Stop the Excessive Crying by Learning How to Meet Your Baby’s Sensory Needs
Your baby is hungry – but not in the way you think
Newborns have two different hungers: The need for physical nourishment ( like milk) and the desire for sensory stimulation. The former is crucial to their survival, while the latter is no less important because it shapes the baby's neural pathways. Unfortunately, our society's understanding of this second hunger is still only just growing, leading to outdated advice to avoid 'overstimulating' babies for better sleep and behaviour - an opinion that neglects key principles of recent infant neuroscience.
It can be difficult to understand what our babies need to be truly satisfied and reduce the tears. Newborns, like other babies experience the world around them through their senses, and it is important to recognize that they have a unique form of hunger that is not necessarily related to physical nourishment. A baby’s sensory hunger is an innate need for stimulation and satisfaction.
Much to the contrary belief, in our western society, there is an abundance of infants who usually cry and get distressed because they do not get adequate agreeable sensory stimulation. And unfortunately many of the professionals who support parents in their baby’s early stages of life usually try to protect new mothers from extreme levels of fatigue through traditional 1950s and 1960s behavioral techniques (known as first-wave behavioral techniques that are not evidence based). These techniques strive to teach autonomy - by not permitting the baby to sleep at the breast or bottle, or putting the baby in a different room to learn to self-settle, or by trying to teach the baby that he or she cannot anticipate to be picked up or carried around too much, ( mostly out of fear that we will form bad habits or make ‘a rod for our own back.’) Unfortunately many of these methods also reduce sensory input and can actually cause more crying and fussiness, which can place even more mental strain and stress on the already exhausted parents.
According to Dr Pamala Douglas There are many ways to meet our baby’s sensory needs. She states, “Certainly getting out beyond the boring four walls of the house to meet our own needs for social contact, or exercise (like walking), or getting tasks done, offers the baby a lovely sensory bath each day, as he or she comes along for the ride and experiences the glorious sensory kaleidoscope of this amazing world.”
To ensure that a baby is content, it is important to recognize the five senses and the types of stimulation that can be built into creating for them a rich ‘sensory bath’. By understanding a baby’s sensory hunger, parents can provide the right kind of stimulation to help their baby grow and develop, both mentally and physically.
What is Sensory Hunger for a Newborn?
The term “sensory hunger” was first used by psychoanalyst and developmental psychologist Jean Piaget to describe the innate need of a baby to be stimulated and engage in activities that encourage growth and development. In order to grow and develop, a baby requires sensory input of some kind and is neurologically designed to seek it out. This is the baby’s sensory hunger. All babies have different sensory needs, which means that the stimulation a baby needs will vary based on their personality and temperament. While some babies are content with little stimulation, many others need a lot.
Benefits of fulfilling a Newborn's Sensory Hunger
There are several benefits of fulfilling a newborn’s sensory hunger. First, it helps a baby grow and develop. Research shows that babies who are provided with the right kind of stimulation at the right times grow and develop better than those who are not. Second, it promotes a positive mood, which is important for both parents and babies. Lastly, it provides parents with a great way to bond with their babies and spend quality time together. When a baby is having their sensory needs met, they are more likely to be happy and content.
Stimulation to Satisfy the Five Senses
Visual Stimulation - Babies are born with an innate interest in looking at and exploring the world around them. Visual stimulation can be provided by lighting, patterns, shapes, or colours. Babies love to stare at lights, especially the sun or a lamp, and many love to look at pictures or images on a wall or bookshelf.
Auditory Stimulation - Hearing is a sense that develops quickly in babies, and it is important to provide auditory stimulation at a young age to stimulate language development. Auditory stimulation can be provided by reading aloud, singing, playing music, or using a baby sound machine.
Tactile Stimulation - Babies crave physical contact, which is one of the main sources of tactile stimulation. Parents can provide tactile stimulation by holding, cuddling, and swaddling their baby.
Olfactory Stimulation - Babies are born with a keen ability to smell. Olfactory stimulation can be provided by using scented oils and lotions or burning scented candles. Going outside and smelling the world around them is wonderful!
As parents, it is important to recognize that our babies do not experience hunger in the same way we do. In fact, a baby’s hunger is much more complex than simply needing food. Babies need stimulation and a source of satisfaction that goes beyond physical nourishment. Don’t be afraid by the old, outdated notion that parents should be weary of causing ‘over-stimulation’. By understanding a baby’s sensory hunger and providing the right kind of stimulation, it is possible to help a baby grow and develop, both mentally and physically. Put simply, focusing on this one area can dramatically reduce the amount of time crying each day.