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How
to Calm Your Crying Baby
By
Elizabeth Pantley, Author of Gentle
Baby Care
Colic:
If your baby cries inconsolably for long periods every day,
particularly at the same time each day, he may have colic.
Researchers are still unsure of colic’s exact cause.
Some experts believe that colic is related to the immaturity
of a baby’s digestive system. Whatever the cause, and
it may be a combination of all the theories; colic is among
the most exasperating conditions that parents of new babies
face. Colic occurs only to newborn babies, up to about four
to five months of age. Look for patterns to your baby’s
crying; these can provide clues as to which suggestions are
most likely to help. Then experiment with some of the ideas
in this list and in the rest of this article.
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If
breastfeeding, feed on demand (cue feeding), for nutrition
as well as comfort, as often as your baby needs a calming
influence.
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If breastfeeding,
try avoiding foods that may cause gas in your baby, such
as dairy products, caffeine, cabbage, broccoli and other
gassy vegetables.
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If
bottlefeeding, offer more frequent but smaller meals;
experiment with different formulas with your doctor or
health care provider’s approval.
-
If bottlefeeding, try different types of bottles and nipples
that prevent air from entering your baby as he drinks,
such as those with curved bottles or collapsible liners.
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Hold
your baby in a more upright position for feeding and directly
afterwards.
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Experiment with how often and when you burp your baby.
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Offer
meals in a quiet setting.
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If baby likes a pacifier, offer him one.
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Invest in a baby sling or carrier and use it during colicky
periods.
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If the weather’s too unpleasant for an outside stroll,
bring your stroller in the house and walk your baby around.
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Give your baby a warm
bath.
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Hold your baby with her legs curled up toward her belly.
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Massage your baby’s tummy, or give him a full massage.
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Swaddle
your baby in a warm blanket.
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Lay
your baby tummy down across your lap and massage or pat
her back.
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Hold your baby in a rocking chair, or put him in a swing.
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Walk with Baby in a quiet, dark room while you hum or
sing.
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Try keeping your baby away from highly stimulating situations
during the day when possible to prevent sensory overload.
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Lie on your back and lay your baby on top of your tummy
down while massaging his back. (Transfer your baby to
his bed if he falls asleep.)
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Take Baby for a ride in the car.
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As a last resort, ask your doctor or health care provider
about medications available for colic and gas.
What
about fussy crying?
There are plenty of times when you can’t tell if your
baby’s crying is directly related to a fixable situation:
hunger, a soiled diaper, or a longing to be held. That’s
when parents get frustrated and nervous. That’s when
you should take a deep breath and try some of the following
cry-stoppers:
- Hold
your baby. No matter the reason for your
baby’s cry, being held by a warm and comforting
person offers a feeling of security and may calm his crying.
Babies love to be held in arms, slings, front-pack carriers,
and (when they get a little older) backpacks; physical
contact is what they seek and what usually soothes them
best.
- Breastfeed
your baby. Nursing your baby is as much
for comfort as food. All four of my babies calmed easily
when brought to the breast — so much so that my husband
has always called it “The Secret Weapon.”
And my babies are very typical. Breastfeeding is an important
and powerful tool for baby soothing.
- Provide
motion. Babies enjoy repetitive, rhythmic
motion such as rocking, swinging, swaying, jiggling, dancing
or a drive in the car. Many parents instinctually begin
to sway with a fussy baby, and for a good reason: It works.
- Turn
on some white noise. The womb was a very
noisy place. Remember the sounds you heard on the Doppler
stethoscope? Not so long ago, your baby heard those 24
hours a day. Therefore, your baby sometimes can be calmed
by “white noise” — that is, noise that is
continuous and uniform, such as that of a heartbeat, the
rain, static between radio stations, and your vacuum cleaner.
Some alarm clocks even have a white noise function.
- Let
music soothe your baby. Soft, peaceful music
is a wonderful baby calmer. That’s why lullabies
have been passed down through the ages. You don’t
have to be a professional singer to provide your baby
with a song; your baby loves to hear your voice. In addition
to your own songs, babies usually love to hear any kind
of music. Experiment with different types of tunes, since
babies have their own favorites that can range from jazz
to country to classical, and even rock and rap.
- Swaddle
your baby. During the first three or four
months of life, many babies feel comforted if you can
re-create the tightly contained sensation they enjoyed
in the womb..
- Massage
your baby. Babies love to be touched and
stroked, so a massage is a wonderful way to calm a fussy
baby. A variation of massage is the baby pat; many babies
love a gentle, rhythmic pat on their backs or bottoms.
- Let
your baby have something to suck on. The
most natural pacifier is mother’s breast, but when
that isn’t an option, a bottle, pacifier, Baby’s
own fingers, a teething toy, or Daddy’s pinkie can
work wonders as a means of comfort.
- Distract
your baby. Sometimes a new activity or change
of scenery — maybe a walk outside, or a dance with a song,
or a splashy bath — can be very helpful in turning a fussy
baby into a happy one.
Reading
your baby’s body language
Many
times, you can avoid the crying altogether by responding right
away to your baby’s earliest signals of need, such as
fussing, stiffening her body, or rooting for the breast. As
you get to know your baby and learn her signals, determining
what she needs will become easier for you — even before she
cries.
Previous
>>>
This
article is an excerpt from Gentle
Baby Care
by Elizabeth Pantley. (McGraw-Hill, 2003)
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