I want to be sure to say that every baby is different. What works for my little one, may not work for yours. After deciding that the basics are covered - diaper is dry, baby isn't hungry, their clothes aren't too tight, and your baby is still crying - that's when these tips can come in handy. Babies also respond to your own vibes, so make sure to keep your cool - tension can exacerbate the issue. Keeping that in mind, here are ten different ways to calm an upset baby:
Hold Them Close
Your baby isn't going to be a baby for long, so this one shouldn't be a hard one to accomplish. Sometimes all baby wants is to be held and snuggled.
Wrap Them Up
If you have a younger baby, try swaddling. Leaving the close, snugly womb and entering this vast world can be pretty scary to a newborn. If you have an older baby, simply wrapping their favorite blanket around them and snuggling them up can work wonders.
Sing a Song
It doesn't matter if your voice sounds like two cats fighting in an alley - your little one loves it. Try singing a lullaby or two to help calm them down. Don't know any lullabies? Sing an old hair band ballad - they wont care. The important part is to have a soothing tune and Mommy's voice.
Swing, Rock, and Sway
Gentle, constant movement is what baby felt in the womb. Try recreating that by walking around, rocking in a rocking chair, or even bouncing on an exercise ball. The calm, repetitive movement might be just what baby needs to be lulled back into a calm frame of mind.
Change the Scene
Babies communicate by crying. That's pretty much the only way they have to tell you that they are upset, tired, hungry, or bored. Sometimes all they need is a change of scenery. Try bringing them outside, taking a walk, going for a car ride, or even just taking them into a different room.
One Man's Trash is a Baby's Treasure
Now I'm not saying to throw your baby in the trashcan or to let them play with nuclear waste - but a baby's ever curious nature means that they want to play with your empty soda bottle or that box that you were about to bring to the curb. Giving a baby something to play with that you normally wouldn't think of might buy you five or maybe even ten minutes of not crying so you can set them in the playpen and go use the bathroom or change out of your pajamas.
Water Play
Babies love water. Maybe it's a womb thing, maybe it's because it feels funny... whatever it is, use it to your advantage. If you can't get your little one to stop screaming, try giving them a bath. Or running water over their hands or feet in the sink. Just use common sense here - never leave an infant alone in the tub and make sure the water is an optimal temperature for baby. My little girl will scream in delight as soon as she has a chance to splash.
Skin-to-skin Contact
This one works especially for the younger babies - strip them down and put them on your bare chest. I don't recommend trying this one in public, but babies love the skin-to-skin contact. Even older babies can appreciate a good massage with some yummy-smelling lotion.
Vibrations
Most bouncy seats come with the vibration feature - and it can be a God-send when your baby is uber-fussy. Another alternative is buckling them into their car seat and setting them on a running washing machine (again, common sense - keep one hand on the seat at all times so baby doesn't end up in the floor.) Even taking your baby for a car ride will provide the calming vibrations that most babies seem to love.
Hand Them Off
I promise, there's going to be times when you have tried every single thing in the book and your baby is still fussy. If nothing will placate your baby, try handing her off to someone else for a few minutes. Even the tiniest of babes can tell when they're in the arms of their momma, and sometimes breaking that tie for a minut will be enough to catch him off guard and stop the crying. At the very least, you will get a chance to get back into the right headspace – remember that your baby’s cries don’t affect other people as much as they affect you (until toddlerhood).
I used to get my daughter to stop crying as a baby by playing The Girl From Ipanema and dancing around with her!
ReplyDeleteAll things I've done to soothe my crying babies. Great list!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great list. I have two little boys and now I am expecting a baby girl in Feb. I have used all of these ideas when trying to soothe my babies. For the most part, they work!
ReplyDeleteErin Knack (erinknack08@yahoo.com)
I love these tips and I know that I have used some of these and they work great my son loves empty soda bottles
ReplyDeleteCuddling always seemed to calm my little man when he was upset. Great tips to keep in mind :)
ReplyDeleteMy daughter always loved it when I sing to her, these are great tips :)
ReplyDelete