How to Calm a Fussy Baby: A Step-by-Step Guide
If you have ever spent helpless (and sleepless) hours trying to calm a crying baby when all of the usual methods aren’t working, this article may provide a solution for next time.
Crying, in manageable doses, is perfectly normal. Babies cry often, especially during the first three months. Until a baby gets older and can smile, laugh, and reach for objects, crying is a baby’s only way to communicate. Crying tells us that our baby may need to eat or sleep. They might cry if they’re in pain, cold, overheated, or need a new diaper. But what happens when you have exhausted all the usual needs and your baby is still screaming well past bed or nap time?
Sometimes inconsolable crying is the result of an overtired baby. An overtired baby requires calming before they can fall asleep. Attempting to calm a fussy baby can be a daunting task for new and experienced parents alike. When a baby cries for extended periods, their body releases stress hormones that keep an infant awake and alert. Here is a method, broken down into 4 easy steps, that can be used to soothe a fussy baby.
Calm your baby in 4 easy steps
Step 1: Swaddle
Many researchers believe that, compared to other species, human babies are born before they’re truly ready to enter the world. Because of this abrupt start, newborns are easily overstimulated by the world around them. For babies under 3 months old, one of the best ways to calm them is by returning them to a familiar environment–the womb.
The first step to calm your fussy baby is to swaddle them. Swaddling can simulate the contained space within the uterus. We recommend using a device specifically designed for swaddling, preferably one that snaps, zips, or velcros closed. Wrap your baby with arms at their sides snugly but with enough room for unrestricted breathing and loose around the legs and hip region. You can swaddle a newborn whether it’s bedtime or naptime. However, it’s important to follow all safety guidelines and be sure to stop swaddling as soon as your baby begins to roll.
If you find your baby resistant to swaddling initially, don’t worry, this is common. Swaddling by itself doesn’t soothe all babies. Swaddling keeps your baby contained and prevents disrupted calm or sleep from the startle reflex. You do not need to wait for crying to stop after swaddling. Move on to the next step.
Step 2: Remove stimulation
Once your baby is safely and snuggly swaddled, hold them in a position with their face turned away from you and any stimulation, perhaps on their side. Babies can’t see faces while in the uterus, and sometimes close-up viewings of our faces can overwhelm a tired infant. You may notice your baby, at times, averting their gaze, and avoiding direct eye contact with those around them. This is often a sign that it’s time to get your little one ready for a nap or for bed.
Step 3: Motion and sound
Start with motion. With your baby still pointed away from stimulation and faces, move them with a bit more energy than a gentle rock. Move your baby in a way that calms them. You can make a stirring motion with your baby in a football hold and move in small circles or sway from side to side. DO NOT SHAKE your baby or move in a way that you might lose your hold. Make sure you support their head, neck, and body. Try multiple positions to find the best one for you and your baby.
Next, introduce sound. Babies in utero hear a constant whooshing sound from the gestational parent's blood flow and heartbeat. Outside of the uterus, newborns are often comforted by white noise at a high volume.
With your snug little one stirring, circling, or swaying in your arms, create a sound that drowns out the crying and envelopes your baby in the familiar sound of blood rushing through the placenta. You can use a baby sound machine, or you can make a shushing or whooshing noise matching the volume of your baby’s cries. You can also turn on the shower, stand by the washer or dishwasher while they’re active, or even run a vacuum cleaner. The goal is to introduce enough sound to drown out talking, older children playing, doors opening and closing, and other everyday sounds that can lead to overstimulation for a newborn.
Step 4: Pacifier
As your baby begins to quiet, offer a pacifier or even your thumb or finger to suck on. This is called non-nutritive sucking or sucking for comfort and not for food. When a baby sucks on a pacifier, their body releases endorphins to help calm and soothe them during the first few months. All babies need to engage in some non-nutritive sucking whether you are using formula or breastfeeding, and a pacifier can help with this. The pacifier should not interfere with breastfeeding as long as nursing is established and the nursing parent’s milk supply is in.
Just like with swaddling, steps 2-4 are suitable for an infant who is not yet showing signs of rolling over. If you need further guidance or support, you can chat now with one of our coaches on the MissPoppins app.
