A newborn brings so much joy to you and your partner. That’s especially true if you’ve tried to have a baby multiple times before. However, the first few days and months are going to be tough because your baby will cry a lot. Your baby will cry when they in distress, angry, bored, experiencing discomfort, and showing other emotions. Use the following tips to calm your crying baby if it’s your first time being a parent.
1. Play Music
Music has the power to heal the soul and make you feel good. The same is true with your baby. Don’t just sing lullabies for them. Play music from different genres. You can start by playing your favorite music. There is something in the rhythm of a beat that makes your baby calm down. You feel it too. Your heart rate slows down, and you feel calmer. The same thing happens to your baby when they listen to something they like.
2. Switch Off or Dim the Lights
When your baby was in the womb, they were exposed to total darkness all the time. Another great way to calm your crying baby is to dim the lights in the room. If it’s daytime, roll the blinds to bring some darkness into the room.
Source: ShutterstockYour baby is likely to keep quiet when you switch off the lights because it reminds them of a more familiar environment.
3. Change Rooms
There are times in life when you just want to change the scenery and relieve your mind of all the stress. Babies are no different. When a baby cries, consider changing the view. You can walk with them around the house and take them to different rooms. Alternatively, you can take them outside for fresh air and sunlight.
4. Initiate Movement
When the baby was in your womb, you were always moving. For that reason, babies love movement. If your baby is crying, you can soothe them by cradling them and swinging them from side-to-side gently. If you have a baby rocking chair, you can strap them in. Another way to calm your baby is to use a baby swing to move them forward and backward.
5. Swaddle
Swaddling your baby can also help them stop crying as it makes them feel safe. They feel as though they’re back in the womb. Don’t wrap the blanket too tight because it can make the baby cry even more. Instead, make sure the swaddle is tight enough to prevent your little one from moving their arms and legs too much.
Source: Shutterstock6. Burp
When your baby cries, they can ‘swallow’ a lot of air, which goes to the stomach. The trapped air can cause more discomfort for your baby. When that happens, you should burp your baby to get rid of that extra gas. If your baby had just finished breastfeeding, burping them on the shoulder can make them vomit on your shoulder. In that case, you should burp them while they sit on your lap. Support their neck and head with your hand, and slowly rub their back.
7. Add White Noise to the Background
Babies are used to some level of noise. They don’t like it when it’s too quiet. When you were pregnant, you moved around to visit friends, go to the office, and do many more things. As a result, your baby was exposed to constant noise in the surroundings.
Source: ShutterstockYou don’t have to play loud music. Your baby just needs a little white noise to calm down. You can turn on the fan or vacuum machine to create white noise.
8. Give a Pacifier
Since you breastfeed your baby during the first six months, they develop the habit of sucking on things. That’s why giving your baby a pacifier can stop them from crying. The pacifier satisfies that sucking impulse and helps them to calm down.
9. Record Them and Play it Back
If you’ve ever seen a video of yourself doing something embarrassing, you know how eye-opening that experience can be. It makes you more self-conscious about your actions. As a result, you are less likely to repeat that incident. You can also do the same for your baby. Record them crying and then play it back when they start crying again. The baby will stop crying because they are curious about the recording device and sound.
It’s normal for your baby to cry. Your baby will cry a lot because that is the best way for them to express themselves. It’s okay for you to give your crying baby to your partner or nanny and take a breather. Take time off to cool down. Then, go back to your little one.
