Ways to Comfort a Crying Baby

All babies cry and it is even more true during the first few weeks of their life when parents are still trying to understand what their baby wants and are still learning to recognize the baby cues. Crying is a way of communication in babies and more often than not there are specific reasons as to why:

Hunger - Feed the baby on time, always look for the early hunger signs like lip smacking and sucking on fist to avoid the hunger cries.
Wet Nappies - Keep the baby dry and clean. Not only are wet and soiled nappies uncomfortable, if left on long they lead to rashes.

Related: Diaper Rash Remedies

Burping - All the trapped air taken in during breast or bottle feeds may be the reason for the discomfort. Burping could help comfort a crying baby.

Clothing - Make sure the baby is wearing comfortable and weather suited clothes that are not making the baby too hot or too cold.
Overstimulated - If the baby is tired or is displaying signs of fatigue, put them down for a nap. Keeping the baby up longer without a break could make them cranky and more difficult to put to sleep after.
Unwell - If the baby is having a fever, cold , flu or troubled due to an illness they could be crying more than usual but the crying usually subsides as they feel better. Talk to your doctor on specific care tips and to rule out anything serious.

Cough Remedies in Babies

Colic - If the newborn is crying uncontrollably for hours on and nothing seems to work it could be colic (causes are unclear but many believe it to be digestive discomfort) but it usually stops once the baby reaches 3 - 4 months of age.

Now that we have covered some of the common reasons behind the crying and how to fix it, let us also look at some of the tips and tricks to effectively calm a baby

Related: Why Do Babies Cry?

Shush or White Noise

Make shush sounds or white noise (online or invest in a shush machine) with baby against your chest or over shoulder upright and bounce up and down. The shush or white noise are close to the sounds baby hear in the womb, so believed to soothe crying baby and help the baby sleep better.

Pat or Rub the babies back

Patting the babies back gently but firmly in a rhythmic fashion or rubbing the back while rocking the baby back and forth helps comfort a crying baby effectively.

Sing or Play soothing music

Hold the baby close to you and sing soothingly or play some soft music while you stroke the baby.

Swaddle or Blankets

Swaddling newborns or younger babies often helps them feel more secure, cozy and don't startle themselves awake, this also may help in calming crying baby at night. You could use blankets in babies over 12 months for the same effect. As with everything check if your baby is comfortable being swaddled as some don't like it and may not be suitable for really warm weathers.

Warm Baths and Massages

Try giving your baby a nice warm bath as it relaxes them and induces sleep. Massages also have a very soothing effect, the parental touch is reassuring, releases hormones, helps bonding and aids in sleep.

Breast or Pacifier

Let your baby suckle at your breast as this destresses and also the action releases hormones that soothe and makes them sleepy. If you are comfortable, you could try using a pacifier at bed time to calm the baby and help sleep.

Sleep Routine

As your baby grows try to establish a sleep routine around same time everyday that works best for both of you. You could try warm baths, reading a book, playing soothing music or things that comfort your baby and induce sleep.