I am a mom of 4 kids so I’m somewhat an expert at this topic. I put this post together for the moms who may need to know other ways to calm their baby if the current methods being used aren’t working as well. Keep reading to find out my opinions and advice on how to calm a crying baby.

First things’ first, calm yourself.

Let’s say baby has been crying on and off for days and you are mentally exhausted. Take 5. As long as baby is fed changed and in a safe place like a crib or buckled into a bouncy chair you can take 5 minutes. If baby is crying don’t let it bother you. If you want to be able to take care of your children you have to be whole, that 5 minutes will help a lot.

Babies can feel your emotions, they are tuned into mommies. If you are stressed they know it and it causes them to be upset more than normal. Now if you have tried the first option I told you and you still feel like it is not enough, do it again and take big deep breaths’. Count to 10, close your eyes and just breathe deep. When anxiety rolls in it makes us breath shallow slow breaths’, this causes more anxiety and makes you feel more overwhelmed. So breath slow deep breaths’ mama, it is going to be alright. Put your mommy face on and let’s go calm a crying baby!

To get on to my main point. How to calm a crying or upset baby.

These are just opinions and things I have tried myself. Somethings may work for your little ones, some won’t so just try something different until it feels like a good fit for your sweet family. I just hope you can read this post and take something away from it that can help you because it took me a while to learn what I know and if I can save someone the stress of going at it without guidance I will do what I can.

So let me tell you about 6 or 7 things that got me through the last 10 or so years with my kids-

Swaddling: the BEST IDEA EVER!!!! I’m serious, I don’t think I would have gotten any sleep in the first couple of months without my swaddle. Basically wrap the baby up like a semi loose burrito, Just tight enough so the babies feel like they are being snuggled. They have a thing called startle reflex, basically when they hear a slight noise or movement they jerk themselves awake and so begins the crying. Without a swaddle the startle reflex can be triggered all night long, with a snore, a cough, or even just someone gets up to the bathroom. Then you have to put them to sleep again( after you’ve just spent hours fighting them to sleep.

So basically my point is, babies cry a lot sometimes when they are not swaddled, or if the swaddle comes loose. So wrap up your baby burrito and try to get some z’s because like they say when babies sleep mommy sleeps( or at least that’s what they want you to believe ????                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Baby snuggles or baby wearing: my favorite!

Babies learn how to express their emotions by their feelings. Snuggles and the closeness to mom dad or any family member molds them for life. Sometimes when babies cry for what seems like no reason at all they are just saying they miss you and want a nice big snuggle and for you to stop stressing because it makes them sad too. So snuggle that baby up for some peace and quiet, take in the intoxicating smell of eau d’ bebe before they grow up and your lucky if you get a smile (preteen years fun to look forward to)

Take them back to the good old’ days

You have to remember, especially for newborns, everything is new to them. Lights and loud sounds are really scary. They get overwhelmed and scared and curious and all their emotions at once and that’s pretty scary even to me. I would most certainly be in a curled up fetal position screaming my head off too if I had to deal with all of that. My best recommendation would be to find a nice comfy rocking chair (or rock yourself) put on some soothing noises like shushing the baby gently in a rhythm or a white noise machine. It works wonders. The motions and sounds imitate their first 9 months of life in the uterus, so it is something that they feel like they know and it is very calming.

Most importantly never forget your babies love you, even if it seems like they are against you. It will pass. Newborns fussiness peak at around 6 weeks old and start to even out around 4 months. They also tend to become more fussy in the middle of the night right when you get into a good REM sleep(go figure!).

Now about those pesky toddlers

You know, the slightly over dramatic ones that scream and cry for no reason (literally nothing at all!). It takes a special touch to get them feeling better, because they are learning new actions and how to react to them. First of all, there is no deescalating a toddler who got the wrong color cup for lunch. Find the cup. No cup=no peace. Once you have found said cup, or whatever the meltdown was about playfully steal those tears off their cheeks and give them a great big hug.

I know this is like super simple and whatnot but like I said, my opinions and real life experiences here. Dont let anyone fool you.

Also another way to get them out of a bad whiney crying fit is this: Play pat-a cake, you don’t have to clap their hands together. Just clap around look funny and make it sing songy so they start laughing. Luckily toddlers can be pretty easily distracted with something funny. So you get to teach a positive thing and get a great memory out of it. Sweet deal I think.

Not much to say about toddlers, they own you so just do what they say. Wipe the tears and keep on going. You have now become the royal jester for a 2 foot tall mini-you. (super exciting!)

Older babies and toddlers will start to be fussy usually in afternoons and early evening, especially if they missed a nap (I suggest not missing a nap, or a snack for that matter).

After you have tried one or all or a mixture of these things’ something should work! For any reason thesse things’ don’t and you have tried absolutely everything and you just cant figure it out get a hold of your Pediatrician. It could be something as simple as Colic* or GERD*. Doctors can give you medications and ways to relieve the babys crying.

*I have made links available for information on Colic and GERD in infants from webMD*

If you ever feel super exhausted or start feeling too overwhelmed, sad, depressed, or feel like you aren’t doing a good enough job with baby, PLEASE talk to your Doctor. THIS IS IMPORTANT!!!! Baby blues is real and can be dangerous.

That’s all for now my beauties,

Panny Saving Mom

Amanda

p.s. I found you a video on HOW TO SWADDLE A BABY BURRITO  here