No one wants a stressed out baby. Believe it or not, stress, just like happiness, is contagious. What’s more when your children face chronic stress this can lead to long term health issues. If babies are exposed to large amounts of the stress hormone cortisol, this can lead to behavioral problems and stress related diseases.  

How can we support our babies and protect them from stress?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

There is good news. As parents, we can do a lot to protect our babies from toxic stress.⠀⠀⠀⠀

Experiments on non human animals show that infants exposed to lots of nurturing touch are more likely to develop into stress-resilient adults – even if they were born with risk factors for stress-related problems.  The same seems to be true for human beings.

Below are five tips to help reduce stress in babies.

Offer lots of physical affection, but pay attention to what your baby likes and dislikes

Affectionate contact triggers stress-busting hormones including oxytocin (the so-called love hormone).  These have a calming effect that switches off the stress hormone cortisol.  Please bear in mind though that many young infants do not like the sensation of a light caress – they may find it overwhelmiing, so use firm touch instead.

Think like a baby

Get in side your baby’s head.  The better you understand your baby’s feelings, the better the chance of being able to minimise stress.  For example, at bath time, do you prepare everything first and then undress your baby or do you undress them and make them wait?  During the wait they get cold and stressed and then become even more upset when they hit the water as the change in temperature is too much for them to cope with.

Remember your baby has an amazing ability to read and mirror your negative emotions

Studies show that even newborns get distressed when their caregivers become emotionally unresponsive. Your own mood matters, which is why nourishing yourself is so important.

Calm your baby with a walk

Babies like to be carried around.  In a series of experments, infants were found to have reduced heart rates, reduced body movements and reduced crying when held by an adult walking from place to place.

Make yourself emotionally available at bedtime

For most of history, our ancestors have slept close to their babies and land mammals (of which we are one), still do.  Babies who spend weeks “rooming in” with their parents have less cortisol reactivity.  Babies who have a history of co-sleeping also show a greater evidence of calmness.

Use quiet soothing routines to help them fall fast asleep at night.  Avoid initiating social interactions but still maintain eye contact.  Maintain a calm manner, free of irritation and hostility.  Respond promptly within a minute when your baby cries out in distress.

Another bonus of being emotionally available at bedtime is that your baby is more likely to sleep longer throughout the night.⠀⠀⠀

If you found this helpful and would like more help with your baby’s sleep – I practice as a holistic sleep coach and supports many families both nationally and internationally to get a more settled night sleep. For more information please visit my Help Baby Sleep Services Page