Helping Your Baby Self-Comfort

Materials You Need: Items you would usually put in or near your baby’s crib or other place where the baby is put to lie down. 

What You Can Do Together: It is still important to attend to your baby when they are distressed. However, you will notice that your baby becomes better at calming themselves at least for a short while. You can help your baby by making sure that safe items, that may help your baby self-comfort, are nearby. For example, is there a soft toy your baby likes to stroke? Is there a colourful mobile or picture that is easy for baby to see? Are your baby’s hands in a position in which they can suck on them if that calms your baby? Before immediately going to your baby, pause and look for a while to see if your baby is beginning to be able to make or keep themself calm briefly.   

What Your Child is Learning: Your baby knows that they can depend on you to make things better. But your baby is also learning that they can do things to keep themself calm. Self-soothing is an important thing to learn, beginning now but developing in the coming months and years. As always, your loving support is essential.