Calming Baby's Crying: How To Soothe Your Darling?

2023 Author: Lynn Laird | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 09:49

The nine months of waiting quickly passed and the mother-to-be who scrupulously followed the obstetrician's advice and the feeding guide during pregnancy became a panicking mother hen with each wail of her infant. Since a newborn baby's cry always has physiological reasons, we have tried to list them and suggest thirty-six ways to calm baby crying. So by reading our article, you could learn your child's "communication language" and respond appropriately to all of their needs.

Calming baby crying: the main concern of careful parents

It turns out that your little world is turned upside down: no sleep (more than two hours), no normal meal (until the end), hobbies are forgotten (or at least put back for an indefinite period). And all these “sacrifices” in the name of your little one who demands 24/7 attention. He is well restless, he doesn't stop crying, and you're worried your parenting skills aren't up to par. So what can comfort and calm baby's crying? First of all, do not be afraid and do not lose your temper, because it is very important to stay calm: the baby intuitively feels your anxiety and situation is getting worse.

Why do infants cry? - colic

If the desperate screaming becomes intense at some point in the day and almost always after breastfeeding, it is colic. In any case, observe if the baby clenches his fists and stiffens the legs and the tummy muscles which can be hard. Since this is a normal stage in the development of a healthy toddler, all you have to do is keep calm and wait patiently for the crisis to pass. In the meantime, you can relieve stomach pain. Unfortunately, medicine is not categorical about the origin of colic. This is why, grandma's tips come to the aid.

Assuming that colic is usually caused by gas forming and circulating in the intestines after a meal, try to limit the absorption of air during breastfeeding. Also, as soon as you are finished, put the child upright against his chest and do not lie him in bed before he belches. Surely, an abdominal massage works well in this case. Based on the experience of several generations, certain herbs are effective in relieving colic. For example, chamomile, dill, cumin, cloves, mint and lemon balm. There are many recipes for an herbal tea, but not all of them are proven effective, you won't go wrong if you opt for chamomile dill tea.

Soft diapers as the reason for a baby's crying

Since crying is the only way to express a need, over time you will learn not to apprehend it, but to interpret it and recognize its reasons. Changing soft diapers is the first thing you need to do. If the baby is dry, he will calm down. If he continues to cry, he may be starving and claiming a feed.

How to calm a crying baby: other common reasons

When the small child reaches 6 months and more, it scarcer the hours of sleep. Then, he could be tired and consequently drowsy or on the contrary, overstimulated because of a noise or an activity. Whatever the reason, do not shake the baby sharply as the blood vessels in his head cannot tolerate the impact of the shaking and may rupture, resulting in death, brain damage, mental retardation, seizures or Blindness.

Among the regular reasons that make a small child cry is baby teething. Use your patience, it will take a few months. On the other hand, always try grandmother's tips: massaging the gums, contact with cold, hard objects can make the pain bearable.

When the insects are active in summer, a baby mosquito bite can deprive you and your little one of sleep too. In case of prevention, when you are outside, put a cloth of gas or a very dense net on the pram or a sprig of lavender, mint or lemon balm in the baby's feet. If anyway, a red pimple appears, make cold compresses, but do not apply repellent because the baby can bring his hands towards the mouth.

In addition, a child's crying can be explained by feeding a 6+ month old baby when switching from one diet to another.

Know that no two babies are the same

Even if you hear from other parents about how easily they are raising babies, try to avoid specific comparisons and expectations as they can create negative feelings, especially if you are having a difficult baby. As many women develop postpartum depression, things can get worse. Not only should you give yourself a break, but also strategize if you have feelings that you weren't expecting. Syncing with your baby may take a little while, but the extra work will be worth it!

Since the whole world comes to your baby through their senses and each little one has different sensory needs, get to know yours preferences by using all your skills. For example, one child may like to be held and swayed, another may be nervous about it. Sometimes one baby cries from a wet diaper and another ignores it and continues to smile and play.

Mood changes in the newborn

For their part, do your baby's mood swings seem to coincide with changes in environment, time of day, or have to do with food and naps? Suppose your baby is cranky in the late morning, so check if he yawns or rubs his eyes. Or, his excitement is due to schedule changes or the appearance of new faces.

Either way, you can note the noise level, pitch and intensity of the cry, as well as the child's body language and facial expressions. An arched back, a turned up face, eyes closed tight to turn off the light, curled fists, rubbed eyes, hyperactive or frantic movement - all of these signs communicate something specific about the emotional and physical state.

Advice from an eminent specialist - the 5 S of Dr Harvey Karp

How to calm a baby at night or during the day, the specialist advises parents to use the 5 S's which recreate the uterine environment and activate the reflex soothing your infant.

Swaddling, that is, swaddling the baby to make him feel comfortable and secure. The illusion that he is in his mother's womb is very comforting. Some babies prefer their arms not to be swaddled, either because they soothe themselves by sucking on their fingers, or simply because they like their freedom. You can easily leave the arms out of the swaddle by placing them with the top edge of the blanket at armpit level rather than chin level.

Side or stomach position, in this case holding the baby in a lateral or abdominal position can ease the flow of gas in the intestines. On the other hand, to put him to sleep, put him on his back. First, stroke her chest from the center outwards and make small circles on her stomach, around the navel. Gently roll his arms and legs between your hands, taking turns with each limb, or try alternating your hands in a “milking” motion as you stroke each limb with his heart at the end. Deploy his fists and rub his palms and fingers. Massage the soles of her feet and curl her toes as well. If he doesn't mind, try turning him on his stomach and stroking his back side to side and then up and down.

Shushing means creating "white noise" that drowns out other noises: run the vacuum cleaner, hair dryer, fan, or dryer. Monotony can calm and lull you to sleep. Some parents share in the networks their way of calming the baby by mumbling a phrase such as a mantra, a sound or simply by singing. Apparently your little one is not interested in your vocal talent, they just need to hear your voice and feel your presence.

Swinging, when you swing in a rhythmic movement: a stroller or car ride can be favorable. Carrying your baby and going for a walk is a great way to soothe him. Babies appreciate the feeling of closeness and the rhythm of your steps. The support is also convenient because your hands are free, your baby faces your body in a baby carrier or sling for the first three months when he needs an extra headrest. Be careful, this method of calming baby's crying can become obsessive and difficult to eradicate later.

Sucking: A baby's innate instinct to suck on something can quickly appease him. Infants often calm themselves down with non-nutritive sucking that doesn't fill the tummy but calms the nerves. If your baby is crying, help him find his thumb, fist, or finger, or just offer one of your own fingers for a relay. Binkies or pacifiers can also do the trick, but you may want to wait until breastfeeding is well established before introducing one. Except that the baby should not be used to sucking, unfortunately, this habit remains even in an older child.

If your baby tends to calm down around bath time, fill the tub with lukewarm water and make it a regular part of their relaxation routine. You can even try to introduce some aromatherapy. As an added bonus, add a few drops of lavender or chamomile infused soap to the water and you're good to go. Remember that some babies are stimulated by the bath. If this is true for your little one, be sure to schedule your baby's bath time after sleep.

If none of these tips work, you need to look elsewhere for the cause of the screaming.

Assess your own emotional state

When your baby cries for hours on end, it's natural to find the cause within yourself and feel responsible. Often times, however, blaming yourself can interfere with your ability to control yourself and remain calm in the partnership with your child. If you feel overwhelmed, depressed, angry, anxious, or detached, your baby may have a hard time calming down. Above all, remember that even a very small child can experience feelings of happiness, sadness, joy and anger from the first moment of life. Seeing your baby as a person with a unique personality can make it easier to interpret and respond to their cries.

If the child is 1 year old and over, you can perform suitable baby activities to build strong relationships between you.

In short, we are convinced that our article can guide you in the care of your baby, but do not forget to have confidence in yourself, to be patient, to control yourself and to consider the child as a being having his own feelings.