Having a newborn brings plenty of newness into our lives. Some of it is magical, and some… not so much.
New, tired, and overwhelmed parents are sure to be horrified when their baby won’t stop crying.
You naturally wonder if it’s experiencing physical pain or other discomfort.
If you’ve eliminated the main causes like cramps, hunger, or a diaper emergency and the newborn isn’t sick, you’re likely at a loss for what to do to soothe your baby.
Try These 11 Things to Comfort Your Crying Baby
Babies can sometimes cry for no reason – literally. They might be bored of lying on their back, they want attention or perhaps room temperature isn’t to their liking.
It doesn’t have to be any major or scary cause for a little baby to start crying. Truth be told, there isn’t a lot more for them to do.
Here are 11 things to try to help your baby settle down:
- Feed it again
- Bounce the baby in the sling
- Turn on white noise
- Play an audio of a crying baby
- Play some music
- Turn off the lights
- Go out for a walk
- Change the scenery
- Laugh
- Take a deep breath
- Take care of yourself
The Baby Could Just Still be Hungry
If you’ve recently fed the baby, this was probably the first thing you’ve checked off as a non-reason behind the crying.
However, you can’t know for sure if the baby is craving more food. It has no other way to tell you other than to cry.
It’s the simplest solution of all which can sometimes be overlooked.
Closeness and Movement Promote Peace
Carrying the baby in your arms is quite limiting, but that’s what slings are for.
Your baby could be upset because it craves closeness. It feels when you’re away and need to feel your breathing and heartbeat to feel safe.
So get your baby into a sling and go about your business. Your movement will soothe it and likely even put it to sleep.
Vacuum Cleaner or a Washer Have a Surprising Effect
The noise produced by these machines is dubbed the white noise.
It’s said that it reminds the baby of the womb because it’s similar to the sound of the mother’s blood passing through the placenta.
We all find comfort in the familiar – especially the babies who are completely surrounded by the unknown.
The white noise is a soothing method many parents swear by!
Babies Can Stop Crying When They Hear… Crying
A quirky trick is to either play a video of another crying baby or record your own baby’s wails.
Why would this work?
Simply put, it stuns the baby. It’s not aware of its own crying, and hearing it back is something surprising and new.
Babies are curious, and if your baby’s indeed crying out of boredom, this trick makes for an awesome distraction.
Babies Love Music as Much as Anyone
Though lullabies are designed to calm the baby and make it sleepy, all other kinds of music are just as welcome.
Jolly, rock, or even fantasy music can make your baby’s waking time more enjoyable.
Make sure it’s not too loud, and try out different genres to see which your baby likes best.
It’s said that music has a similar effect to movement on babies. Music promotes calmness, and can even calm the baby’s breathing and heart rate.
Artificial Light Might be the Culprit
Strong ceiling light can cause sensory overload in some adults, and babies are much more susceptible to that.
Leaving the room dark or introducing a soft, warm lamp can create a more soothing ambiance for the baby.
When in Doubt, Turn to Your Stroller
Like yourself, your baby could be sick of being stuck inside all day long.
Get your stroller, pack the essentials, and take your baby out for a walk.
It’s a great chance for it to see and experience new things, and its curiosity will likely keep the tears away.
Go Somewhere With Your Baby
Taking your baby to your parents’ or friend’s home, or simply leaving it to spend the day with its dad, can turn things around.
Babies can get bored and overwhelmed by the same old surroundings just like we can.
Surrounding it with the people it knows but doesn’t spend so much time with is a great idea to keep it entertained and happy.
Laughter Can Help
You probably had your baby laughing back at you a few times.
When they’re comfortable, babies repeat what they see us doing. Playing a comedy show – especially one with a laughing track – can easily brighten the baby’s mood.
It can also help the parents relax, which the newborn can definitely feel.
Breathe Deeply and Try to Stay Calm
A mountain of new responsibilities, lack of sleep, and a screaming baby make for a cocktail of stress.
Your baby can feel when you’re happy, angry, tense and is affected by it greatly.
For the baby’s sake and your own, take a deep breath and try to find ways to soothe yourself so you can move on to soothing your baby.
Do Something for Yourself
Work with your partner, your parents, or theirs in order to create a little window of time for you.
Feeling stuck inside can quickly make you miserable, so demand the time for yourself to work out, have a coffee with your best friend, or get your hair done.
Your baby needs you – at your full potential. Taking care of your own well-being means taking care of your family.