How to Soothe a Crying Baby

As parents, we've all been there. Since babies can't use words, crying is their way of communicating with us. A parent's job is to observe their baby to try to figure out what the problem is. You will quickly learn to recognize your baby's cries signaling hunger or diaper discomfort. But cries due to over stimulation, pain or frustration may take some detective work to interpret. Have patience and don't be afraid to try different techniques until you find the ones that work best to soothe your baby.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Hold your baby. Regardless of what the problem is, a warm snuggle is a good place to start. Sometimes your baby is just lonely or may be worried or fearful. Being close to you provides a sense of security and comfort. If your baby is bored, picking them up could provide some new scenery that will entertain them for a while. If you've got things to do and need your hands free, place them in a baby sling and go about your business.

2. Take your baby to a dark quiet room if they show signs of over stimulation. Shutting their eyes and turning their head away from the noise when they cry is a good sign. If there are noisy people in the room or lots of lights and sounds, your baby may be telling you they want some peace and quiet.

3. Check your baby's temperature and undress them to examine their body to try to determine if their cries are signaling pain. These cries can be sudden and shrill or long and drawn out followed by a brief moment where they stop to catch their breath and then start over again. The problem could be as simple as getting a finger pinched or getting poked with a diaper pin. Once you address the source of the pain, hold your baby close to soothe and calm them.

4. Look for signs of tiredness. If they're yawning, rubbing their eyes or have lost interest in activity, they may just need some sleep. Give your baby a kiss and a hug and put them down for a nap.

5. Provide motion for your baby. Picking up a baby and rocking them is an instinctive activity for parents and for good reason. Babies love rhythmic motion so bounce, jiggle and dance with your baby or take them for a ride in the car.

6. Use white noise to soothe your crying baby. When they were in the womb it was a very noisy place. Your baby may find comfort in hearing a continuous rhythmic sound like a vacuum cleaner, clothes dryer or the whirring of a ceiling fan.

Tips & Warnings

• Occasional crying is healthy and normal, but constant or prolonged crying could be a sign of something serious. If this occurs, consult your pediatrician.

Resources

• Visit cryingbabies.com for information and treatment for colic