps them sleep for longer.
Obviously, you’ll want to be mindful of your baby’s hearing, so be sure to do your research. A good white noise machine can help soothe cries and lead to more sleep for your baby. The result: a happier baby!
5. Learn how and when to swaddle
Swaddling has been in doubt for quite some time now, but the key is to know how to properly swaddle a baby and when to swaddle a child.
“For at least the first four months, all babies need to be swaddled,” says Dr. Karp. “For some, that’s all they need. Others will need [some other soothing method too]. If they’re colicky, they may need three or four or five at the same time to trigger the calming reflex,” he added.
The “calming reflex” to which Dr. Karp refers to is the snug, comfy feeling associated with being in the uterus. Apparently, being wrapped the proper way can help trigger a reflex in your children reminding them of their old living quarters and can result in a happier, more comfortable baby!
6. Help baby master a skill
If you want to raise not just a happy baby but a happy child, Dr. Hallowell suggests a surprising twist: let your child master a skill. According to the doctor, happy people are often those who have mastered a skill. Because by constant practice, they learn from their mistakes, they learn persistence, discipline and eventually, they reap the fruits of their hard work when they succeed.
So go ahead and teach your child a skill (appropriate to his age, of course) and see the smile on his face when he reaches a milestone.
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7. Practice the virtue of patience
Up to this point we’ve covered some basic ways in which you can directly affect your baby’s happiness. However, one strategy is to consider your own happiness! You can’t afford to overlook your own well-being if you want a happy baby! As Martha Sears, R.N. says,
“A happy mother equals a happy child, so never feel guilty about taking time for yourself.”
But how can a mom maintain a constant sense of happiness? Be prepared!
Your baby will only continue to grow, and eventually, they’ll grow into the toddler stage. Many regard this stage as “the terrible twos”, so it’s wise to get ready! You’ll require more patience than ever when dealing with toddlers and to maintain the happy and healthy mentality that you and your baby have now, you’ll need to practice the virtue of patience.
Your own mental happiness has to be on par with your baby’s if you want him to be happy. If you want that state of happiness to continue in their later years of development, you’ll have to work at it. After all, practice makes progress!
8. Have fun with your baby
Again, you need not go far in creating a happy child because what your baby needs has always been in front of him – you! Being able to connect with your baby is key to raising him happy and contented.
“Connect with your baby, play with them,” reminded Dr. Hallowell. “If you’re having fun with your baby, they’re having fun. If you create what I call a ‘connected childhood,’ that is by far the best step to guarantee your child will be happy.”