Try To Be Zen About Crying
Whether your baby has colic or just intermittent fussiness, their cries can really do a number on your equilibrium. Since babies cant do anything for themselves, their cries are designed by nature to get your attention, burrowing into your brain and refusing to let go until you alleviate their distress. Their wails elicit a real physiological response you start to sweat, your heart rate goes up, and your body releases cortisol the stress hormone.
Try to deal with this physiological arousal the way you would any other kind of stressor. I find it helpful to concentrate on disassociating from the cries I keep telling myself that its okay, that its just a noise. I also practice my tactical breathing.
Studies have shown that abusive parents have a stronger physiological response to crying, which leads them to lose control. So learning to calm yourself while youre trying to calm your baby is crucial. Before you have a kid, whenever you see a commercial about not shaking your baby, you cant help but chuckle and think, What kind of Grade A moron needs to be told not to shake a baby? Then, after you have a kid, and its 3 am, and youre holding this little screaming tomato that wont stop crying, you think, Oh right, this is why people end up shaking their baby. You wont believe how angry you can feel at a little innocent baby how tempted you are to drop kick them out the window!
How To Calm A Crying Baby
This article was co-authored by Deanna Dawson-Jesus, CD . Deanna Dawson-Jesus is a Birth Doula, Childbirth, and Lactation Educator based in Danville, California. As the owner of Birthing Babies – A Celebration of Life, Deanna has 19 years of birth doula experience and has assisted with over 250 births. She also has over five years of postpartum doula experience and assists more than ten families. Deanna has additional extensive training in Assisted Reproductive Technologies, VBAC support, and Perinatal Loss Support. She is a Certified Birth Doula by DONA International and teaches at Blossom Birth and Family.There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 28,834 times.
Is your baby crying and you don’t know how to calm them down? Having a screaming baby in the house is a parent’s nightmare. You want nothing more than a calm, happy child, but your infant is having none of it. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to soothe your baby back into a calm state of mind.
Genius Ways To Make A Baby Stop Crying
Babies can cry as much as two to three hours in a 24-hour period, and living with the wailing isn’t easy. Try these strategies to calm both of you.
My son George was a screamer. Unlike his go-with-the-flow older sister, he cried for what seemed like the first six months of his life. He screamed when he was hungry, when he was wet, when he was tired, when he was bored. He would change from a sweet cherub to a hot mess in a matter of seconds. His face would turn red, and he’d arch his back and flail his arms. I tried my best to soothe him with nursing, diaper changes, and hugs. When those didn’t work, I’d end up in tears too. Thoughts such as, “What’s wrong with my baby?” were soon replaced with, “What’s wrong with me?” I felt totally overwhelmed and, worse, like I was failing at a basic task of motheringthe ability to comfort my child.
- RELATED: What is Colic in Babies?
“For new parents, figuring out what all the crying means can be challenging, frustrating, and even scary,” says Rallie McAllister, M.D., a family physician in Lexington, Kentucky, and coauthor of The Mommy M.D. Guide to Your Baby’s First Year. “If they aren’t able to immediately pinpoint the reason for the crying, they get frightened that there is something physically wrong with the baby.”
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Why Is Baby Crying: Hungry Upset Tired
Is baby hungry? Offer the breast or a bottle. Or baby might just want to suck. Offer newborns a dummy, or help older babies find their own fingers.
Is baby upset? Comfort baby by holding in the cradle position or sling. Try gentle rocking, walking, whispering or singing. Try to keep light and noise low.
Is baby tired? Try wrapping baby gently but firmly. Then put baby down to sleep in a safe place.
Keep Your Emotional Strength Up
Lack of sleep, hunger and feeling alone can all make it harder to cope with your babys tears. Try to build your resilience up by napping when your baby naps, ensuring you eat often and leaning on your support network. That means you are better able to face those cries and respond to your babys needs.
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Tips For Calming A Baby Who Wont Stop Crying
Newborn babies are more predictable than they might seem. Their needs are often connected to the comfort they enjoyed in the womb, before birth. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to recreate these conditions in the outside world.
With this in mind, here are some things that can help with calming a crying baby:
- Stay calm and serene. This is key when your baby cries, whether or not there is an immediate reason for their tears.
- Remember to console your child to try to reduce their irritability.
- Hold your baby gently but firmly to your chest. This will warm them up if they are cold, and help them feel safe and cared for.
- Walking with your baby in your arms can be an excellent idea. The gentle movements of your body will help to soothe your babys tears.
- Another trick that uses movement to help calm a newborn is to take a walk with them in their stroller or pram.
- A walk outside can do you both good: a little fresh air and sunshine and a change of scenery do wonders for calming a crying baby.
Calming A Crying Baby: Why Babies Cry At Night
New parents often wish they had a magic baby cry decoderespecially to figure out why babies cry at night. Learn about the different causes of crying, and get tips on how to stop a crying baby today.
Newborns cry a lotbut they sleep even more. Most newborns sleep about eight to nine hours during the day and another eight hours at night, though not all at once. Your baby probably wont sleep through the night until shes at least three months old. Some babies dont sleep through the night until six months or older. So it stands to reason that lots of crying starts up when you thought she was sleeping peacefullyor when you’re trying to sleep.
Crying is your babys primary way of sending you a message. Babies cry at night to signal that they are in need of your help. Whats she trying to tell you when she wakes up wailing or cries in her sleep? Here are the main reasons why babies cry at night, and what to try when you’re wondering how to stop a crying baby.
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How To Calm A Newborn Who Won’t Stop Crying
14 December, 2017
If your newborn baby has been fed, has rested, is not sick, and still wont stop crying, you might be interested in reading a few recommendations we have for you.
For a first-time mom, calming a crying baby can be quite a challenge. Newborns dont have the ability to express what they feel or need, much less put it into words.
You might think that you have tried everything. Babies can cry because they need their diaper changed, because they are too hot, have colic, are hungry or tired.
For moms, a baby who wont stop crying can be cause for frustration, stress and worry. If you feel like you really have tried everything, here are a few recommendations to calm your little one down and stop the tears.
If this behavior is recurrent, however, make sure to discuss it with your babys pediatrician.
How To Calm A Fussy Baby
wikiHow is a wiki, similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 30 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time.There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 65,451 times.Learn more…
Dealing with a fussy baby is never easy for parents. There can be no worse feeling in the world than seeing that your child is upset and feeling like you don’t know how to make it better. However, if you try a variety of strategies and are attentive to your baby’s needs, you’ll be able to calm your fussy baby in no time at all.
Read Also: How Often Do Newborns Fail Hearing Test
Notice Your Babys Tells
There are other, subtler, cues that offer a peek into what your baby needs, and reading these can prevent crying spells.
A few are clear, like rubbing their eyes or yawning when theyre tired.
Others are less obvious, such as averting their gaze when theyve had enough stimulation. Watch your baby closely their body movements, positions, facial expressions, and vocal sounds at various times of day to learn these cues.
Remember, every baby is unique. Just because your first baby sucked on their hand when they were hungry doesnt mean your second one will. Instead, this action may say, I need to calm down.
What To Do When Nothing Seems To Help To Calm My Crying Baby
After all, every baby is an individual and has its own little personality. Not all the methods mentioned will help your little one in a particular moment to calm down. If you feel exhausted and a screaming baby determines your everyday life, please do not hesitate to seek help and advice from a midwife, or your doctor.
Know that you as a mom have not failed! The fact is, that babies cannot speak yet and mainly communicate and process things through crying. It is part of their language and helps them restore their own balance. Obviously, never give up on being there for your little one and on trying to meet the needs, but also make sure to look after yourself and get help if needed. Remember that your baby needs a happy and rested mommy too, otherwise, things just get worse.
To find more helpful information and tips on pregnancy, birth, babies and motherhood check out my other blog posts.
If you are a first time expecting mom, read all you need to know about caring for your newborn here.
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Ways To Soothe Your Crying Baby When You Dont Know The Reason
As a mom, I have always found it heartbreaking to see my baby cry, especially when not knowing the exact reason behind it. Not being able to help and calm a screaming baby is hard.
Obviously, crying is one of the main ways of communicating for a newborn, and whatever the reason might be, a baby cries when trying to communicate a need.
There are some very basic methods of how to calm a crying baby. Try out these general comforting ways to soothe your baby when the specific need cant be found and met right away.
Naturally, over time after your baby is born, you will get to know your child more and more. That will help you to identify specific needs more easily. And as your baby is growing, he or she also learns to communicate more specifically.
Did you know that babies are only able to control and cry consciously towards the end of the first six months of their lives? Please, dont try to let your newborn cry out a situation! If your baby is crying, there is always a reason! Even if you are unable to identify it at the moment.
Even if you can rule out the most common reasons such as pain, a full diaper, or hunger, your baby may simply be crying because he or she cannot find rest. Or, it might be a season of a big leap in natural baby development, and your little one is just overwhelmed by it.
So, no matter the reason and if you are aware of it or not, make sure you give your baby your attention in the situation.
And try to always remember one thing above all: Keep calm!
Theres Too Much Going On
Just like us, when theres too much commotion happening, your baby might just want some quiet time. I love having the family over to visit, but am usually relieved when the frenetic cooking and looking after them ends. I get my home back and all is good in my world.
Babies can feel just the same too much noise, too much being passed around, and they cant cope. They start crying to let you know they want some quiet time as well.
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How To Soothe A Crying Baby In Seconds
Remember that time when you were 36 weeks in your pregnancy, and all you could do is long to hold your baby? Guess what, enjoy your you time. The joy of having a newborn is overrated. Most of the time when your baby is continually crying, and your work will be to figure out why your little one is crying and how to soothe your crying baby.
There are a few tricks that you can follow to enjoy motherhood more and also enjoy being around your newborn. First, its essential to know why your baby is crying. The following are some of the reasons a baby cries:
1. Your baby could be hungry2. Needs a diaper change3. Has colic6. Feeling cold or hot7. Is unwell8. Anxiety and fear
There are different ways to soothe a crying baby in seconds, and before one figures out what works for her baby, its essential to try as many options as possible until you get a solution.
You should also try the best available resources and sleep aids to soothe your crying baby. We recommend that you include these two best resources for your babys early care plan:
2. The Happiest Baby On The Block
The first one shows how to put your baby on a scheduled feeding and sleeping plan. The second one shows the best way to calm a fussy baby at night. These two, along with the following tips, can be game-changers for new moms.