Types of Stress

Stress starts right from the moment babies are born. Babies have stress that is mainly related to physiological needs like hunger, sleep or pain. This stress is temporary and fades away as soon as their needs are met. For example, if your baby is hungry and you feed her, the stress will go away.

But the important type of stress that babies undergo is the one arising out of separation. The feeling of being separated from you can cause stress in your baby.

The baby starts realising this stress as soon as she completes five months to six months of age.

Children above three years of age have other types of stress like that of studies, no time for playing or relaxing.

Earlier, children used to play a lot but nowadays as soon as they start going to school, we enroll them in different classes and as a result, they do not find time to play.

Most of us are working and do not find time to spend with our child. This also causes stress in them. When you are at home, children get your attention and when you start staying away, your child is likely to get stressed as there is lack of attention.

How Will You Know

Infants can just cry if they need anything. So if your baby is stressed, she will simply cry. In case it is hunger or lack of sleep because of which she is crying, the moment you feed her or put her to sleep she will stop crying.

But if it is because of separation she will start crying the moment she finds you getting ready to go out or she may cling to you and will start crying if anyone tries to take her away from you. She may also cling to you the moment you are home and will not allow you to put her down for quite some time.

Older children may react differently. In case your child is stressed with the thought of going to school, she may suddenly start bed wetting which may not occur during her vacations.

Also Read: Deal With Bed Wetting

The child may also refuse to eat properly or may throw tantrums for petty things. She may also roll on the floor or bang her head against the wall in order to get things done.  She may try all tactics to seek attention.

In case your child is stressed because of school, they will make up different excuses everyday for not going to school.

Also Read: Sending Your Child to School

For example, your child may complain of stomach pain every morning when she has to go to school. But the moment you agree and let her stay home, her stomach pain will go away and she will behave normally and eat normally.

They may also have problems in sleeping. Your child may suddenly start giving you problems in putting her to sleep which otherwise was a cake walk for you.