How To Soothe A Crying Baby

When your baby cries, it definitely puts you in a frenzy. As a parent, you are worried that something is wrong with your little bundle of joy, that you won’t be able to calm her or that you are not doing such a good job as a parent!

However, such is not the case!

The truth is that, it happens to every new parent. Whether you have read all baby books, gone to baby classes and taken notes from possibly every elder in your family, you might not still succeed in pacifying your baby instantly.

So yes, it is painful for you to see your baby cry, especially if he or she bawls for hours on end. While it is easy to feel frustrated and disappointed, it is equally easy to soothe your crying baby.

Watch this video to learn 2 amazing techniques to calm a crying baby in few seconds.

Now, before you move ahead to learn more about soothing your baby, work your way down the list to know the common reasons for why babies actually cry:

1. Hyperactivity: A baby tends to get affected when there are too many people around or when there is lots of background noise. Sometimes, such an environment overwhelms the babies so much that it starts to bother them, and they start crying.  
2. Diaper change: For the baby, crying is an effective way to signal the parents for a diaper change, as he or she feels uncomfortable when the diaper is soiled or wet.
3. Fatigue: A baby needs at least 12-14 hours of sleep every day! If she is not getting enough sleep, then it is a given that the baby is going to get overly cranky and act fussy.
4. Colic: Severe abdominal pain caused due to passing wind is called colic. It usually affects infants between the ages of two weeks and four months. A colicky baby may cry more than three hours a day, three days a week or even three weeks a month! This physical distress can make him or her seemingly impossible to comfort.
5. Allergy: Babies may be allergic to a particular product—food or liquid. No matter what the age is, they too can suffer from an allergic reaction and that can make them uncomfortable and cranky.

6. Gas: Babies are naturally gassy. Certain kinds of solid foods are the reason for it. The physical discomfort caused  by gas can render them cranky for long periods.

When your baby cries, it is a signal that he or she needs help with something that is bothersome. And you, must remain calm and in control to be able to soothe them. Here are some tried and tested fuss-busters:

1. Create a calm environment: An over-stimulated baby can cause a fuss and bawl for hours. So, take the baby to a quieter (or darker) corner of the house. Place your hand on the chest to calm the baby down. In some cases, simple “shhhing” also helps.
2. Play “peek-a-boo”: Distract your baby from the source of crying by playing a game with her. Put the baby’s hands over your eyes, then pull them away and say “peek-a-boo”. Your baby will most definitely respond to this game by laughing out loud and reaching out to your face.
3. Sing to your baby: Sometimes a baby just wants the attention of the parents. Hence, sing to your baby or just hum while watching him or her. The baby will focus on not only the notes but also your face, and finally relax.
4. Lift your baby in the air: Grab the little one from underneath arms and lift him or her up in the air. Slowly, go up and down. Repeat this a few times till the activity tickles your baby’s tummy and makes him or her giggle.
5. Go outside in fresh air: Take your baby out for some time. Pull his or her attention towards the chirping of birds, cars zooming by or the tall buildings around you. This will help your baby relax.

Other tips…

• You can even make a baby burrito—wrap the little one tightly with a soft cotton cloth, thereby giving the comfortable feeling of the womb.
• A pacifier or slight swing can also help calm your baby.

Please note that not everything is going to work for every baby all the time. But you will definitely be able to provide some sort of relief to your crying baby. Adding to this thought, there is particular thing you must never do—shaking your baby.

Avoid “Shaken Baby Syndrome”

This takes place when a baby is shaken as it can be physically harmful to them. The sudden jolt can cause the blood vessels in the baby’s head to burst. Other medical problems caused by this are mental retardation, blindness and seizures.

“All babies are unique, all babies are similar”

Crying is a natural phenomenon and almost all babies cry a considerable lot. Similarly, all parents have felt (and feel helpless) at some point or the other while soothing their babies. The key to calming your baby is by being supremely patient and handling this phase with a positive approach.

But most important of them all is to not forget enjoying your baby. After all, these moments of distress will later turn into cherishable memories—you can reminisce with your baby! Trust us, doing so will make you emotional, happy and most importantly, content.