How to Soothe a Crying Baby With the Cuddle Cure

Endless hours of crying and sleepless nights take a toll on parents of newborn babies in a way that nothing else in the world can. Ear piercing cries from a colicky baby are enough to drive even the most patient parent to the brink of insanity. Dr. Harvey Karp developed the ̶0;Cuddle Cure̶1; to help parents soothe crying babies quickly and effectively. The ̶0;Cuddle Cure̶1; consists of ̶0;5 S̵7;s̶1;: swaddling, holding baby on his side or stomach, saying ̶0;shhh,̶1; swinging and sucking.

Things You'll Need

  • Swaddle blanket
  • White noise machine (optional)
  • Pacifier (optional)

Instructions

    • 1

      Swaddle your baby with a thin swaddle blanket. Begin by laying the blanket on the bed with the points of the blanket facing top, bottom, left and right, like a diamond. Fold the top point about midway down and place your baby on the blanket with his shoulders in line with the fold you̵7;ve just created. Hold the baby̵7;s right arm by his side and fold the right side of the blanket tight over the baby, tucking it underneath the left arm and then under the baby̵7;s body. Gently hold the baby̵7;s left arm to his body while you fold the bottom portion of the blanket up and tuck it under his left shoulder. Wrap the remaining side across the baby̵7;s front and tuck it underneath his body. Once swaddled, he should be able to straighten his legs, but the swaddle should be snug enough that he cannot wiggle out of it.

    • 2

      Hold your swaddled baby on her side or stomach. These positions are not recommended for a sleeping baby, but they can calm a fussy baby in your arms. If your baby falls asleep, remember to lay her down on her back to reduce the risk of SIDS.

    • 3

      Say ̶0;shhh̶1; close to your baby̵7;s ear, matching his volume. Babies aren̵7;t used to quiet environments. Inside the womb, every minute was filled with the sound of blood flowing, food digesting and the muffled sounds of the mother̵7;s environment. Shushing is a constant and repetitive sound that may be comforting to the baby. A white noise machine or CD may also help the baby sleep. Experiment with different sounds to find one that works for your baby.

    • 4

      Swing your baby in your arms using small, fast movements. Slow, gentle swinging -- like that of a baby swing -- isn̵7;t effective for calming a fussy baby. In the ̶0;Cuddle Cure,̶1; the swinging action is really more of a jiggling motion, but never a shaking motion. The idea is to mimic the movements that the baby felt inside the womb.

    • 5

      Offer your baby a pacifier or finger to suck on. Sucking is a natural comfort measure for many babies. If you choose to forgo pacifiers, offer a clean finger for her to suck on to calm her down.

    2. Previous:

    Next:

    • The Best Ways to Transition a Baby From a Swing to a Crib
      One of the most challenging things about being a parent is helping your baby to transition from sleeping in a swing to sleeping in a crib. If your child sees the crib as a harsh sleeping environment compared to the cozy confines of his swing, dont ig
    • How To Swaddle A Baby: Step-By-Step Guide & Safety Tips
      Although swaddling is an age-old practice to comfort the baby, many new parents may wonder how to swaddle a baby to soothe them. Babies are wrapped up in soft blankets to make them feel secure and safe and promote sleep. Newborns may feel similar to
    • 6 Tips And Techniques To Teach Your Baby To Self-Soothe
      Self-soothing refers to a baby’s ability to fall asleep without needing a parent/caregiver to rock, cuddle, pat, or carry them. A few babies can self-soothe naturally, while others need to be taught. There are different ways you can teach a baby to s