Comforting your crybaby
When your baby is upset, it is hard to know what you can do to help soothe them. Sometimes your child will cry and cry and it seems like nothing helps, but no baby cries forever. With a little trial and error, you will learn what you can do to calm your baby.
Your baby experiences many feelings from sad to tired, hungry, and, of course, happy. While they might not yet know what these feelings are, believe it or not, you can start teaching your baby how to recognize emotions from day one. The first step in managing strong emotions is being able to recognize them…and this is where YOU come in! Click here for more information regarding Identifying and Understanding Feelings.
You might need to be a detective and look for cues to figure out why your baby is upset. Start by asking yourself the following questions:
Did You Know
That you can help your baby learn to self-soothe?
- Is my baby hungry? When was the last time they were fed? Your baby may be chewing on their hand, mouthing on your shoulder or crying.
- Does my baby’s diaper need to be changed? When in doubt, do it!
- Is my baby too hot or too cold? Is their clothing making them uncomfortable?
- Does my baby need to be moved into a different position?
- Does my baby need to be burped? A rub or pat on the back may lead to the answer!
- Is my baby tired? Your baby begins to rub their eyes or just looks tired. Swaddle or hug them or simply put them in their crib.
- Is your baby overwhelmed with their surroundings? Try moving your child to a quiet environment.
Hold, rock, or gently bounce your baby
Hug, cuddle, kiss, and pat your baby
Place your finger in your baby’s hands as they learn to grab and hold
Rub your baby’s back, arms, and legs
You can also help your baby learn to self soothe with some hands-off strategies
Did You Know
Giving your child love and affection will help them feel more secure and better able to handle any emotions that come their way?
- When putting your baby to sleep, make sure they are lying on their back and that their crib is free of blankets, toys, and pillows. Try the “15 Minute Rule”: allow your baby to self-soothe for 15 minutes before you step in. Check out this link for more tips on how you can help your baby sleep safely.
- If your baby seems overstimulated, allow them to be alone in a quiet place for a few minutes, while you monitor from nearby.
- When you’ve tried everything to calm your baby, nothing seems to work, and you are at your wit’s end, it is okay to lay your baby down in a safe and secure spot and walk away for a few minutes. Don’t go too far – but give yourself and your baby some time to calm down.