How to Minimize Obsessive Crying and Temper Tantrums

07/05/2012

Written By Marcie Paige

We are told early on “babies cry a lot… it’s normal and healthy”.

I think when our parents tell us this it’s their way to preparing us for the fact that having a baby is exciting, life changing but also hard work and at times… frustrating!

While I’m sure it’s true for healthy babies to cry, lets be honest, most babies cry way more then what is considered a ‘healthy amount’.

Here is a little tidbit of info we now know to be true (that our parents may not have known!).

When our baby is crying they are communicating… “hey, look at me… I need something and I want you to figure it out!”

It can be very frustrating for you and your baby having to play the guessing game and it takes longer then it should to sooth your baby when you’re using trial and error to solve the problem.

A common misconception is that babies lack the understanding of language.

Babies and toddlers understand way more then they can say. The only skill your child lacks is the verbal skills needed to communicate in the traditional way.

What if I told you your 9 month old could express preference to ‘milk’, ‘water’ and ‘juice’, or that your 18 month old could tell you they need a ‘diaper change’. Does this sound too good to be true?

You do not need to learn how to ‘read minds’ or learn some magic trick for reading body language. Your baby can express what they want in a way that is easy for you to understand through sign language for babies.

With the use of strategically chosen hand signs, your child can communicate needs and wants without having to cry or throw a tantrum to get your attention!

The main advantage of using baby sign language is the lack of frustration your baby will experience from not being able to communicate what they need and want.

One story I like to share with other moms is when my daughter was 18 months old. She was pointing up to the counter and asking for something but I couldn’t figure out what it was.

I looked on the counter and I didn’t see anything that she could possible want. I asked her to repeat herself several times but as hard as I tried, I just couldn’t decipher her gibberish.

I told her “I’m sorry, I don’t understand what you want.”

She then signed ‘BREAD’.

I was shocked. I would never have guessed that what she wanted was a plain old piece of bread.

Problem solved. No crying or temper tantrum!

If she hadn’t been able to sign it, I wouldn’t have figured it out quickly and we both would have ended up frustrated and upset.

There are other benefits with sign language for babies as well…

• Signing children usually have a much larger vocabulary.
• You’ll minimize emotional outbursts.
• Boost their self-esteem and confidence in learning.
• And, (this is my favourite) Jump Start Speech!

Every time you sign with your baby, you re-enforce the sign with the sound of the word. This helps your baby make a connection between sounds and sign.

It wasn’t until my daughter was 2 years old, with a signing vocabulary of 100+, that I realized how much I would have missed out on if she didn’t sign to me.

Sign language for babies is the smartest and most effective communication technique for you and your pre-verbal baby.

Give it a try, you’ve got nothing to loose, and you’ll build a stronger bond with your baby then you ever thought possible.

Marcie Paige, founder of Baby Sign Studio, is a creative and engaging baby sign language strategist and positive parenting advocate. Marcie creates baby sign strategy plans for new moms that are, fun, engaging and powerfully effective. The result is a warm and comforting home free of obsessive crying, temper tantrums and misbehaviour.

Sign up for FREE baby sign strategy sessions on her website.

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