Tips for Coping with a New Baby During COVID-19

Abstract

All babies cry. Most babies cry a lot from two weeks to two months of age. Some cry more than others, and some cry longer than others. For many new parents, crying is one of the most stressful parts of coping with a newborn.In some cases, extreme stress and a temporary lapse of emotional control in a caregiver can lead to actions that result in abusive head trauma. In fact, the most common trigger for abusive head trauma is simply a crying baby. As an American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement points out, actions that lead to abusive head trauma often happen when caretakers experience stress and get to the end of their rope.However, there is a bright side: The key to preventing abusive head trauma is to understand how common feelings of frustration, isolation, and exhaustion are during the first few months of an infant’s life.Usually, new parents can seek out social supports and external help—but what when we are all restricted in our movements and our contacts? What happens when families face child care challenges and more ongoing fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic? Here are a few suggestions:American Academy of Pediatricswww.aap.org and www.HealthyChildren.orgAdapted from the HealthyChildren.org article Tips for Coping with a New Baby During COVID-19 by Robert Sege, MD, PhD, FAAP (1/13/2022).The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists, and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety, and well-being of all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.In all aspects of its publishing program (writing, review, and production), the AAP is committed to promoting principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion.The information contained in this publication should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.