Ways to prevent Behavior Problems ages 0-5

 

-  try to get sleeping and eating on a routine.

-avoid over stimulation- even background noise

- sleep with pacifier on back and in own bed for the 1st year. They actually found pacifiers helped prevent problems.

- If breastfeeding have mom avoid drinking a lot of milk, avoid cabbage, caffeine. 

- the 5 S's- Swaddling (they like being bundled), Side or Supine while being held, Sucking (such as pacifier), Shush- whitenoise.

-nutramigen for colic , its like a medication for the first 3mo.

- can also use chamomile , sucrose.

- by 4mo old 95% of babies can sleep through the night. If they are still waking up it is a learned behavior as opposed to needing it. Try skipping the 2 am feeding. wean by 1 oz/night or 1 min breast feeding /night to break them of the habit.

- ways to help them sleep. limit nap to 2 hrs in day.  put in bed awake. 

- if continues to cry at night check after crying 5min , then every 10 min after that a little farther away until in the hall.  Have dad check as opposed to mom (mom is more associated with feeding so less likely to get them to stop without feeding)

- Developmental night waking - happens over 8 mo old.  put them to sleep. wait 2min,  if not self settled tell them everything is ok, sit in their room and then don't talk (or sleep), the speaker says it takes an avg. of 4 nights to take care of it.

- Sucking Thumbs do not affect teeth under 6 yrs of age !!

- Can use iron supplements for breath holding.

- For biting- shout/ time out (if old enough)/ comfort the victim.

- Bedtime fears-  control stresses, give them special time, avoid caffeine, acknowledge fear but that its not real. Have a flashlight at bedside.

 

Hopefully some of these are helpful for you.  She went through these very quickly.