Gas, hunger, a dirty diaper, tired, teething, sick – there are many reasons why a baby cries. Crying is your baby’s way of letting you know that something is wrong and they need you. Sometimes it’s easy to soothe a crying baby. Sometimes all it takes is you singing a song or giving your baby a bath. Other times you may not know why you have a fussy newborn so you don’t know what to do to calm them down, but you do know that you want and need to calm them down.
1. Calm Yourself Down
Babies can be very sensitive to changes in their caregiver’s emotional state. If your baby has been crying for a while and you’re feeling frustrated and overwhelmed, take some deep breaths, relax your shoulders, close your eyes, and take a moment for yourself. Every time you travel by plane, the flight attendants remind you to put on your own oxygen mask before helping others. Your baby will settle down more quickly if you are able to be calm and tuned in to their cues.
2. Hold Your Baby
Small babies look to their caregivers for signs from their caregiver that they are not in danger and that everything is ok. Your baby can better pick up on your signals when you are holding them. Baby carriers are a great tool that you can use to hold and bond with your baby while still having your hands free to do other things.
3. Swaddle Your Baby
Swaddling a newborn mimics the womb. It makes a baby feel safe and comfortable. You can use a thin, large blanket or an easy-to-use swaddler to help calm your fussy baby. Swaddling is especially great during naptime and bedtime because it can help calm your baby down faster and help them sleep longer. Yay for better sleep for everyone!
4. Get Outside
Take as many opportunities as you can to enjoy the outdoors with your baby. Many fussy babies settle down more quickly when they are outdoors. The combination of the fresh air and motion of being in a stroller or carrier works wonders for moms and fussy babies. Walking at a brisk pace while wearing your baby is a great way to relieve your stress, get some gentle exercise, and help calm your baby.
5. Ask for Help
It’s ok to not know all the answers. Raising a baby is not a job that can be handled by one person alone. Ask your partner, a family member, a newborn care specialist, or an experienced friend to care for your baby so you can get some rest or take a trip to the store. Having a few minutes alone can help to calm you down and reset your mind so you can then focus on your baby when you return home.
6. Accept This Stage
Grant yourself some grace, and remember that this stage is short and it doesn’t last forever. Know that you are not alone and that when your baby grows up you will look back on these days and you won’t remember all of those sleepless nights or how much sleep you lost or how much your baby cried. You will remember the love you felt, and some day you might miss this time (even though it probably doesn’t feel like it right now)!
