If you’re a parent, be reassured that babies are normal to cry–it’s their primary way of communicating with you. So don’t feel discouraged, frustrated, or hopeless. With patience, practice, and some helpful tips from the experts, you’ll get better at soothing your upset baby.
Babies are fussy for many reasons; soothing helps them return to serenity. The top reason could be hunger, tiredness, diaper need, overstimulation, or many other reasons why babies fuss. You can always track your baby’s mood in simple ways.
Babies cry for all sorts of reasons, which are pretty easy to figure out. The best thing to do is to pick up your baby and try to comfort them. But when all else fails, you may have to try something else, such as changing your baby’s diaper, cleaning his face and hands with a warm washcloth, or offering a bottle.
Here are 7 ways to calm your fussy baby:
Comfort
A baby’s best comfort is to be held close. If a baby doesn’t stop crying when you have him, try rocking or taking him for a walk in a stroller. If your baby is still crying, see if feeding helps. Babies can stay up to three hours between feedings during the early months, so that you might have already fed her recently.
Swaddle
Swaddling helps calm a crying baby and promotes sleep. Swaddling provides a feeling of security similar to being in the womb. And it prevents your baby from startling herself while she’s asleep. Most babies love being swaddled.
Rub Your Baby's Back
If your baby is a newborn, place her on her left side after feeding to help her digest. Gently rub her back to soothe her. If your baby falls asleep, always lay her down in her crib on her back to help ensure that she doesn’t roll over onto her face in her sleep.
Play a Sound
Sometimes babies may feel restless and uncomfortable when they don’t hear the sounds they heard in the womb, such as the humming of a fan. A sound machine that plays the soothing sounds of a fan, vacuum cleaner, or white noise can help.
Take a Walk
Calm your baby with a walk. If you have a stroller, take your baby out to the park. The fresh air and exercise can be soothing. If it’s not too cold, go for a brisk walk with your baby in a body carrier or sling. Some babies find repetitive motion relaxing, so going for a stroll can calm them down.
Change Diet
Discomfort may occur to them due to food. It’s not unusual for a baby to get fussy after eating certain foods. The best way you can help your baby is by changing their diet. Consider cutting down on the foods first, and if there is no difference after making the dietary changes, resume their usual diet. If you are not breastfeeding, ask your doctor whether you can try another formula. Sometimes this seems to help babies with reflux and colic.
Change Nap Hours
Try not to let your baby nap for more than three hours during the day. Keep your baby calm by not turning on bright lights or the TV while feeding or changing her during the night.
Getting a new baby to stop crying in the middle of the night can seem impossible, but there are plenty of methods that you can try. Some babies respond better to one technique than another, so be sure to try several until you find one that works for your little one.
It is often the case that parents will try a variety of ways to calm fussy babies. Putting them to sleep will be easier than coping with screams or cries. Many parents have turned to audiobooks as a way to comfort young children. Many babies find listening to stories soothing and calming, providing a way of taking their minds off of what is causing them discomfort in the first place.
The bottom line is that you should use whatever works for you and your baby. If your baby is happy, sleeping, and eating well, it doesn’t matter if you use a crib or a co-sleeper. What matters more is how safe it is to sleep with your baby so that you can both get a good night’s sleep.