BABI: Our tips and tricks to manage your baby with intense needs
Sometimes baby needs constant attention. This is one of the signs of what American pediatrician William Sears called BABI, for "High Needs Babies".
How to spot the signs of a baby with high needs, understand it and manage it?
How do you recognize a baby with intense needs?
While it's best not to categorize babies too much, learning to recognize the characteristics of a high-needs baby can go a long way in helping some parents understand babies better. Dr. Sears has looked into these special-needs babies and identified several characteristics that are found in many BABIs. BI and it is not necessary to combine all these traits for a baby to be considered a BABI.
Very often the baby with intense needs is hypersensitive, he cries loudly, laughs loudly, protests loudly and is often very demanding. He also needs to be constantly in the arms and is very active. Finally, he has a strong need for sucking and does not like to be physically constrained (stroller, car).
Tips and tricks to manage your baby with intense needs
It is advisable to check your baby's state of health first.
A crying baby is perfectly normal since it is his way of expressing himself. He may have dental flares or gastroesophageal reflux, for example. If your baby's behavior is not the result of a health concern and he has intense needs, here are some tips to help you manage it.
Carrying
through physical closeness while leaving your hands free. As explained above, BABI babies do not like to be restrained or physically restrained.
For this reason, you can opt for carrying systems with soft fabric.
Be patient and organized
A baby requires attention and a lot of time, even more if he has intense needs.
A BABI wants to be reassured. However, a baby who requires so much time and attention can be exhausting in addition to arousing misunderstanding of those around you who may advise you to let him cry or breastfeed him less often. Over time, the baby will be a little less attention-seeking and will calm down on its own. In the meantime, it is recommended to reorganize your schedule, take parental leave or part-time work if possible or seek help from those around you or health professionals.
Mothering
BABIs have intense needs and seek security through closeness to their parents. They can wake up 10 times a night. In this case, mothering is particularly appropriate, BABIs resent separation. In addition to babywearing, massages, co-sleeping (sleeping with your baby) and breastfeeding can help you manage your baby. And if it is not possible to meet your baby's needs as soon as possible, you can accept to impose a little frustration on the baby. Be aware, however, that it is not recommended to let a baby cry indefinitely, whether he has intense needs or not. This may increase his feeling of insecurity and make him anxious in the future.
Don't blame
Being a parent of a baby with high needs can be worrying. You may tell yourself that you are doing things wrong, that you have not gotten used to your little one, etc. Know that this is not the case and that your baby has needs that are normal to be met. Remember to take time for yourself, to feel better with your baby.
In any case, know that a BABI is not a disease or a defect. Moreover, they often develop positive traits as they grow up, such as creativity, compassion, empathy, etc.
Being the parent of a baby, whatever his needs, is not easy.
You need, among other things, storage, changing the bed to adapt it to his size and his needs, etc.
To make this period easier for you, we have designed a complete evolving baby room which changes shape according to the age of your children until it even becomes a desk once you become a teenager and an adult.
