Raising high needs babies can be challenging since they constantly require attention and easily get agitated when they are left to entertain themselves. Every baby’s personality is different; some tend to stay calm if their needs are met, while others remain dissatisfied and restless. Persistent display of fussiness and restlessness often indicates a high need behavior. High needs babies may get irritated if their needs are not met promptly, and it is often difficult to satisfy and calm them. However, some parents and caregivers succeed in managing these behaviors with the right tactics. Read on to learn more about the effects and ways to deal with high needs babies.
Signs And Characteristics Of High Need Babies
The signs of high need babies may vary. The following are some of the common habits and characteristics of high need babies.
Difference Between A Colicky Baby And A High Needs Baby
Here are a few notable attributes of colicky babies that differentiate them from high need babies.
A colicky baby cries with intensity, but the reason behind their cry is often gas or digestive discomfort (2).
A baby with colic is likely to appear in pain during a colic episode. They will arch their back or kick legs in an attempt to release the digestive gases.
Unlike high need babies, colicky babies observe a routine and have predictable behavioral attributes. They also do not seem hyperactive and sleep adequately.
Colicky babies are not demanding like high needs babies. Once the underlying problem is addressed, a colicky baby calms down.
Colic tends to be most common during the first six weeks of life and usually goes away by the age of four months (3). A high needs baby is likely to display fussiness and crying even into toddlerhood.
Why Are Some Babies Needier Than Others?
It is not fully known why some babies tend to have high needs. Babies can have varying personalities and different reactions to the same environment or situation (4). A baby may have a tolerant reaction to a situation, such as a wet diaper, while another baby may display intense crying to attract the parents’ attention and get the issue resolved quickly. It is likely that some babies have high needs due to their specific personality, which might be affected by a combination of genetic and environmental factors (5). However, it is not entirely known if it is a result of nature, nurture, or both, thus parents should neither blame themselves nor the baby for the high needs behavior.
Effects Of Being A High Needs Baby
The effects of a high need personality could vary and may not last forever. Some studies note that a few adulthood behavioral attributes, such as conscientiousness and impulsiveness, may originate in childhood (6). However, infancy is too early a stage to determine a person’s ultimate personality. Also, childhood personality attributes need not be binding since a child’s behavior can significantly change even through the end of the teenage years. Therefore, the long-term effects of a high need personality on the baby are not fully understood. If you have any concerns related to your baby’s high need behavior, speak to a pediatrician.
Ways To Deal With Your High Needs Baby
Parents may explore tactics that work the best in calming the intense high need behavior of their baby. The following are a few suggestions. Once you identify the cause and cure of your baby’s high need behavior, follow it diligently. Take the help of a pediatrician or a pediatric behavioral therapist if required.
