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C.A.L.M. Local “baby whisperer” helps fussy babies — and their parents — find relief By Vicki Martinka Petersen Photos provided by Northwestern Medicine
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s a first-time mother, Cecelia Rhoades wasn’t sure why her newborn daughter, Leighton, cried for long periods of time for no apparent reason. She was fed, changed and not overtired.
During a 36-hour crying spell, Rhoades took her daughter to the ER, hoping to find answers. Instead, they were told it was just colic and gastrointestinal issues. Eventually Leighton’s pediatric gastroenterologist referred her to Patti Ideran, a pediatric occupational therapist at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital. Dubbed the “baby whisper,” Ideran literally wrote the book on how to help fussy babies — and their parents. Ideran’s journey began as being the mother of a
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fussy baby herself.
“When my now 30-year-old was born, he was really fussy,” says Ideran, who lives in Batavia. “We got the runaround that he’ll grow out of it, but I felt there has to be something we can do to help.” She began doing research to find out why some babies are fussier than others. Through her research, Ideran developed the CALM Method, which stands for Cues, Arousal Levels and Massage. “Fussy babies don’t give clear cues like other babies,” Ideran says. For instance, when a fussy baby puts their hand in their mouth, it doesn’t necessarily mean the baby is hungry — they just might want to be held. Ideran also noticed their arousal levels are higher compared to other babies. She helps
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