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Lesson OverviewThis lesson helps participants identify the variety of rea-sons that infants cry, and provides techniques a caregiver can use to help soothe a crying infant. Participants are given practice demonstrating each of the techniques for soothing a crying infant using Baby.

Lesson ObjectivesAfter completing this lesson, participants will be able to:

• List and describe the various factors that might cause an infant to cry

• Identify and demonstrate a variety of positive methods or actions a care provider might use to comfort a cry-ing infant

Lesson at a Glance

Activity Materials Preparation Approximate Class Time

FOCUS • Why Do Infants Cry? worksheet (one per participant)• Unit 2 Lesson 2 PowerPoint: Slides 2-7

1. Print/photocopy participant worksheet.2. Prepare to display lesson PowerPoint or overhead

transparencies.

10 minutes

LEARN • The 5 S’s of Soothing an Infant worksheet (one per participant)

• Unit 2 Lesson 2 PowerPoint: Slides 8-14 • RealCare® Babies with accessories• Receiving blankets (one per Baby)

1. Print/photocopy participant worksheet.2. Prepare to display lesson PowerPoint or overhead

transparencies.3. Prepare Babies with accessories for demonstration

of continuous “Coo.”4. Purchase or obtain receiving blankets.

30 minutes

REVIEW • Any lesson materials used 5 minutes

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Lesson Two Soothing a Crying Infant

Unit Two

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Basic Infant CareSoothing a Crying Infant

FOCUS: Why Do Infants Cry?

10 minutes

Purpose: In this activity participants are reminded of the previous lesson that had a crying Baby, and are asked to think of reasons an infant cries. Ideas are shared as partners and as a large group.

Materials: • Why Do Infants Cry? worksheet

• Unit 2 Lesson 2 PowerPoint: Slides 2-7

Facilitation Steps:1. Remind participants of the previous lesson, and the

need to figure out why an infant may be crying. Give each participant a copy of the Why Do Infants Cry? worksheet and give them 30 seconds to think of reasons an infant might cry and to write them on their worksheet.

2. Ask participants to partner with someone and share ideas. They should write down ideas their partner came up with that they did not think of. Ask for vol-unteers to share their ideas as you display Slide 2.

3. Display Slides 3-6 and discuss briefly.

4. Ask participants the following question: Do you think it is possible to spoil an infant? (Hold it too much or be too attentive?) The correct answer is NO. Infants always cry for a reason. Sometimes they just need at-tention. If they get attention when they cry, they learn that their world is safe and they can depend on their caregiver to be there to meet their needs. Display Slide 7 to reinforce your points.

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Soothing a Crying InfantUnit Two—Lesson Two

Name: ____________________________

Date: ____________________________

Directions: Write down all the reasons you can think of why infants might cry. Be sure to add your partner’s ideas when you get together as a pair.

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Why Do Infants Cry?

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Soothing a Crying InfantUnit Two—Lesson Two

LEARN: Soothing a Crying Infant

30 minutes

Purpose: In this activity, participants learn about methods to com-fort and soothe a crying infant. The instructor models specific techniques to soothe infants; then participants practice the techniques.

Materials:• The 5 S’s of Soothing an Infant worksheet

• Unit 2 Lesson 2 PowerPoint: Slides 8-14

• RealCare® Babies with accessories

• Receiving blankets

Facilitation Steps:1. Give each participant a copy of The 5 S’s of Soothing

an Infant worksheet and ask them to fill in what they think the 5 S’s of soothing an infant might be.

2. Display Slide 8 and have participants fill in the “Real S’s” column on their worksheet.

3. Display Slide 9 which discusses the first “S” (Swad-dling) and demonstrate how to swaddle an infant using Baby and a receiving blanket. Baby does not respond to these techniques, but participants can use them throughout the care simulation, if desired.

4. Give each participant or group of participants one RealCare® Baby and a receiving blanket.

5. Program participants’ Babies to demonstrate “Coo,” selecting “Continuous” and altering event duration to

allow enough time for each participant to practice. Have participants practice the swaddling technique you modeled. Circle the room and offer assistance and answer questions as necessary. NOTE: Programming Babies to demonstrate a continuous coo will help you identify whether the participants are providing proper head support while practicing the techniques you modeled.

6. Display Slides 10-13 and continue demonstrating each technique. Have participants practice each technique as it is demonstrated.

7. Display Slide 14 to share more soothing ideas while participants fill in their worksheets.

8. Collect Babies and prepare for the next activity.

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Basic Infant CareSoothing a Crying Infant

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Soothing a Crying InfantUnit Two—Lesson TwoThe 5 S’s of Soothing

an Infant Name: ____________________________

Date: ____________________________

Directions: In the “Your Ideas” column, write down what you think the 5 S’s for soothing a crying infant are. Then insert information from your instructor under the “Real S” column and write a description of each in the “Descrip-tion” column.

Your Ideas Real S Description

S ___________________ S ___________________ __________________________________

S ___________________ S ___________________ __________________________________

S ___________________ S ___________________ __________________________________

S ___________________ S ___________________ __________________________________

S ___________________ S ___________________ __________________________________

Other ideas of how to soothe an infant:

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Basic Infant CareSoothing A Crying Infant

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Soothing a Crying InfantUnit Two—Lesson Two

REVIEW: Soothing Review

5 minutes

Purpose: This activity serves to reinforce what participants have learned in the lesson.

Materials: • Any materials used in previous activities within the

lesson.

Facilitation Steps:1. Conduct a brief discussion by posing the following

questions and asking volunteers to answer:

• Why is it important to find ways to soothe a crying infant? Answer: Comforts and reassures the infant and provides security.

• What are the 5 S’s of soothing an infant? Answer: Swaddling, Side/Stomach, Shushing, Swinging, Suck-ing.

• Brainstorm additional ideas for soothing a crying infant.

2. Explain that even with these many ideas, an infant may still not stop crying. When this happens, there are many things the caregiver can do to help them manage the stress and frustration that may come with caring for a difficult infant. These techniques will be discussed in the next lesson.

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Basic Infant CareSoothing a Crying Infant

Additional Resources

Publications:Butler, S., & Kratz, D. (1999). The field guide to parent-ing: A comprehensive handbook of great ideas, advice, and solutions for parenting children ages one to five. Worcester, MA: Chandler House Press.

Organizations and Web Sites:BabyCenterwww.babycenter.com

Parenting.comwww.parenting.com

University of Minnesota Extensionwww.extension.umn.edu/Family

Zero To Threewww.zerotothree.org

U.S. National Health Education Standards Supported

5.8.2; 7.8.2-3, 7.12.2-3

U.S. National Standards for Family and Consumer Sciences Educa-tion Supported

15.2, 15.2.1, 15.2.4