What Should I Do If My Baby Gets Scared?

Infants, in their early stages of development, are naturally curious about the world and thus prone to frequent scares. When a baby is accidentally startled, parents should take measures to soothe and comfort them, such as through verbal reassurance, physical touch, or redirecting their attention.

1. Common methods of comforting a startled baby include verbal reassurance and physical touch.

2. Immediately upon noticing that the baby is startled, the mother should use a gentle voice to comfort the baby while also providing tactile reassurance, such as stroking the baby's hair or gently patting their back. The familiar voice and physical contact can quickly provide a sense of security and maximize the soothing effect.

3. Redirecting the baby's attention can also be helpful. For example, trying a strange position to hold the baby, such as placing them face-down on your arm and supporting their face, or gently rocking them while stroking their back with your left hand. This change in perspective can be surprising enough for the baby to forget about the initial scare. Gently blowing air onto the baby's forehead can also be effective, as it will cause them to blink and take a breath, repeating this a few times can help them forget the reason for their crying. However, parents should ensure that they are not suffering from any contagious illnesses.

1. Unexpected and intense physical or emotional stimuli, such as falling from a height (e.g., from a bed or table) or a sudden loud noise.

2. Unstable sleeping environments, including sleeping in a moving vehicle, being held and rocked to sleep, or sleeping in noisy public places.

3. Being forced to do something they do not want to do, such as being forcibly bathed when they do not want to, or being hugged and kissed by strangers.

4. Being startled by novel or unfamiliar experiences, such as seeing the vast ocean, encountering a large animal, or hearing the rumble of a train for the first time.