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How to Treat Colic - Is it possible to Learn How to Treat Colic?
By Jon Beveridge

Teaching your Baby a sleep routine is big business these days, and many qualified professionals are quick to push their latest book or series on the latest generation of parents. Thankfully, the area of child behaviour and child psychology is extremely well researched and often these techniques complement the process of leaning how to treat colic.

This article takes a brief look at the two current leaders in the area of teaching your baby to sleep. Instead, it is to provide an overview of each method and explain them in a straightforward manner so you can decide for yourself which one makes the most sense. It is also to try to cut through some of the common misrepresentations and controversies surrounding each of these schools of thought.

The Ferber Method. Parents using the Ferber method are instructed to follow a loving, caring bedtime routine and then put the baby to bed while he is still awake. Once the baby is in bed, the parents are to leave the room instead of cuddling and soothing him until he falls asleep. If the child cries, the parents are permitted to pat, stroke, and comfort him after waiting a predetermined amount of time and refrain from picking him up or feeding him.

The goal of the Ferber method is to have babies eliminate the habit of requiring a parent nearby in order to fall asleep and learn to fall asleep on their own, either when they are put to bed as well as when they wake up during the night according to their sleep patterns.

A criticism of "Ferberization" is that it is much too rigid and does not take into account the need to be flexible under certain circumstances. Ferber has conceded there are times when it is necessary to deviate from a routine, such as when the baby is sick, the family is traveling, or the baby is being cared for by a babysitter. However, the Ferber method can be an effective strategy when learning how to treat colic. Attachment parenting. Attachment Parenting teaches that separation from parents causes infants an inordinate amount of stress, so rather than letting a baby "cry it out," parents should console their babies whenever they cry, as well as keep their babies close by at all times. In addition, the notion that frequent physical contact and reassurance leads to children becoming overly dependent and needy adults is strongly challenged.

Contemporary proponents of attachment parenting advocate breastfeeding, carrying babies in a sling (referred to as "babywearing") rather than pushing them in a stroller and responding sensitively to your baby's cries as a means of building trust. They also advocate co-sleeping as a way for parents to connect with their infants at night and minimize their baby's night time separation anxiety, explaining that the parents' presence reassures baby that sleep is a pleasant state that is not to be feared.

Like the Ferber method, attachment parenting is not without its critics. One criticism is that attachment parenting is extremely demanding, particularly for those who do not have a support network of friends and family, and that its proponents downplay this aspect. Another common criticism is that it imposes unrealistic expectations on parents, mothers in particular.

The idea of never letting go go of your crying baby does not sound like an effective way of treating colic, but it is worth baring in mind that learning how to treat colic will mean it will have to be employed, so it's worth considering the wider benefits of this method. Learning what best for your baby It's important to remain focussed on goals when you teach your baby to sleep. Learning how to treat colic by combining the current popular sleep routines can provide a range of practical techniques for the frustrated parent. The main goal should be for your baby to enjoy going to bed, as opposed to being afraid of falling and staying asleep. In order to accomplish this, you will need to put some thought into your own approach to parenting a colicky baby.

Try to think about how the different approaches translate into what you do when putting your baby to bed. Also consider what it means when your baby wakes up in the middle of the night. With perseverance, your efforts will pay off and your baby will have the inner resources he needs to put himself to sleep.

If you are living with a sleepless night due to your baby's crying, then Coping With Colic: The Essential Guide To Surviving Your Baby's Colic, is the leading guide that will have you effectively winning the fight against colic - FAST! 100% Guaranteed and endorsed by leading Child Development Experts and Pediatricians. Learn the breakthrough research on how to clam your baby's colic for yourself and enjoy a richer bonding experience with your baby. Click here because no parent should be unprepared for this challenging time: http://www.copingwithcolicebook.com


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