9 Ideas for Settling a Crying Baby
Published: 1st March 2017
We've all been there... Baby is crying and you've got to the point where you don't know what to do. Maybe your baby has colic or
is in a Wonder Week. One thing’s for sure, in that moment your brain has
disconnected and you can't see the wood from the trees.
First things first, TAKE A BREATH... You're doing a great job!
Babies cry for a million reasons; for them, it’s the only way that they can communicate with you. Unfortunately they haven’t
mastered how to tell us exactly what the problem is so here’s a handy list to start with:
- Is baby hungry?
- Does he/she have wind?
- Is there a surprise in the nappy?
- Is your baby too hot or too cold?
- Is he/she in pain or in an uncomfortable position?
- Are his/her clothes itchy or uncomfortable?
- Or maybe he/she is just saying ‘I’m bored mammy! Let’s have some fun!’
If you’ve checked all the items above and you are sure that your baby is physically fine but still crying then you can try a
few things:
1. You can try to distract your baby.
Sing or dance, show him/her some toys or turn on the music. Sometimes babies are crying so much that probably they don’t even
remember why. That’s why you can try distraction. A great bonus her is that mammy is taking baby into her arms to dance or sing
and babies love to stick close to mammy.
2. If wind is an issue, you can try ‘The Magic Baby Hold’.
(Wiessinger, West, and Pitman, 2010). Lie your baby on your left forearm tummy down with their head in the nook of your elbow,
supporting their bum with your hand with one leg on either side of your arm. Add a sway or a bounce if your baby is particularly fussy.
3. Sometimes a tummy massage makes all the difference.
I remember once when my baby girl was around a month old and she was crying for nearly 20 minutes, I had no idea what to do, and
then my husband took her and massaged her tummy. Just after that she did a great big poop and the crying stopped. Just like that!
4. A sling or a baby carrier is always a great tool.
Your baby can hear your heartbeat, feel your body warmth and also is in similar position as in mammy’s belly. A sling reduces the
free space around your newborn so he/she feels safe and secure. For mammies, it’s great because she has her hands free, she knows
that baby is safe and she has a tool to calm him/her down.
5. Swaddling is also very helpful for the newborns.
Since newborns are used to being tucked up in the womb they can be startled by their flailing limbs. Swaddling is a useful way to
simulate that snug secure feeling from the womb while your newborn is fussing. ‘The Hold’
(Robert Hamilton, 2015) or Doctor Karp’s 5 S method; Swaddling, Stomach
position (in your arms), Shushing, Swing movement and
Suckling (Karp, 2008) are both alternatives to swaddling.
6. A calming bath is great for any water babies.
Some babies just love the feeling of being in water; make sure that the water is at body temperature. This can be a great
opportunity to get some time to bond with your baby if you hop in for a bath with them for some relaxing play and skin to skin.
7. Many parents find it helpful to get some fresh air.
In those early days especially, you can get to the evening without ever seeing the outside of your house. If baby has been fussing
a lot, some fresh air can benefit parent and a baby. Don’t hesitate to go for a walk in the evening or in the middle of the night
if you need to as long as you feel safe doing so.
8. Find your tribe.
Sometimes our expectations and the reality of having a baby do not always align. Find a line minded friend or group of parents to
chat with about the ups and downs of parenting. Sometimes a bit of perspective can help you realize that you are normal and
everyone has their own parenting challenges.
9. Finally… Trust yourself!
You are the expert on your baby. You have been with them since the beginning and know them best. You spend the most time with them
and notice the most trivial of things about them that help you figure out how best to calm them down. Listen to your instincts and
don’t get stuck on a particular idea; if something’s not working move on or give it a break for a while and again later.
Best of luck on your new adventure with your little one and don’t forget that all these ideas are
daddy friendly too...
References