The specialist told about the correct reaction to baby crying

Crying and tantrums of a child often become a serious emotional ordeal for parents, who at such moments may experience irritation, helplessness, shame and guilt. Irina Krashkina, a psychotherapist at JSC "Medicine" (Academician Roitberg clinic), Candidate of Medical Sciences, told Izvestia about this on May 15.

According to the expert, one of the most common mistakes adults make is to perceive children's tears as a sign of a child's serious suffering or their own parental failure. In fact, crying is a natural way for young children to experience strong emotions, from fatigue and frustration to fear and anger.

"Up to 4-5 years of age, emotional outbursts and tears are a normal part of mental development. During this period, the child is not yet able to fully regulate his feelings, so the adult's task is not to suppress emotions, but to help him live this period safely," the expert explained.

Krashkina noted that any emotion develops in waves: it first increases, then reaches a peak and gradually weakens. At the moment of an emotional peak, the child practically does not perceive explanations and persuasions, so it is important for parents to ensure safety, keep their presence close and wait until the intensity of feelings decreases.

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According to the therapist, attempts to devalue children's feelings with phrases like "it's okay" or "stop crying" only increase internal tension and can form a child's distrust of their own emotions.

The specialist also drew attention to the emotional state of the parents themselves. She stressed that irritation and breakdowns do not make a person a bad parent, but more often indicate accumulated fatigue, stress and emotional exhaustion. In such situations, in her opinion, it is important not to continue interacting with the child in a state of intense tension, but first to restore your own resources: give yourself the opportunity to relax, seek help from loved ones, or simply admit your fatigue.

Krashkina added that parents should give up striving for ideal behavior. A child's emotional reactions are influenced by age, temperament, and external circumstances, not just the actions of adults.

"The main thing is to change the attitude towards children's tears: to perceive them not as evidence of a failure in upbringing, but as a natural manifestation of vivid emotions. This approach helps the child to live through difficult conditions more easily, and helps the parents to remain calm and self—respecting," the doctor explained.

Marina May, an expert on child development and founder of the Art Academy – Academy of Differences educational centers, said on January 31 that parents who take excessive care prevent their children from developing and cause fear of mistakes. According to the expert, the modern cult of "childhood without tears" can lead to a child's lack of independence.