How to Help a Baby Stop Crying

No matter how well you take care of your baby, it's a fact of newborn life that you'll hear plenty of crying. You can't always turn off the tears, but by making sure that your baby is as comfortable as possible and helping him to feel safe and secure, you will be doing your best to calm him and ease the crying.

Things You'll Need

  • Receiving blanket
  • Pacifier (optional)

Instructions

    • 1

      Make sure that your baby's basic physical needs are met. Make sure that your baby is fed, that his diaper is dry and clean, and that his clothes are not causing him any discomfort.

    • 2

      Pick your baby up. It's normal for babies to need to be held. Holding your baby in a sling or wrap can also help to calm his cries.

    • 3

      Feel your baby to make sure that she is not too hot or too cold. That means feeling her forehead to see if she's feverish, and then feeling her stomach or back to see whether she's bundled in too many layers or not enough.

    • 4

      Swaddle your baby. When your baby was in the womb, she was used to being warm, cozy, and -- well, squished. Swaddling your baby snugly in a blanket can give her that same confined feeling and calm her, even in the middle of a crying spell. For safety reasons, make sure that your baby's legs are not too confined in the swaddle, and place your baby on her back rather than on her stomach or side.

    • 5

      Press gently on your baby's stomach. Babies often cry from stomach pain, either due to gas or inefficient digestion. Put pressure on your baby's stomach by putting him over your shoulder or knee. Or, with your baby lying on her back, gently "bicycle" one or both legs.

    • 6

      Produce some white noise for your child. Again, this reminds your child of the womb, where the mother's blood was constantly -- and loudly -- pumping past. You can use a white noise machine, a vacuum cleaner, or your own mouth loudly saying "Shh!"

    • 7

      Give your child something to suck on. Babies are born with the desire to suck, and even young babies can suck on a pacifier or a parent's thumb in order to calm down.

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