Is your baby crying a lot?
I know how you feel.
Heartbroken.
Lost.
Desperate and willing to do everything to stop the crying and make your baby feel as comfortable as possible.
Welcome to the magical world of parenting! It’s not easy, but at the end of the day – after 10 feedings, 10 burpings, 10 nappy changings and millions of attempts to stop the baby crying – your heart will be filled with love. And that’s what matters.
These are 5 ways of calming a crying baby which worked for me and helped me to stay sane.
1. BASIC NEEDS
First things first you have to make sure all your baby’s basic needs are filled. Is she hungry? Is she cold/hot? Has her diaper been changed? Is she sleepy? These are the most common reasons why babies start crying in the first place. This is where it gets tricky. You may know that your baby is tired, but you just can’t get her to sleep. Check out this helpful post to see how to put your tired baby to sleep. Make sure all her needs are met before taking any further steps.
2. BABYWEARING
Babies who are worn by their parents cry less. Wearing your baby and walking around really helps to soothe her, especially in the evening hours. They enjoy the feeling of closeness and the rhythm of your steps. Bonus: The baby carriers allow your hands to remain free, so get ready for some serious multitasking.
3. PUT OUT THE LIGHTS
Simply pull down the blackout shades and put your little ones in their cribs with a pacifier. This works because babies can become easily overstimulated from all the noise and lights of everyday life. You probably ask yourself “What? How?”, but it’s true. We can’t forget that newborns are used to the quiet, dark confines of the womb.
4.WHITE NOISE
White noise has a soothing effect on babies because it sounds similiar to the blood rushing through our veins when they are in the womb. So next time your baby is fussy try turning on the vacuum cleaner. It can be annoying, but definitely better than listening to your angel’s crying. Also there are a lot hours long YouTube videos with white noise sounds.
5. THE 5 S’S METHOD
Pretty simple, yet works like a charm. Swaddle, side-stomach position, shush, swing and suck.
- The 1st S: Swaddle
Swaddling recreates the snug packaging inside the womb and is the cornerstone of calming.
- The 2nd S: Side/Stomach Position You can hold your baby on her side, on her stomach or over your shoulder. But be careful! The back is the only safe position for sleeping.
- The 3rd S: Shush Babies don’t need total silence to sleep. As mentioned before, they are used to the sound of the blood flow in the womb, which is a shush louder than a vacuum cleaner. Definitely give a chance to the white noise sounds, you won’t regret it.
- The 4th S: Swing Your baby was bopping around in your belly all the time. Slow rocking is fine, but you need to use fast, tiny motions to soothe a crying infant. Remember to always support the head and the neck! Keep your motions small and move no more than 1 inch back and forth.
- The 5th S: Suck Many fussy babies calm down while sucking on a pacifier. The only thing left for you to do is pick the right one!
Try to be patient. Keeping your baby safe is the most important thing. Sometimes you may feel upset or frustrated because of your little one’s crying and it’s okay. Sooner or later you will find a method to soothe your baby. These tips are non time-consuming and an easy way to do so. Good luck!
