The first time you hear your baby cry is a thrilling experience; it's a sign they entered the world healthy with a great set of lungs! But as the weeks go by, the thrill may quickly give way to concern and frustration. Newborns can be surprisingly loud, fussy, and hard to soothe. This is especially true when you're exhausted, overwhelmed, and still getting the knack of parenting. So, how do you soothe a fussy newborn?
Luckily, there are many effective tricks to try. At the top of the list is identifying why your baby is crying. If you know the reason for the tears, you may be able to solve the problem. But figuring out why a newborn is crying can be tricky—and the reason isn't always clear. Either way, there are a variety of tools you can employ for soothing a fussy baby, like movement, making them comfy, and soothing sounds.
While no single method works for all babies, you'll soon develop a repertoire of techniques that are perfect for your child. In the meantime, read on for some time-tested ideas to help your baby—and you—feel better.
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Start With the Basics
Babies fuss to communicate their needs. So, if your newborn is distressed, the first step in calming them is to check all the most common reasons that can make them cry.
Are they in need of a diaper change?
Check their diaper. Laying in a dirty or wet diaper is a very common cause of fussiness. Additionally, needing to poop can cause discomfort. So, even if your baby's diaper is clean right now, it might not be in a few minutes.
Are they hungry?
Offer them the breast or a bottle. Newborns often fuss as they start to feel hungry. And newborns need to eat often, as in every two to three hours around the clock. So even if it feels like you just fed them, they might already be ready for another meal. Remember to burp them during and after they eat as well.
Are they sleepy?
Babies need a lot of sleep. Newborns fuss when they are tired, so try putting your baby down for a nap or the night. Look for sleep signs early, such as rubbing their eyes, yawning, and fussing. If you wait too long, they might be so overtired and worked up that they have trouble settling down.
Are they overstimulated?
Too much noise, light, and activity can jangle a newborn's nerves. Try dimming the lights, turning down the TV or music, and/or putting them in a more subdued or mellow environment. Cutting down on external stimulation can help your baby relax.
If the above strategies don't soothe them, move on to the rest of the suggestions below.
Get Moving
Babies are used to a lot of movement from their time inside the uterus. Sometimes the transition to the outside world can feel abrupt and too still, resulting in fussiness. So, adding some gentle movement may make your baby feel more at ease.
Rock your baby
Place baby in your arms, stand with your feet slightly more than hip-width apart and swivel back and forth at the hips. Your movement can be fairly vigorous as long as you're holding the baby close and securely to your body. When you get tired, try a rocking chair.
Get a baby swing
Baby swings (or swinging cradles) offer a soothing, rhythmic motion that helps soothe your baby. Just make sure the swing is designed for a newborn, as little ones may slump over in a larger one that's meant for an older baby. Also, if your baby falls asleep while in the swing, transfer them to their crib or bassinet. These devices are not safe for sleeping.
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Use vibrations
The vibrating motion of a washing machine or dryer works like magic for some fussy babies. Place the baby in an infant seat, put it on top of the running appliance, and hold on to it firmly so the seat stays in place. Just be sure to never leave a baby unattended where they could fall or be injured.
Take a drive or walk
Going for a drive with their fussy infant has saved the sanity of many new parents. The smooth, consistent motion of a car or stroller ride lulls many fussy babies to sleep.
Recruit someone to help
According to some parents, there is usually a top dog when it comes to soothing. Maybe it's because they rock your baby more quickly. Maybe it's because they swaddle more tightly. Or maybe they've just got a special way that works wonders with your baby. But who cares what the reason is? Get that person to help and give yourself a break.
Make Your Baby Comfortable
Sometimes your fussy newborn misses the confines of the uterus. Your baby is used to being packed closely in a warm, cozy environment. Emulating that experience may stop the tears by helping them feel more secure. But, be sure to prioritize safety over comfort and follow the ABC's of safe sleep which include alone, back, crib. With that in mind, here are some ways to make sure your baby is comfortable.
Check their diaper, again
Sure, the first line of defense when dealing with a fussy baby is to check the diaper. But just because it was empty 10 minutes ago doesn't mean it is now. So, as you run through other soothing techniques, keep checking if their diaper needs to be changed—or if it's on too tight or otherwise bothering your baby.
Give your baby a bath
Some babies respond well to the soothing comfort of warm water, others don't. Either way, bathing your baby may help them calm down. You can also try showering with your baby by holding them under the warm spray of water, an option that combines kangaroo care with the soothing powers of water.
Swaddle them
Wrapping your baby cozily in a thin, lightweight blanket with their arms across their chest has a wonderful calming effect. Swaddled babies often sleep longer and more soundly, too.
Try kangaroo care
Kangaroo care utilizes the magic of skin-to-skin contact and is especially effective for preemies. To try this technique, undress your baby down to their diaper, lie down, place them against your naked skin, and cover both of you (except for your baby's head) with a warm, soft blanket.
Strap on a sling
It's not surprising that the warm, dark, close comfort of a baby sling or other carrier is a surefire soother. A bonus: You can breastfeed anywhere undercover while using a sling. Just be sure you are using the proper size and fit according to the manufacturer's instructions, otherwise these devices can be dangerous.
Try comfort feeding
If you breastfeed, try putting your baby to the breast. Even if they aren't hungry, nursing for comfort (called non-nutritive sucking or comfort feeding) is inherently soothing and may help calm your baby. Even better, while you can overfeed a bottle-fed baby, your newborn can continue sucking on the near-empty breast without taking in excess food or air. Plus, that extra breast stimulation will help ensure you build up a robust breast milk supply.
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Bring on the Noise
During pregnancy, babies get used to the constant sound of their gestational parent's heart pounding, the rush of their blood, and the gurgling of their stomach. For some newborns, the relative silence of the outside world is too much and may cause fussiness. When it comes to soothing a newborn, sometimes a little white noise can help.
Turn on a fan
The soft whirring of a fan or other machine that makes a humming sound is music to a fussy baby's ears. Try different settings or mechanical background noises to see what is most calming for your baby.
Tackle your vacuuming chores
Vacuuming is well-known to have a soothing effect on some babies. They seem to be calmed by the combination of noise and vibration.
Make a "shush" sound
Your shushing sound mimics what your baby heard in the uterus. Say "shush" directly into their ear, over and over again.
Try white noise
A sound machine or any other machine with a consistent rushing sound may have a soothing effect; recordings of waves on the beach, rainfall, or the sound of a waterfall will work as well. Studies show that playing white noise results in reduced crying and longer sleep duration.
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More Tricks to Soothe a Fussy Newborn
Haven't found relief from your newborn's fussy spell yet? There are still plenty of other tricks you can try to jolly your little one out of their cranky mood.
Offer a pacifier
Pacifiers work wonders for some babies. And while myths about pacifiers abound, there's nothing wrong with giving a newborn a pacifier, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Some children have strong sucking needs and are quickly soothed by a binky. Many babies give up the pacifier on their own around the seventh month. If yours doesn't, don't worry. The AAP says it's unlikely to harm their development.
Go outside
A change of scenery can often be distracting enough to calm your newborn's cries. The cool, fresh air tends to be soothing as well. If you can't go outside, try opening a window.
Give a massage
Some babies find gentle massage soothing. Research shows that in addition to calming effects, baby massage improves sleep, promotes parent-child bonding, and boosts healthy infant weight gain.
To do a baby massage, undress your baby and softly stroke their skin, focusing on one area at a time from head to toe. You can do this while holding your baby or set them down in a safe spot (such as their crib or changing table) while you give them a massage.
Check the temperature
Consider if your baby could be uncomfortable due to excess heat or chill. Your baby could be too cold or too hot, making it difficult to settle down or fall asleep. So, try putting on or taking off a layer or changing the thermostat to help your little one feel more comfortable.
Check their clothes
Hot, tight, or confining clothes can cause tears to flow. Make sure a button, seam, or zipper isn't pinching or scratching their skin or otherwise causing discomfort.
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Put in the earplugs
Crying tends to peak in the late afternoon or early evening, a time known as the “witching hour.” If the piercing cries get to be too much, wear foam earplugs while you hold your baby and try the soothing techniques mentioned above. You could also try listening to music that makes you happy or relaxed to help blunt the anguish of listening to your baby's cries.
Give yourself a break
It's nearly impossible to hold a crying baby and not begin to feel agitated or even desperate yourself. Your baby is also influenced by your mood, a reality that can become a stress loop. It's a uniquely frustrating experience when all you want is to soothe your baby but your efforts aren't working. So, if you're getting frustrated, give yourself grace—and a moment (or more) to calm down.
This might mean handing off your baby to a partner or friend or placing them in their crib while you take a quick shower, walk around the block, get a snack, or even just take a few deep, cleansing breaths. Once you're more relaxed, your calming techniques will be more effective. Either way, know that it's not your fault—some babies cry more often than others regardless of what you do. You are doing your best and that's more than good enough.
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Consider Health Problems
Many healthy newborns regularly cry for no apparent reason or due to comfort or environmental issues, but sometimes a newborn is fussy due to a health condition. Always check in with your baby's doctor to discuss any questions or concerns you have about your child's fussiness, whether a health issue could be at play, and how to best soothe their tears.
Look for signs of gas
Some people think infants smile when they have gas; others know better. Excess gas can be very uncomfortable. Essentially, your baby may need to burp or pass gas. If you suspect your baby is crying from gassiness, try:
Laying them down across your knees and gently rubbing their backBicycling their legs while they lie on their backTalking to a health care provider about using infant gas drops
Consider colic
One-fifth of babiesdevelop colic, which means they cry inconsolably for three hours or more a day for three weeks or more. Colic peaks at 6 weeks and usually resolves itself by 3 months. It's unclear why colic develops or how to treat it. However, soothing techniques—and patience—can help. Try placing your baby face down on your forearm, cradle them close to your body, and rock them back and forth.
Examine your feeding practices
If you're breastfeeding and regular soothing tips don't help, consider if your baby is getting enough breast milk or if something in the breast milk could be causing fussiness. Be sure to look for feeding cues (rooting, pursing lips, opening mouth), and breastfeed regularly and on demand. You can also try eliminating dairy, coffee, onions, and/or other potentially irritating foods (such as those that induce gas) from your diet.
Note that it's very common to worry unnecessarily about breastfeeding issues like insufficient supply or that something in your breast milk is bothering your baby. Most often, your breast milk and supply are perfectly fine. Instead, other factors may be causing fussiness, such as issues with positioning or latching on, which usually can be fixed with simple adjustments in technique. Talk to your baby's pediatrician or a lactation consultant if you have breastfeeding concerns or need lactation support.
Bottle-fed babies could be fussy due to overfeeding or swallowing air during feedings. Trying a new slower-flow nipple or gas-reducing bottle could help.
Key Takeaways
It's very common for newborns to be fussy. Sometimes there is an identifiable cause, other times they just may need to cry for a bit. Either way, know that having a fussy baby isn't a reflection of your parenting. As long as your baby's basic needs are met (clean diaper, full tummy, sleep, and attention from you), then you're doing a great job. That said, if your baby's crying isn't soothed by any calming techniques you try, consult a pediatrician—and your friends and family—for help.
Updated bySarah Vanbuskirk
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