How to Soothe a Crying Baby

Everybody loves a lil baby. But no one likes to hear them cry, it breaks your heart! Here are some tips for soothing a crying baby.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Patience
• Love

1. Check the baby's diaper. After all, I wouldn't want to be sitting in a dirty mess. Neither does the little one!

2. Baby might be hungry. Try a bottle.

3. If the bottle works and settles the baby down only for the baby to start crying again a couple of minutes later, must likely the baby has some gas. Burp the baby. Rub your hand on their back from their lower back to their neck (not back and forth). This helps to move the gas up so the baby can be burped easier.

4. Sometimes the baby just wants attention. Play with him or her. Get their favorite toy. Or give them a pacifier.

5. Conversely, a baby might cry if they are overstimulated. They can't handle attention as well as we can. Too many people, being passed from one to another constantly, having toys shoved in their face could actually cause a baby to cry instead of being soothing.

6. Baby might be tired but doesn't want to fall asleep. A swing could help. Or a stroller ride. Another option is to strap the baby in the car seat and drive around the block. The smooth ride might lull the little one to sleep.

7. Baby might be too hot or too cold.

8. 
   Follow these tips and baby will look like an angel in no time!

   Pick up the baby. Cuddle her. Sing to him. Gently bounce them in your arms, swaying to the music as you dance. Besides being a picture perfect moment, it may stop the babe from crying.

9. The baby could be in pain. Maybe there were pins in their clothes and you missed one. Or their arm twisted the wrong way. Pain can make anyone cry!

10. The horrors: the little one could be getting sick. If nothing seems to be working and baby refuses to eat and sleep, it could be time to call the doctor and schedule an appointment.

11. Another horror: some babies are colic and nothing, and I mean nothing, will get them to stop crying.

Tips & Warnings

• No matter what, even if the baby has been crying for hours, NEVER shake the baby. This will not only not cause the baby to stop crying, it can seriously harm the baby and even result in death. If you must, leave the room. It's better for the child to cry and for you to catch your breath before trying to soothe the baby again then to harm the baby in any way.

[ShannaFuentes]

on 10/25/2008 Excellent advice for new Moms! Great article!

[leanan]

on 10/22/2008 Great tips for new moms or caregivers :)

[GeoffreyMe]

on 10/21/2008 sometimes the baby gets over stimulated too. good stuff.

[Alisiane]

on 10/8/2008 There is another reason babies cry that I had never heard of until I became a mom:

Since they don't have the ability to tell us what's wrong, sometimes they are in pain. Supposedly a common reason for newborns is there can be a hair that has become wrapped around their toe that is causing them discomfort, squeezing and limiting circulation.

Now, this never happened to my little girl, but after I read it in a baby book, everytime I couldn't figure out why my daughter was crying I'd start desperately examining her toes...just proves that not ALL info in those "What to Expect" books is gold and lots of it just contributes to the anxiety of already anxious new moms :-)

[TheMelonHeads]

on 10/7/2008 Great Checklist and good advice!