As any frustrated parent is aware, there is no secret to getting a crying baby to settle down or even go to sleep. However, a recent study has revealed a straightforward approach that might be more efficient than others.
According to Japanese scientists from the Riken Centre for Brain Science in Saitama, Japan, carrying babies for a five-minute stroll encourages sleep even during the day.
A five-minute walk "on a flat and unobstructed passage and at a steady speed, ideally without sudden stops or turns" is advised for parents or other caregivers who are trying to calm a wailing newborn. They also advised supporting the baby's head while doing so.
In addition, it may be less likely that the baby will wake up if you hold them after they have gone asleep for an additional five to eight minutes before putting them in their cot.
According to a study published in the Current Biology journal, babies who were put down too soon after nodding off in their parent's arms were more likely to awaken and begin crying once more.
The researchers experimented with four different methods on 21 infants upto seven months old.
These included holding infants while sitting down, swaying them in a stroller, carrying them while walking, and lying them on cots.
To rank four alternative methods for soothing a crying infant, the researchers employed a baby ECG monitor and video cameras to systematically analyse changes in heart rate and behaviour.
Babies that were crying, awake, quiet and sleeping were the ones whose data were collected during these activities.
The researchers were able to analyse the impact of each micro-activity thanks to the heartbeat measurement. The newborns' heart rates increased when their mothers turned or stopped walking, showing that the infants were highly responsive to all of their mothers' actions.
Although the study does not address the reasons behind some babies' excessive crying, the researchers claim it may provide a remedy that can aid new parents.
The researchers behind the study expressed hope that stressed parents, especially those who are inexperienced, could benefit from the discovery.
