Sometimes when your baby is crying, nothing seems to help soothe him or her, and that could be extremely frustrating for a mother. Whether you are a new mom, or you have experience raising a baby, implementing new strategies to soothe a crying child is always a good idea. Check out a few tips below so you can help your baby feel relaxed and content.
Hand Your Baby the Right Pacifier
Pacifiers are a standard tool used to help soothe a crying or fussy baby, but not all pacifiers are created equal. Sites like momcrib.com will help you figure out which pacifier is best for your child, especially if your baby is being breastfed. But even if you do not have a pacifier handy, you could actually offer your baby your own pinkie, provided that your finger is clean, of course.
Try Swaddling Your Baby
Swaddling works for a lot of moms who struggle with getting their crying babies to relax. Basically, wrapping your baby snugly in a blanket will make him or her feel secure and cozy. Just be sure to wrap your baby so that his or her arms are at the sides of the body. After swaddling your baby, you could also rock him or her to sleep.
Place Your Baby in a Swing
Placing your baby in your arms and swinging him or her, or letting your baby sit in a chair that is made to swing, could also provide some relief. Basically, the rhythmic movement might be able to remind your child of the time that he or she was in your womb, and that could be just what is needed to help your little one fall asleep.
Make the “Shh” Sound
Shushing your baby might also do the trick when he or she is having trouble falling asleep or relaxing. The “shh” sound is actually considered soothing to a newborn because it is similar to the sound that he or she was exposed to while in your belly. So, you could either make the shushing sound yourself or you could purchase a CD that you could play for your baby. There are even apps that you could use that will play some white noise in your baby’s room to help soothe him or her.
Ditch the Dairy Products
If you are breastfeeding your baby, what you eat will have an impact upon how your baby feels. Dairy products, in particular, could lead to uncomfortable colic that causes your baby to cry. And studies have even found that babies with colic could dramatically improve when their mothers eliminate dairy from their diet. With so many tasty dairy-free options out there today, from ice cream made from almond milk, to soy milk that you can use in your coffee, there is no reason why you can’t easily make the switch to plant-based cheeses, whipped cream, and desserts.
Hopefully the tips above will help you figure out a new way to soothe your baby the next time that he or she is being very fussy or having trouble falling asleep.