How to Soothe a Crying Baby

Babies cry; it's what they do. But crying serves a purpose. According to KidsHealth, this is your cutie's innate form of communication. In fact, your baby will develop different cries to communicate different needs. One type of cry says, "I'm overstimulated," while another screams, "Feed me." Learning how to soothe your baby when she cries will help you meet her needs.

Things You'll Need

  • Soft music
  • Rocking chair
  • Stroller
  • Baby swing

Instructions

    • 1

      Assess why baby is crying. Is she teething? Tired? Hungry? Figuring out why your wee one is wailing will help you determine the best way to soothe her. If baby's basic needs have all been met -- she's eaten, has a dry diaper and is not ready for a nap -- she may just need some TLC.

    • 2

      Talk to your baby. As KidsHealth points out, the human voice, especially that of a parent, has a soothing effect on an infant. A lullaby may also do the trick to turn baby's frown upside down. HealthyChildren.org suggests soft music as an alternative.

    • 3

      Shush your baby. The soothing sound of a few shushes may calm your cutie, coupled with soft rocking. You can also try introducing white noise to soothe her. KidsHealth notes that many babies are pacified by the sound of a vacuum cleaner. Yes, you can clean and calm your infant simultaneously.

    • 4

      Get in the motion. Another tried-and-true technique of baby soothing is moving. Walk around the house with your honey or rock her in a glider or chair. HealthyChildren.org recommends placing your infant in a stroller or baby swing to curb her crying. You may also want to take your tot on a little drive. Often, the motion of a car can calm a crying baby.

    • 5

      Do nothing. If you have tried several methods to mellow out your munchkin and nothing is working, stop. As HealthyChildren.org points out, sometimes babies cry for no apparent reason and no means of soothing will work. Try putting baby down in her crib for a few minutes so she can work it out on her own. If she is tired, she may fall asleep, or she may stop crying once she has released whatever tension or extra energy she had pent up.

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