- When my sons are feeling cranky, I have a list of go-tos that I stick to.
- I start with a protein-filled snack, and if that doesn't work, I give them a bath.
As a new mom, I was told that fresh air or a bath is a cure-all for a cranky baby. With a colicky firstborn, these two mantras saved me many times. Middle-of-the-night baths and late-night outside time were staples in our house.
Now, seven years later, not much has changed. Well, we have two sons now, and there's less crying and more sleeping, but when either of our kids has a bad day, we still stick to the basics.
First, we give them food and water
We start by trying to figure out if they're hungry or thirsty. We'll say, "Let's eat something, or "Hey, why don't you take a big drink, and then you can tell me what's wrong."
And their snack is filled with protein — my two boys love turkey sticks and salami — and it's always water to drink, rather than juice. Sugar will only worsen the problem of a cranky kid.
Then, we put them in the bath
If those main go-tos don't work, it's back to my trusty list of solutions, and usually, we'll start with a bath. Because we no longer have babies, this also requires some basic strategy. I can't simply say, "You need a shower."
Instead, it's more like, "Do you want to run through the sprinkler?" or "Who wants to take a bath first?" I'm always trying to think of ways to make bathtime more fun than just telling them they need a bath because they're dirty.
There's just something about water that can calm a kid, even as they get older. It's soothing, something to focus on, it can either cool them off or warm them up, and it's an event that they see as fun. I will always recommend baths or playing in the water for cranky kiddos.
If that doesn't work, sleep may be the fix they need
My oldest, Copper, is 7, and he's the more emotional of my kids. While my 5-year-old, Colt, definitely has his moments, he's more predictable. If Colt doesn't feel well, he's likely either tired or sick. There are few fits for no reason. Copper, however, has big feelings and doesn't yet know how to deal with or express them. It can be harder for him to cope when he's tired.
Copper won't nap; he will lie down and hold his eyes open with his hands. He is often overly tired at night because he won't nap, even if he needs it. However, Colt will fall asleep in minutes after a tantrum. He knows he's overly tired and succumbs to a cozy spot, and napping often does the trick.
Taking kids outside always works, even at night
Even as an adult, I can get cranky if I'm inside for too long. Kids don't yet know this about themselves, so it's up to their caregivers to ensure they have enough outside time and fresh air to help keep them regulated.
Just a few weeks ago, I took Copper outside to calm down. It was after bedtime, and he was exhausted and could not calm down. I call taking the kids out at night my Hail Mary trick because it almost always seems to work.
I held him on my hip and walked outside to look at the stars, just like when he was a baby. The change was instant. He listened to the crickets, pointed at the moon, and breathed in the fresh air. It was a moment of peace that I needed as much as he did. We stood that way for about five minutes, at which point I asked if he was ready to go get into bed, and he said yes.
I hadn't done this with him in years, but it was what he needed at that moment, and it worked just as well as I had remembered. Holding him was more difficult, but that was an added layer of comfort that he wanted at that time, and I was happy to provide it, even though he's now nearly half of my weight. (A lanky kid, he is also able to hold on with his long legs, so that helped save my back … a little.)
I'm thankful these types of meltdowns are infrequent, but as they do occur, I have my trusty fixes to help, simple and effective.