How to soothe a crying baby

Crying is a baby’s way of communicating, and in the first few months, it’s the only way they can communicate. Babies cry an average of two to three hours a day in the first three months of life, to let caregivers know when they need something. Babies cry because they’re hungry, tired, sick, hot, cold, in pain, bored, over stimulated, want affection, or are uncomfortable in some way. Parents can often learn to differentiate their baby’s cries, they may notice the baby cry one way when they’re hungry and another way when they’re tired. This is another way that parent-child bonding occurs. The skill to understand a baby’s different cries isn’t always easy, and caregivers may find it takes weeks or months to differentiate them. Then mother can soothe a crying baby easy.

Why is your baby crying?

It’s the age-old question that parents have been asking since the beginning of time: Why the tears? To help you determine why your baby is crying and how to soothe a crying baby, check out what could be behind it:

Hunger

Newborns nurse or take a bottle every few hours, or eight to 12 times in a 24-hour period. If your baby’s crying, there’s a good chance she’s ready to eat again. Look for signs of hunger like lip smacking, bringing hands to her mouth and rooting to feed baby before tears begin. and you can soothe a crying baby.

Gas

Gulping lots of liquid can trap air in your baby’s belly, making her uncomfortable and fussy. The fix: Burp your baby after every feeding with gentle pats on the back to relieve gas.

Wet or dirty diaper

 No one wants to sit in wet or poopy pants! Infants create as many as six or more wet diapers a day, so check her tiny bum frequently.

Fatigue

From day one to month three, newborns sleep about 14 to 17 hours in a full day in spurts of two to four hours. Lay your sweetie down to rest if you think she’s due for a snooze.

Colic

Excessive crying could be colic — ask your child’s pediatrician if you think her crying might be excessive.

Boredom

Yup, babies get tired of sitting and looking at the same old scene. To quash the boredom, pop her into a front carrier, sway in a glider or rocking chair, stand by the window, go out for a walk or just stroll from room to room.

Overwhelmed

Retreat with your baby to cuddle quietly, away from people and noise. Sucking on a pacifier also soothes, or you can try swaddling her in a light blanket so she feels safe and snug.

Hot or cold

Layers work well when dressing your baby, but too few or too many can leave her uncomfortable and in tears. Check her outfit to see if you should add or subtract a layer.

Sick

 Lastly, crying is sometimes an indication that your baby isn’t well, so check in with her pediatrician. If you suspect she might have a fever, check her rectal temperature.

​Here are ways you can try to comfort a crying baby. It may take a few tries, but with patience and practice you’ll find out what works and what doesn’t for your baby. 

• Swaddle your baby in a large, thin blanket (ask your nurse or child’s doctor to show you how to do it correctly) to help her feel secure.

• Hold your baby in your arms and place her body on her left side to help digestion or stomach for support. Gently rub her back. If your baby goes to sleep, remember to always lay her down in her crib on her back.

• Turn on a calming sound. Sounds that remind babies of being inside the womb may be calming, such as a white noise device, the humming sound of a fan, or the recording of a heartbeat.

• Walk your baby in a body carrier or rock her. Calming motions remind babies of movements they felt in the womb.

• Avoid overfeeding your baby because this may also make her uncomfortable. Try to wait at least 2 to 2½ hours from the beginning of one feeding to the next.

• If it is not yet time to feed your baby, offer the pacifier or help your baby find her thumb or finger. Many babies are calmed by sucking.

• If food sensitivity is the cause of discomfort, a change in diet may help.

• Keep a diary of when your baby is awake, asleep, eating, and crying. Write down how long it takes your baby to eat or if your baby cries the most after eating. Talk with your child’s doctor about these behaviors to see if her crying is related to sleeping or eating.

• Limit each daytime nap to no longer than 3 hours a day. Keep your baby calm and quiet when you feed or change her during the night by avoiding bright lights and noises, such as the TV.

For breastfed babies: Moms may try changing their own diet. See if your baby gets less fussy if you cut down on milk ­products or caffeine. If there is no ­difference after making the dietary changes, resume your usual diet. Avoiding spicy or gassy foods like onions or ­cabbage has worked for some moms, but this has not been ­scientifically proven.

For bottle-fed babies: Ask your child’s ­doctor if you should try a different for­mula. This has been shown to be helpful for some babies.

Checklist for What Your Baby May Need

Here are some other ­reasons why your baby may cry and tips on what you can try to meet that need.  If your baby is… 

Hungry. Keep track of feeding times and look for early signs of hunger, such as lip-smacking or ­moving fists to his mouth.  

Wet or soiled. Check the diaper. In the first few months, babies wet and soil their diapers a lot. 

Spitting up or vomiting a lot. Some babies have symptoms from gastroesophageal reflux (GER), and the fussiness can be confused with colic. Contact your child’s doctor if your baby is fussy after feeding, has excessive spitting or vomiting, and is losing or not gaining weight.  

Sick (has a fever or other illness). Check your baby’s temperature. If your baby is younger than 2 months and has a fever, call your child’s ­doctor right away. See Fever and Your Baby for more information.  

Why Parents & Caregivers Need Breaks from Crying Babies:

If you have tried to calm your crying baby but nothing seems to work, you may need to take a moment for yourself.

• Crying can be tough to handle, especially if you’re physically tired and mentally exhausted.

• Take a deep breath and count to 10.

• Place your baby in a safe place, such as crib or playpen without blankets and stuffed animals; leave the room; and let your baby cry alone for about 10 to 15 minutes.

• While your baby is in a safe place, consider some actions that may help calm you down.

• Listen to music for a few minutes.

• Call a friend or family member for ­emotional support.
• Do simple household chores, such as vacuuming or washing the dishes.

• If your baby has not calmed after 10 to 15 minutes, check on your baby but do not pick up your baby until you feel you have calmed down.

• When your baby has calmed down, go back and pick up your baby. If your baby is still crying, retry soothing measures.

• Call your child’s doctor. There may be a medical reason why your baby is crying.

• Try to be patient. Keeping your baby safe is the most important thing you can do. It is normal to feel upset, frustrated, or even angry, but it is important to keep your behavior under control. Remember, it is never safe to shake, throw, hit, slam, or jerk any child—and it never solves the problem! we think now you can get perfect idea about why crying baby and how to soothe a crying baby.