If you’re a new parent, you’ve more than likely had your hands full with a crying baby at some point. Sometimes, it feels as though you can’t soothe your child, no matter what you do. And while not every baby can be soothed, the following are some tips you may find helpful when Junior just won’t quiet down.
Rocking – Rocking is, of course, one of the better-known methods for soothing a crying baby – and for good reason. The motion helps to slowly lull your baby to sleep, while the closeness to mother helps to put him or her at ease.
Swings – Baby swings are very popular when it comes to soothing upset infants. Nowadays, you can find swings that run on batteries, play music, and even have toys for your baby to look at and play with. You may even find that the swing is one of the only ways your baby will stop crying – making it well worth the investment.
Going for a drive – While this certainly isn’t recommended for each and every time a baby cries, there’s something about the motion of the car that calms down babies. However, if you use this technique each and every time your baby fusses, he or she will come to depend on it in order to be soothed.
Gas Drops – Many times, a baby’s crying is caused by painful gas bubbles in his or her tummy. Fortunately, there are some natural remedies available at any pharmacy that don’t require a prescription and are safe to use regularly. If you can’t get to a pharmacy, a lukewarm cloth on the baby’s tummy may also help.
Put the baby on the washing machine – Believe it or not, the spin cycle on the washing machines can really soothe a baby. The rhythmic movement works like rocking and swings, but some babies prefer this better, perhaps due to the heat generated or the humming sound the machine makes. Just be sure you don’t leave your baby alone on the machine, as the carrier can quickly work its way off of the washer and fall to the floor.
Run the vacuum – Many babies instantly quit crying when the vacuum starts. While it isn’t understood why exactly this happens, some doctors believe that it works the same way as white noise will soothe an adult.
Play music – Many parents find that music soothes a crying baby. Of course, not every baby will react the same way to music – some will begin to cry harder, others will start to play, and still other babies will fall asleep. Vary the beat and tempo to find which music seems to work best for comforting your child.
Remove stimulation – Sometimes a baby cries because he or she is over-stimulated. If there’s too much going on in a room – whether from people, televisions, or pets – you may need to move the baby to another room. Simply doing so may quickly calm your baby down.
Soothing a crying baby isn’t an exact science – what works for one may not work for another. Keep trying something different until you figure out which solution is best for you and your baby. But remember, what works today may not work tomorrow, so keep this list of options close at hand.
