New parents try and prepare for their upcoming roles as much as possible. However, it can be difficult to imagine, let alone plan, just how much your baby will cry for those first few months. Virtually anything can set your little one off.
This includes, but isn’t limited to, a dirty diaper, empty tummy, tiredness, and discomfort. Of course, it can be difficult to know exactly why your little one is crying. Furthermore, even if you tend to the problem at hand, there is no guarantee that the tears and the wailing will stop.
So, if you want to know how to soothe your infant, you have come to the right place. Here you can find the top tips and tricks to help calm your little one before they kick up a fuss or once they are all worked up.
Rock Your Baby
This may seem like such an old-school method but it actually works. In fact, there is scientific evidence to back it up. Rocking your baby seems to trigger certain motor, cardiac, and central regulations in both your baby’s brain and body. As such, they calm down with this movement.
To make rocking really effective, though, don’t stand in one place. Instead, cradle your baby in your arms and gently rock them as you walk around. This combined motion often does a far better job of stopping your baby from crying.
Some parents also find the rocking to be more effective when it is accompanied by a comforting noise. So, try this out and see if it helps to stem those tears.
Distract Your Little One
In some instances, your baby can get stuck on a crying loop. Therefore, they may be unable to stop themselves even if you have tended to whatever issue caused them to get upset in the first place. When this happens, your best course of action is to distract your baby.
Now, there are a variety of ways to do this – it is important to find one that is best suited to your little one. It can be as simple as turning on a tap or holding your baby up to a mirror. You could also turn on a noise-making machine in the house. Just make sure that your baby isn’t near the machine or you could hurt their ears or frighten.
The whole idea here is to jolt them out of their crying jag. So, you can try and experiment with different options. At the end of the day, every baby is unique. So, your little one may respond to something rather unusual.
Feed Your Baby On Time
Babies fuss and cry when they are hungry. However, if you are only trying to feed your little one when they have entered this stage, you may find that your attempts are futile. At this point, they are so upset that they can’t actually eat and may not respond to the breast or bottle.
Depending on how old your baby is, he or she may need to be fed either every 2, 3, or 4 hours. Thus, it is a good idea to keep your eye on the clock. When it gets closer to your baby’s feeding time, pay close attention to how they are behaving.
Are they moving their hands towards their mouth? Are they sucking on their fists or making rooting motions? If so, this means that your baby is getting hungry. It is a good time to try and feed them as long as enough time has passed since their last meal.
This is something that you should do even when you are on the move and breastfeeding. Can’t breastfeed your baby when they begin to show signs of being hungry? Make sure that you have suitable baby bottles filled with breast milk or formula. Then, feed them as they begin to exhibit the appropriate behavior. Doing so can save you quite a few tears.
Get A Change Of Scenery
If nothing you do seems to be calming your baby down, a change of scenery could help. In some cases, this just means moving from one room to another. Or, you could simply head outside. In other instances, a walk may be in order.
Once again, this is a form of distraction. If your baby was triggered by something that happened in the house, stepping away for a moment could help them to snap out of it as they take in their new surroundings. After a while, they crying should reduce in intensity.
Think about where you are going, though, regardless of whether it is another room or outside. Don’t go to a place that is louder or more hectic than the space that you just left. Instead, make certain that you are going to a place with a calming or peaceful atmosphere.
Learn To Treat Overstimulation
Babies can seem to thrive being around people. After all, they tend to constantly need their parents and others to care for one need or another. Despite this, it is possible for babies to get overstimulated. This could stem from having too many people being around, the noise level being too high, or from being carried and cuddled for too long.
When this happens, your baby will become irritable and fussy. This, in turn, can lead to a great deal of angry or frustrated crying. If you sense that your baby has become overstimulated, make sure to take them to a quiet and peaceful place.
Go into your bedroom or their nursery. If it is daytime, draw the curtains. If it is nighttime, turn out the lights. Try to soothe your baby in your arms before laying them down in their crib. Then, step back and try to calm yourself as well. Take deep, soothing breaths and make sure that your state can’t affect your baby in any way.
These are the top tricks for helping your baby calm down before or when they have become agitated. Taking these precautions can go a long way in ensuring that both you as well as your baby will be happy.
Read Also: These Baby Facts Will Make You Know Them Better Than Ever
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