Soothing Techniques That Actually Work for Fussy Babies

A comedian once likened a newborn baby to a ticking timebomb, similar to the ones from the old Looney Toons shows. While their choice of imagery may be a bit hyperbolic, their concept remains pretty sound. A baby can be like a little time-bomb of sorts that could “go off” or start screaming and crying uncontrollably at any moment, day or night. The difference is that we have some tried and true methods to help calm a crying baby down, while we don’t yet know how to make a bomb un-explode. Let’s worry about the former, for now, shall we? Let’s explore some of the best practices for calming your little bomb down once she’s decided to go off! If you have any tips or tricks or experiences of your own that you’d like to share with the class, please feel free to drop them in the comments. 

Swaddling for Security

While relatively controversial and difficult to master, swaddling has been shown to help soothe a crying baby because it helps to return their body to its previously known stasis in a snug, warm womb. Swaddling recreates that comforting sense of security they have been used to for the past 9 months (AKA their entire life at that point!).

Gentle Rhythmic Motion

Think of being on a boat in the middle of calm seas. There is a constant rocking motion that isn’t too fast or too sudden. Hold your baby to your chest and gently rock them back and forth for a while to help soothe them. Walking around while doing this also helps. If you have a rocking chair, that will be perfect as well!

The Power of White Noise

If your home is too quiet or there are sounds coming from outside that may be spooking or startling them, then try setting up a white noise machine, or get a box fan or even gentle music like something classical or made for lullabies. Use a decibel reader App and try to have the level between 50-60DB. You’ll want to measure the reading where your child’s head would be in the crib.

Bodily Comfort Check

If your baby is crying out of seemingly nowhere and you can’t seem to calm them down no matter what you do, then it’s time to do a full body comfort check to see if something is physically bothering them. Here is what you should look for:

• Is their diaper fresh? An old, dirty diaper can be a huge cause of discomfort. Make sure their diaper is clean, fresh, and that their little bottom is not rashy. 
• Check their clothes or blankets for foreign objects or burrs. They may have something in their clothes or blankets that is poking them and hurting their sensitive skin.
• Are they hungry? If it has been a few hours since their last feed or if they did not eat their normal amount previously, then they may just be “hangry” and need an additional meal.
• Do they have a gas bubble? It’s difficult to diagnose exactly what is bothering a newborn because they can’t talk to us, but oftentimes, it is just digestional discomfort, especially if they are on formula or are switching formulas. Try to burp them and/or give them a gentle two finger belly massage to help move any gas bubbles along or to burp them out. If they haven’t pooped in a while, they may be slightly constipated or dealing with a difficult poop as well. Once it passes, they should calm down.
• Check all fingers, toes and penis for possible hairs that could be wrapped around them restricting circulation. While this may seem hardly possible, trust me, it does happen!

Before You Go

We hope that this blog about baby soothing tips was helpful to you. If your little one is still fussy after feeds, struggling to settle, or having trouble sleeping, we’re here to support you.

From sleep consulting to in-home sleep training and overnight newborn care or in-home newborn care services, we offer personalized guidance to help your little one (and you!) get the rest you need.

Have questions? Let’s Chat — we’d love to help your family rest easier.

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Katie B.

Expertise You Need:

• Certified Master Pediatric Sleep Consultant
• Certified Advanced Newborn Care Specialist (2016-2022)
• Board Certified Holistic Healthcare Practitioner
• 16 years professional childcare experience
• Certified Postpartum Doula (2015-2022)
• Travel & ROTA Nanny

 

The content contained in this blog is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended as medical advice or to replace the advice of any medical professional. It is based on our opinions and experience working with newborns and their families. Other’s opinions may vary. It does not represent the views of any affiliated organizations. The reader understands that the term “Babynurse” is often a word used to describe a newborn caregiver. However, unless otherwise disclosed, we are not licensed nurses in any state. By reading and/or utilizing any information or suggestions contained in this blog, the reader acknowledges that we are not medical professionals and agrees to and waives any claim, known or unknown, past, present or future. This blog may contain affiliate links.

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