CRYING BABY, SLEEPLESS NIGHTS

by Sandy Jones ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 1983

Why babies cry and what to do about it: some good practical tips but a narrow, cookbook approach to child care. Jones sympathizes with the despair that can result from the unending crying and fussiness of a young baby, and she reassuringly points out that ""in the past few years an explosion has taken place in infant research"": we now have clues as to why some babies are so uncomfortable. Physical causes of pain--most commonly: colic, urinary tract infections, and allergies--are considered first. Since ""colic"" (really a variety of pains associated with the digestive tract) is so predominant, Jones looks in particular detail at feeding difficulties. Regarding ""Crying and Sleep,"" she explains the meaning of different types of cries (something most mothers have no difficulty interpreting); discusses fussiness patterns (no one knows why so many babies are crabby in the evening); and offers simple suggestions on overcoming sleep problems (including taking the baby into the parental bed). ""Strategies for Survival"" focus on how to take care of oneself when saddled with a fussy baby. For the desperate, perhaps; but most parents will do better with a general guide--like Penelope Leach's Babyhood or Carol Tomlinson-Keasy's Child's Eye View--that puts the problem in perspective.

Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1983

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Warner

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1983

Categories: NONFICTION