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Fussy Baby? No Problem! Try Massaging These Stress Points
Babies are adorable, precious, and often inexplicably fussy. We’ve all gone through the fussy baby checklist: Does she need a fresh diaper? Is she hungry? Does she have gas? Is she sleepy? Perhaps she secretly is an alien crying machine sent to Earth to destroy you? Well, ok, maybe not that last one.
In any case, sometimes there doesn’t seem to be anything you can do to soothe your fussy baby. If you’ve run through your checklist and tried the five S’s but still have an unhappy infant, don’t despair. Some historic, alternative medicine just might be able to save your day.
Reflexology is an alternative medicine that involves applying pressure to the feet using specific thumb, finger, and hand techniques. According to Nourish, the practice can help calm your baby, too. Nourish says reflexology is suitable for babies from birth to 2 years old.
Here are six ways to help soothe your fussy baby’s pain and discomfort.
Headache/Toothache
Can you say “teething?” Sometimes there just isn’t a teether cold enough to soothe those little bitty gums. If that’s the case, try massaging the tips of baby’s toes!
Sinus Pain
This is hard enough to deal with when you have access to a wide range of meds. But since medication can get a little tricky for the very young, some parents may opt to go the homeopathic route as much as possible. To relieve sinus issues, try massaging the center underside of your baby’s toes (think the pads of the toes).
Chest
Congestion is the absolute worst, am I right? A congested baby is miserable for everyone. If your baby is experiencing chest congestion, apply some gentle pressure to the pads of their feet (think under the toes but above the arch). Next, massage the pads in a circular motion.
Stomach Pain
Upset stomach plus tightness equals no fun for anyone. To mitigate this type of pain, try massaging the center of the foot where the arch starts (think below the pads of the foot).
Abdominal Pain
Remember that old Pepto Bismol commercial — nausea, heartburn, indigestion, upset stomach, diarrhea! Yay! Pepto Bismol? No? Just me? Nonetheless, massaging the space between the middle of baby’s foot and the pads of the foot could relieve constipation and indigestion. For some relief from gas and bloating, try massaging the space between the middle of your baby’s foot and heel.
Pelvis
Growth spurts are tricky. We have fond yet distant memories of a full night’s sleep, but we don’t want our babies to grow up so quickly. Whether you’re ready or not, your baby is growing – All. The. Time. Sometimes it happens faster than even their own little bods are ready, resulting in pain, most notably in the hips. To help with this, try massaging your baby’s heel!
Of course, while reflexology is time-tested, it’s not guaranteed to work. Still, sometimes the mere possibility of some relief — and can we get a nap while we’re at it? — is enough to try.
Please SHARE these tips with any other parents or caregivers struggling to soothe a fussy baby!