Smelly baby is a term that is often used to describe a baby who looks spoiled. Some Indonesians think that this condition can occur due to carrying a baby too often. However, is this assumption true?
Newborns will often cry. This is a baby's way of communicating and letting those around him know that he is hungry, thirsty, sick, tired, uncomfortable, or simply bored.
When a baby cries or is fussy, parents will certainly try to calm them in various ways. One way that is commonly done and fairly effective is to hold a baby.
However, it is believed that carrying a baby too often can make him not want to be laid in bed. Babies also become spoiled and just want to always be held. Such a baby's behavior is often called a stinky baby.
Carrying Doesn't Make Baby Smelly Hands
The assumption that babies get smelly hands because they are carried too often is not true and is just a myth. Parents are even encouraged to hold or hug the baby as often as possible, especially when the baby is fussy or feels uncomfortable.
Babies need attention through direct physical touch, including through a sling. Physical touch to babies can provide a good stimulus for the baby's growth and development and later intelligence levels.
Parents are also encouraged to invite the baby to talk while holding him to develop his ability to speak.
Not only that, holding a baby can also strengthen relationships or emotional bonds and support interactions between babies and their parents. Babies also need the warmth of their parents' arms to make them feel safe and comfortable.
Carrying babies as often as possible, especially holding premature babies with the kangaroo care method, has also been shown to warm the baby's body, reduce crying, stabilize breathing and heart rate, and support growth and development and increase in baby weight.
Other Ways to Soothe Baby
Babies will cry when they want or need something because they do not yet understand other ways to convey what they want.
Usually after the age of 6-9 months, babies are just beginning to be able to understand the environment around them, read other people's expressions, and show responses to certain stimuli or situations. At this time, parents should be able to start sorting out reactions to crying babies.
If the baby continues to cry even though he is not sick, after being breastfed, or after a diaper change, the following ways can be done by parents to calm him down, namely:
- Laying baby in a rocking chair or bed
- Gently rub baby's head, back or chest
- Swaddling baby
- Invite the baby to speak in a low and soft voice
- Sing or play music in a small voice
- Taking the baby for a walk using stroller or be carried
- Make baby burp
- Bathing the baby with warm water
- Gently massage the baby
now, baby smelly hands from being carried too often turns out to be just a myth. Therefore, there is no prohibition to hold the baby as often as possible. Enjoy the moments of holding a baby in the first month of his life without being afraid and too worried. If in doubt, discuss this with your pediatrician.
