It is always difficult to soothe a crying baby and most challenging to console or comfort them. Especially for new parents who are not well-versed with parenting. It might be challenging at first, but as you learn, you will understand that there are numerous ways to calm a crying baby.
There are numerous ways and techniques that can console your baby and make him/her laugh. To start, it’s better that you calm yourself and understand the reason behind their upset mood. If you are wondering ‘how to calm a crying baby?’ read to know important tips that are effective.
Why Do Babies Cry?
These are several common reasons why your baby cries. Some of the reasons include:
- Wet or dirty diaper
- Tiredness
- Gas
- Stranger anxiety or fear
- Lack of sleep
- Pain or sickness
- Hunger
- Colic, acid reflux, or food allergies
- Stimulated by noise or activity
These are the reasons why your baby keeps crying and it’s up to you to identify for which reason your baby is crying.
How To Calm a Crying Baby?
It is essential that you follow these pointers that calm your child and bring him/her back to his/her normal behavior. And the best and effective ways are as follows:
Start With the Basic Needs
Sometimes, your baby cries just because he/she needs to be fed. This can be at any time of the day and night. There are also times when your child cries just to catch your attention. If you come across such situations, don’t get mad, instead, play with him/her.
Sing
Hold your baby close to you, and quietly sing or talk to your baby. Sing peacefully that helps your child to feel calm and consoling. You can talk softly and use words or phrases like ‘You’re okay’, ‘It’s okay’, ‘I am here for you’, ‘Everything is good’ etc.
Keep Your Baby Moving
If the weather permits, put your baby in the stroller and take a brisk walk. You might even buckle the baby into his/her car seat and take a short drive. However, it is best to walk as it helps your child to look around peacefully and feel good.
Dance
One of the best ways to comfort your child is by turning the music on and showing some moves. Don’t feel embarrassed as your child may like it and may join you. Music and dance always work best when it comes to comforting a child.
Feed
Kids cry out loud when they are very hungry. So, it is essential for you to feed your child every three to four hours. If you are confused about the eating timings, you may ask your doctor to guide you with the same. Breastfed or formula-fed your child and see if your child manages to stay calm.
These are pointers that you should try while comforting a crying baby. However, during this time, you need to keep a few pointers in your mind that can be very beneficial to help your child.
Things You Should Keep in Mind to Calm a Crying Baby
Read the below pointers to understand things that you should keep in mind while comforting a crying baby.
Calm Yourself
Always remind yourself that it’s normal to get frustrated when your baby is crying. Remember, losing your patience and getting angry won’t help you but increase your problem more.
Take Time Out
If you feel you are about to lose your patience, put your child in a safe place, maybe in his/her and get out of the room for some fresh air.
When you think you are ready to go back into the room and deal with your crying baby, go for it. However, make sure you don’t take much time to relax when you are alone with your child.
Be Realistic
Always remember that you’re not failing to raise your baby if you can’t stop a crying one. Sometimes babies simply need to cry it out. Let your child cry out and you be there and console him/her. Make sure your child feels peace and secure when in your arms.
Seek Help to Calm Crying Baby
Seek help from your partner or your family members. Take advantage of baby-sitting offers from trusted friends or neighbors. Use the time to take a nap or simply relax and calm yourself.
Be Gentle to Soothe a Crying Baby
Be gentle when it comes to comforting and calming your child. But remember never shake your baby. Babies have weak neck muscles and it is hard for them to support their heads.
Shaking your baby due to frustration might have severe side effects. Some of the side effects include blindness, brain damage or mental retardation. Severe shaking can be life-threatening or even fatal.
