Babies are the most beautiful thing in this world until they start whimpering at the top of their lungs and you have no idea why. Sometimes feeding, burping, singing a lullaby and changing diapers will stop the whining. But sometimes, no matter what you do, the crying just won’t stop.
Hold your nerves and don’t give up. I have been exactly where you are right now. After extensive research, followed by a few trials and errors, I’ve finally cracked the code!
Here’s what experienced mother, Alvina Emmy recommends to comfort a fussy baby:
Swaddling
Swaddling and rocking a baby is the most surefire method to stop the screaming and crazy arm flailing. Take a warm blanket and gently wrap him up by securing his arms by his sides. This mimics the warm and cozy setting of a mother’s uterus where your baby happily spent the first 9 months of his or her life.
Comfort of Your Skin
If swaddling fails to do the trick, the next smart thing to do is wear your baby and walk around for a while. Snuggle your newborn in a sling or front-pack carrier for extra head support.
Babies enjoy the skin-to-skin time more than anything else. It slows down their heart rate, and controls their body temperature and breathing. That’s why gently rocking your baby front carrier or sling can reduce the fussiness. The motion relaxes his mind and muscles, helping him fall asleep easily.
Massage Therapy
Babies enjoy a little massage every now and then just as much as adults. When your baby won’t stop crying for hours, take some baby massage oil or lotion on your palm and gently massage her chest from the center outward.
Give their tiny belly a good rub, roll her arms and feet, un-curl her fists and toes. I would tickle my baby’s tummy,too. It never fails to make her giggle.
Use a Pacifier
Sometimes the best solution to put an end to nonstop crying is to let your baby suck on his finger or a pacifier before or after feeding. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), pacifiers are completely safe for newborns. So you have nothing to worry about here.
Calming Down a Colicky Baby
If your baby is crying and screaming at the top of her lungs for 2-3 hours after bottle feeding, it’s probably colic pain. In this case, you should immediately switch to a high-quality anti-colic bottle to minimize the air intake while bottle-feeding. With so many options available today, you don’t need to break a bank to own the best anti-colic bottle for your junior.
Comfortable Clothing
When your child is crying incessantly and no amount of swaddling, belly rubbing or hand stroking works, check if his clothes are too tight or uncomfortable. Try putting him into thin cotton onesies or jumpsuits. If the weather is cold, try comfy pants and long-sleeved shirts.
Tweak the Temperature
Extreme temperature changes could be one of the main reasons why your baby won’t stop whining and would refuse to sleep. If the temperature inside the house is too hot and humid or cold, it can make your baby extremely uncomfortable. In that case, re-adjusting the thermostat, turning on the humidifier or AC can stop the fussing and bring back the smile.
Hello Darkness, His Old Friend
Your baby is acclimatized to the dark and quiet environment of your uterus. That’s where he felt safe and secure for nine full months. Re-creating that safe space in his room can be very effective in soothing our little Mr.Crankypants. To do so, cut down the auditory and visual stimuli by dimming the lights and turning off the TV or radio.
Use White Noise
While loud noise of TV, people chattering,or vehicle engines can easily jangle your baby’s nerves, low-volume white noise does the very opposite. Certain white noises resemble the sound infants hear in the womb when the mother’s blooded rushes through the placenta, research says.
Help him hear the sound of rainfall or waterfall, turn on the fan or vacuum cleaner. You can also use a white noise machine or download a white noise app on your phone. Alternatively, you can try the old school method of shushing your baby while rocking him.
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A Long Drive or Just a Stroll in the Garden
A simple change of environment can soothe the crankiest baby in a blink at times. The sudden change of environmental stimuli -like temperature, sound, light, and smell can instantly lift up your baby’s mood. If the weather outside is not suitable for strolling, take him on a drive and see the results yourself.
Babies cry when they are sad, mad, angry, hungry, gassy or poopy. That’s the only language they know. So don’t panic or lose hope. I know watching your baby crying for hours can tear you up,too,but that’s just how it is.I have brought up 3 kids, and trust me -it is impossible to always pinpoint the reason for the crying. Try the methods I listed above, see what works for your baby the best,and if you really feel something is seriously wrong, consult a pediatrician immediately.
What to Do When Traditional Techniques Don’t Work
As you care for your newborn, you begin to recognize what their cries mean. You develop a sense for when the baby is sleepy, hungry, gassy, sick or in need of a new diaper. But sometimes you can’t console them, no matter how much you try.
When you can’t figure out what’s upsetting them, it’s concerning. You desperately want to help them return to the happy, healthy baby you know. After you test out every trick you know to soothe fussy newborns, you need out-of-the-box thinking.
Creative techniques can comfort your little one and stop their cries. With surprisingly simple methods, you can alleviate your baby’s distress and reach peace yourself.
Here are Kacey Bradley’s creative baby soothing techniques for when nothing seems to be working to get your baby to stop crying:
Perform a Baby Massage
A parent’s touch can calm an upset baby, and what better way to connect with your child than with an infant massage? If your baby is gassy or colicky, you can ease their symptoms with a comforting rub. You can use a cold-pressed oil that’s gentle on the baby’s skin.
First, find a cozy and safe place to lay your baby down. Begin rhythmically stroking your baby’s tummy in circular motions, then move to their legs and back. Identify what your baby positively responds to and focus on that part of their body.
Do Soothing Shushes
While your baby was in the womb, they didn’t have a completely silent environment. Your womb had subtle, warbling sounds, and if you mimic these, you can make your baby feel right at home again. Shushing is the closest noise you can make to the whooshing they once heard.
Even in utero, a baby reacts to its mother’s voice, although it was muffled at the time. So try imitating a steady shush to establish a feeling of security and belonging for your baby.
Play Gentle Music
Pleasant music can distract a baby and bring them to a content state. Consistent sounds can effectively reduce tension and change a baby’s frantic state. Tunes that grab their attention and fascinate them can decrease their cries.
Different peaceful instruments can pacify babies, like wind chimes. Wind chimes with deeper vibrations can relax an upset baby until it falls asleep. Play gentle sounds to soothe a newborn and consider hanging a musical mobile above their crib.
Swaddle Them
A tight position can bring extra reassurance for a baby. Snuggly wrap your baby in a breathable blanket, and remember to secure their arms one over the other on the abdomen.
Your child might startle themselves or break free from the swaddle in their sleep, so don’t bundle it too loose. Also, take the right precautions to avoid an overly warm condition for the baby.
Swivel Them Back and Forth
Safe movement can create a beneficial atmosphere for an agitated newborn. If you firmly hold your baby near your body and swivel your abdomen, you can contribute a helpful motion to stop tears from flowing.
They can rest in your strong arms as you swivel them around. This rocking motion allows them to depend on you and settle down.
Give a Warm Bath
As babies get cold easily, a warm bath can help boost their mood and ease their crying. Plus, if they’re crying due to discomfort from gas, the bath can take away their aches.
Whether you’re using a baby bathtub or the sink, start out by filling it with a little water. Choose a safe temperature, then go section by section to softly bathe your baby. At the end, pat them dry with a towel to finish up a calming bathtime experience.
Draw Them Close in a Sling
The warmth of a parent’s body can reduce restlessness and quiet a baby down. Put on a baby sling or carrier to establish contact and create a close environment for your child.
Tuck your baby against your heart so they can fully feel your presence. When they’re compressed against you, the crying can subside and set you both on a path to serenity.
Pump Their Legs
When gas is bothering your infant, peddling their legs can get the gas through their system faster. You can place the baby on their back with a clear view of your face, then take his feet in your hands. Pump their legs in a small bicycling motion for a few minutes, unless the baby resists or the crying increases.
Calm Your Crying Baby
When your child is distressed, you want to provide a quick and easy solution. But oftentimes, it takes unique ways to comfort a baby and ease their crying. Soothe your baby with careful attention and creative techniques.
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Alvina Emmy is a mother of two on a quest to understand the psyche of today’s kids, how we can improve our parenting techniques and what it takes to be a good parent.She’s also a story teller who has lots of wild and crazy parenting stories to share with the world. Check out my site parentloves.com to take a peek.
Kacey Bradley is the lifestyle and travel blogger for The Drifter Collective, an eclectic lifestyle blog that expresses various forms of style through the influence of culture and the world around us. Kacey graduated with a degree in Communications while working for a lifestyle magazine. She has been able to fully embrace herself with the knowledge of nature, the power of exploring other locations and cultures, all while portraying her love for the world around her through her visually pleasing, culturally embracing and inspiring posts. Along with writing for her blog, she frequently writes for sites like US Travel News, Thought Catalog, Style Me Pretty, Tripping.com and more! Follow Kacey on Twitter and subscribe to her blog to keep up with her travels and inspiring posts!
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