As a parent of a baby, it’s easy to let worries rattle around your head. This is especially true if you’re the parent of a newborn, and extra especially true if it’s your first time.
Parenting stress is just one of the realities of finding yourself wholly responsible for the safety and health of a whole little human being, and while there are methods to help you better manage that stress internally, it doesn’t always help when the sources of that stress are external.
However, parents sometimes have a tendency to read too much into the many happenings of a baby, and here, we’re going to look at some that you shouldn’t be quite as concerned about.
Holding Your Baby “Too Much”
Let’s get an easy one out of the way. Holding your baby “too much” is not going to create bad habits or make them overly needy or emotionally insecure. In fact, there’s no such thing.
Babies are biologically hard-wired to crave closeness. It’s how we comfort them, help them manage their emotions, and even provide literal warmth. If a growing baby starts becoming more independent and wants to move away from your arms (providing it’s safe), then you can worry about letting them go a little more often.
However, holding is a vital tool for helping babies settle, sleep, and feel safe. Don’t get into the bad habit of withholding the real benefits of contact because of abstract concerns.
Crying A Lot
Babies cry a lot. However, if you had a lot of emotions and needs and didn’t have the means to properly express them, you might cry a lot as well. Babies can cry when they’re hungry, tired, overstimulated, uncomfortable, or even just when they’re adjusting to changes in their surroundings.
Some babies do cry more than others. In most cases, it’s nothing to worry about. Seeing to their needs can help solve it, while others will take more time to calm down.
You only need to be concerned if they’re showing signs of a fever, are persistently inconsolable, aren’t feeding well, or are showing signs of pain, illness, or dehydration (such as fewer wet diapers.)
In those cases, medical advice can be warranted, but most of the time, crying peaks in those early months and typically settles over time.
Not Burping After Every Feed
Burping your baby after a feed is important to help prevent discomfort. However, not every baby burps after every feed. Sometimes, they don’t swallow as much air when feeding.
This is especially common with breastfeeding. In other cases, they might release trapped air by passing gas or moving around and burping more subtly. If they don’t audibly do a loud burp, but they’re otherwise comfortable, relaxed, and feeding normally, then a missed burp isn’t too much to worry about.
If they’re showing signs of discomfort, such as arching, crying, or spitting up, then you should try burping them again.
Sleeping Constantly
Do not underestimate how much babies can sleep. Especially during those first three months. You’re talking about spending more time asleep than awake, on average around 14-17 hours, and often in broken-up stretches rather than one big sleep.
This sleep helps support their brain and body development, so you shouldn’t be interrupting it just because you think they should be awake more often. If they’re waking up to feed, have periods of alertness, and are gaining weight, then everything is working as expected.
Only when they show signs of extreme lethargy when awake, or have difficulty waking up after a sleep, should you check with your doctor.
Harmless Noises During Sleep
Babies sleep a lot, and they make a lot of noise when they sleep. Sometimes, these noises can be unexpected or even a little alarming. Babies will grunt, snort, squeak, give a short cry, and move a lot.
Other parents will wonder, “Is mouth breathing normal for babies?” The answer for all of these tends to be: yes, this is normal and nothing to worry about. Overly rapid or difficult breathing is the main thing you should be concerned about, as far as sleeping sounds go.
Mouth breathing can sometimes be caused by congestion or issues like a deviated septum, but in most cases, a bulb syringe can help clear that out when it is the case.
Occasional Overstimulation
You do want to typically avoid overstimulating your baby because it can be harder for them to fall asleep, leading to fussiness and trouble settling, which can mean a busier night for you.
However, occasional overstimulation is not going to harm your baby, so don’t be too worried if it happens. Babies can be overstimulated by noises, lights, visitors, or just too much movement around them, and it’s not always easy to stop that from happening, especially in a home with other people.
You can try to help them calm down by providing a calm and quiet space or by holding them to help them regulate.
Minor Illness Symptoms
Babies are still building their immune systems, so it’s normal for them to show minor signs of illness. Sneezing, hiccups, coughs, and congestion are common and often not a cause for concern.
In many cases, these are natural responses to their environment. For example, sneezing helps clear the nasal passages.
Instead of focusing on every small symptom, look at the full picture. If your baby isn’t feeding well, isn’t wetting their diaper, seems very tired, or has a fever, contact your pediatrician.
Most baby illnesses are mild. Safe options like infant paracetamol may be all that’s needed to help them feel better.
As a parent, it’s important to know what not to stress about. That way, you can save your energy for when your baby truly needs you. Don’t wear yourself out over every sniffle. Be ready to act when it really matters.
