As a new parent, few things tug at your heartstrings like the sound of your baby crying. It can be distressing, not just for the little one but for you as well. Once you have ruled out hungry or needing a diaper change, you often wonder what the problem is. After years of being a postpartum doula I’ve discovered some effective techniques to calm a baby quickly. Here are five strategies that helped me stop my clients babies from crying in less than two minutes!
1: Swaddling For Comfort
Swaddling can mimic the cozy environment of the womb, making babies feel secure and at ease. To swaddle your baby effectively, use an effective swaddle blanket such as Halo or Mama Cheetah with secure Velcro attachments and wrap them snugly, with their arms down by their belly, leaving enough room for their hips to move. This technique not only calms them down by providing a sense of security but also minimizes the startle reflex that can wake them up suddenly.
2: Hold Them Close To Your Body
Using either the reverse breastfeeding hold or the football hold to help settle your baby. Tuck baby securely in your arms and turn them away from your face, either across your belly or at your side with your hand under their face and head and their body secured by your forearm. This position sets them up for the other things you will incorporate to encourage the calming instinct in your baby and have them stop crying.
3. Gentle Rocking Motion
Sometimes, all a baby needs is a little movement. Gently rocking them in your arms can work wonders. The rhythmic motion can be soothing, as it mimics the movement they experienced while being carried in your belly. Think of a little jiggle motion of their face and head, movement is tiny and fast in a side-to-side motion.
4. White Noise or Shushing Magic
Babies enjoy sounds that resemble the noises they heard in the womb. Devices that produce white noise or gentle sounds can be a game-changer. You can use a white noise machine, a fan, or even an app on your smartphone or you can just use your own voice by making a shushing noise. Be sure to match volume with their cries. The soothing sound can help drown out other distractions and create a comforting atmosphere, often stopping the crying almost instantly.
5. Non-Nutritive Sucking
Nonnutritive sucking can also trigger the calming reflex. Sometimes, a baby is crying simply because they need to suck for comfort or need sucking to help them soothe themselves. Sucking can create endorphins and oxytocin in the brain of your baby. A pacifier can soothe them and satisfy their need to suck, which many babies find comforting.
Conclusion
Caring for a crying baby can be challenging, but adopting these five techniques can help you restore peace in just a couple of minutes. Sometimes all your baby needs is the first 2 techniques while other times you will need to use them all. But by using these 5 things you will find success in calming your crying baby the majority of the time.
Remember, every baby is different, and what works for one might not work for another. It’s all about finding your rhythm and what makes your baby feel secure and happy. Patience and practice are key, and soon enough, you’ll become a master at calming your little one!
For more information be sure to check out Dr. Harvey Karp and his 5 S’s technique at https://www.happiestbaby.com/blogs/baby/the-5-s-s-for-soothing-babies
Or Cara from https://takingcarababies.com/blog with her CRIES method.
You can also register for one of our award winning prenatal classes to learn this and more about caring for your newborn.
www.calgarybirthessentials.com/calgary-prenatal-classes/
