Five Ways to Stop a Baby From Crying

All babies cry, although some seem to spend many more hours of the day on that activity than others. Crying is a baby's only way to alert you that he is hungry, wants to be held, has a dirty diaper, is overwhelmed by his environment, has an upset stomach or has anything else he needs to communicate. According to the National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families, the crying should lessen in frequency by 3 months of age. But if you've ruled out hunger and dirty diapers and your baby is still fussy, pediatrician Harvey Karp advocates the Five S system to calm crying babies.

  1. S Is for Swaddling

    • Swaddling involves wrapping your infant in a blanket to simulate the feeling of being in the womb. Your baby will feel secure and less likely to fuss. Follow proper swaddling techniques, advises the Mayo Clinic, to keep your baby safe. It is not advised to swaddle a baby with hip dysplasia because the swaddling can add extra pressure in the hip area, and swaddling should be discontinued once your baby learns to roll on her own.

    Mayo Clinic Swaddling Instructions

    • Spread a thin blanket on a flat surface and fold down the top corner. Place your baby on the blanket with her neck in line with the top of the folded corner. Pull one corner of the blanket across your baby and tuck the end under her, leaving the hip area slightly loose. Pull the bottom corner up, ensuring her feet have plenty of room to move. Wrap the remaining side around your baby, tucking the end in back. Only her neck and head should be visible outside the blanket.

    S Is for Side-Lying

    • Laying your baby on his side can help ease the symptoms of colic. You can hold him so his side or stomach rests on your arm while you sit or walk with him. You can also place him on his side in his crib. Wait with him until he falls asleep, do not leave him in this position on his own to prevent the risk of suffocation. Once he falls asleep, roll him gently onto his back.

    S Is for Shushing

    • Shushing creates a white noise, imitating the sound of being in the womb. You can simply make "shh" sounds yourself, especially if you are in a quiet environment. Otherwise you can use household items to drown out other noises in your home. Some items that can be used to create white noise include a hair dryer, a vacuum cleaner, a television or radio tuned to a station that is only static or a fan.

    S Is for Swinging

    • Swinging can include any activity that provides a continuous motion. You can walk around with your baby in your arms, rock side to side or hold him while sitting in a rocking chair. You can also take him for a ride in his stroller, set him in a baby swing or strap him into his car seat and take him for a car ride. The motion needs to be gentle enough not to cause injury, however. Do not under any circumstances shake your baby.

    S Is for Sucking

    • The sucking motion can soothe your baby because it reminds him of the warm, full feeling he gets when feeding. The action is also difficult to do while crying, so if he is distracted by an object he can suck on he'll naturally be quieter. You can allow him to suck on a pacifier, a teething ring or even your finger. If he is crying because he is hungry, the crying will start again once he realizes he's not getting any food. But if he's not hungry the act of sucking may be soothing.

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