Soothing a Crying Baby

Soothing a Crying Baby

By Margaret Gaia

The first thing parents must recognize is that the baby is simply not ready to be in the world yet after nine months of comfort in the Mother.  A lot of doctors claim that babies are not ready for the world until the age of three months.  They start smiling, cooling, wiggling arms and legs, trying to roll over, and even making funny faces.   Babies tend to cry as they only know this form of communication.  If they are tired, hungry, restless, uncomfortable, hot, cold, or any other reason for explanation, they cry out where you and I may community by talking and reasoning.  Babies also have gas.  More often times than not this is very uncomfortable and until it is over, they cry.  So how do you sooth a baby who is crying out for comfort?

Swaddling

When your baby is born, you might notice that the physician might deliver him or her to you in a tight wrapped blanket which has been heated to a “warm” temperature.  It makes your baby feel like it is still in the womb comforted by the mother’s body for protection.  It relaxes your baby and might calm his crying state of mind.  This is called swaddling and you need to make sure you swaddle correctly to avoid causing the baby harm or even crying harder.  A swaddle should be fairly tight and should keep the baby from throwing its arms and legs in the air.  It should also be tight to avoid risk of choking or have the baby scratch himself or herself.

Making the sound “Shhhh”

This sound is a direct reflection of that the baby heard in your womb for nine months.  It is calming, as it returns the baby’s mindset back to the comfort area he or she knows.  It is advised that you place her mouth right up to his or her ear and make the sound – this will sooth the baby’s crying over a few seconds.  If it does not work, take another strategy.

Stomach Lying Down

Sometimes laying your baby on his or her stomach will relax the baby.  Even on his or her side.  It is a calming change and a change that is different from the very large percent he or she spends on his or her back, which is the only way they should sleep.   Changing positions reflects the experience in the womb which you will find sooths the baby more often than not.

Swinging or Rocking

This is a simple imitation of your baby’s feeling inside your womb as you moved around from day to day.  It should calm your baby and possibly get him or her down for a nap.  It activates a reflex that is calming.  It is recommended that you swing at a leisurely pace that is smaller movements. 

Sucking

Pacifiers are a good way to initiate the calming reflex, as is feeding or simply allowing the baby to suck his or her thumb or finger.