Babies can cry for various reasons, from hunger or tiredness to colic or gas. A warm bottle or gentle rocking might stop some babies from crying, but you might need to adopt a different strategy to settle a fussier newborn.
If you have tried many techniques to comfort your son or daughter, you might wonder if you have exhausted all options to calm your child.
The good news is there are products and approaches you might not have tried that could settle your little one. Check out these four tactics to soothe a crying baby.
1. A Baby Carrier
According to a study published in Pediatrics journal, placing your newborn in a baby carrier for three hours per day will significantly decrease their crying. Parents can expect crying to reduce by a reported 51% at night and 43% overall.
Your baby will feel more comforted, as the walking motions will remind them of the womb. Plus, it will strengthen your bond and allow you to complete many tasks with ease.
As you might never have used a baby carrier before, you might be unsure about the right product for you and your baby. If so, here are the best baby carrier options on the market to support and comfort your little one.
2. A Diet Change
Many babies are intolerant to specific milk and foods in their first year. If your newborn is crying constantly and hard to settle, a food sensitivity could be to blame. Unlike other food allergies, babies don’t always develop rashes, but they might struggle with bloating, gas, tummy pain, or diarrhea.
Lactose intolerance is the most common food sensitivity among babies, as they might struggle to digest the sugar in milk, known as lactose. Symptoms might strike one to three hours after consuming lactose, which can cause considerable upset for your newborn.
If you breastfeed your baby, you might need to switch to formula to settle their sensitive stomach. If your little one is formula-fed, switch brands or try lactose-free milk. Changing their diet could ease your child’s discomfort and make parenting feel much easier.
3. Play Calming Sounds
Caring for a crying child can feel stressful, and you might worry about how it will affect your baby’s happiness, health, and development. If you struggle to settle your baby day or night, playing a calming sound could be an ideal solution.
A white noise device, a recording of a heartbeat, or the gentle hum of a fan could make them feel as if they’re back inside the womb. The sound might instantly stop their wailing and even help them drift off to sleep.
4. Ease Colic
If your baby cries for more than three hours per day at least three days per week, and you struggle to settle them, they might have colic. Babies with colic tend to cry more in the afternoon and evening, and they might clench their fists, go red in the face, experience excessive wind, or bring their knees toward their tummy.
If you suspect colic is causing your son or daughter’s crying, place your baby in an upright position during feeding, wind them after feeds, hold them to provide comfort, and give them a warm bath. Babies often outgrow colic between three to four months old.
