Best Way to Cope with Baby Crying

Babies cry and fuss for a variety of reasons. Try to learn your baby’s different cries as early as possible, so you can identify the solution quickly. Obvious solutions are available for common problems such as hunger, pain, fatigue, discomfort from being too cool or too warm, boredom, overstimulation, and needing to be held. When parents hear the loud, shrill cry of a baby in pain, they often check for a pricking diaper pin or a tiny thread tangled around a baby’s hand or foot. Experienced parents check clothes and bedding first and clip all such threads.

Sometimes a baby cries…and cries…and cries…and nothing seems to help. Don’t take it personally. Your baby isn’t crying because you’re a bad parent.

Coping with Crying

• Walk or dance with your baby. Try different kinds of music to see what works.
• Rock your baby in your arms or in a rocking chair.
• Take your baby for a ride in the stroller.
• Bounce your baby gently in your arms, on a bed, or in a bouncy seat.
• Take your baby for a ride in the car. (Always place your baby in a government-approved car seat. Make sure the car seat is properly installed and your baby is properly buckled in. Never place your baby in the front seat. The safest place is the middle of the back seat.
• Put your baby in a mechanical baby swing. Support your baby’s head, if necessary, with rolled receiving blankets, towels, or a specially designed infant pillow.
• Run the vacuum cleaner, clothes dryer, fan, or a hair dryer.
• Offer your baby a noise-making toy such as a rattle or shaker.
• Sing or talk to your baby in a quiet, singsong way.
• Carry your baby in a front pack, close to your body.
• Lay your baby tummy-down across your lap, and gently rub his back. Make sure your baby’s airways aren’t obstructed. You might want to sway your knees slowly back and forth.
• Lay your baby across a warm hot-water bottle on your lap or on a bed. Test the bottle’s temperature by placing it against your forearm.
• Use the football hold by carrying your baby facedown on your forearm with your baby’s face supported by the palm of your hand.
• Gently massage your baby’s torso and limbs using warmed lotion or baby oil. A semidark room may also help.
• Swaddle your infant in receiving blankets.

• Feed and burp your baby one more time, or offer a little warm water.
• Offer a pacifier. Molded pacifiers allow less air to pass in and are better for colicky babies. Hold it gently in your baby’s mouth, if necessary.
• Let your baby suck the underside of your finger. (The pinkie usually fits best.) Turn your nail down so it doesn’t poke the roof of your baby’s mouth.
• Breathe slowly and calmly while holding your baby close. Your baby may sense your calmness and quiet down. Or place your baby near your heart while holding him close.
• Fold your baby’s arms across his chest, and hold him down firmly but gently on the crib mattress, as if swaddled.
• If nothing works, have someone else take over for a while, or put your baby in the crib, close the door, and turn on the TV or radio. Take a shower to relax and drown out the noise. Check your baby every ten minutes or so.