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How Your Emotions Affect Your Baby's Attitude

Bundle of Nerves? Cool as a Cucumber?

By Gina Roberts-Grey, LCSW

Applegate advises that one of the best ways to avoid transferring your stress or tense emotions to your baby is taking time for yourself. "Try taking a deep breath before picking your baby up out of the playpen," she says. "Reserve a quiet moment for yourself right before nursing." If you're feeling weighed down and need to find a way to project different emotions to your kids, try a change of scenery.

Busy mother of two Diane Fritz of Crystal Lake, Ill., found that burning off excess nervous physical energy helped channel her emotions and keep her family calm. "When I felt overwhelmed, or before feedings, I'd take the baby out for a relaxing walk or trip to the local park," says Fritz. "Not only did my baby appreciate my calm state, he reflected a similar calm attitude."

Taking a few moments to read or play with the family pet together also has a calming effect. It gives everyone a chance to spend some peaceful time together and share a memorable moment.

Of course we can never shelter our young children from every unpleasant mood or irritability, but we can alleviate some of them. Some of the life lessons you'll teach your child are learning how to cope with his feelings, retain control over his emotions and how to adjust to the many emotions and situations he'll encounter later in life.

Keeping in mind that what you're feeling generally becomes what your young child is feeling will help you understand his moods and actions. If you have a better concept of why your baby may be exhibiting certain behaviors, you'll be able to adeptly help him revel in a pleasant mood or out of an unhappy one.

Want to see more?

• 10 Reasons to Cherish the First Year: Endearing Behaviors, Characteristics and Mannerisms
• Baby Development: First Emotions: Learning to Identify and Nurture Baby's First Feelings
• Join the discussion on our Family.com community!
• A Developmental Game a Month: Fun Activities for Baby That Encourage Fun and Development

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