How to Soothe an Upset Baby
The reality is that all babies cry and they cry for a multitude of reasons. Sometimes babies cry for reasons that are immediately obvious and other times they cry for no apparent reason at all.
As adults, it is important for us to remember that babies cry because they are unable to talk and have no other way of expressing their needs and desires. Essentially, crying is the only method available to a baby to let us know that something is not right and they need our help.
Babies have different cries for different reasons:
The better you get to know your baby the better you will understand their different cries. In fact, mothers in particular are usually able to interpret their babies’ cries in ways that others simply cannot and research shows that babies cry in different ways for different problems.
A baby may cry because they are tired, hungry, uncomfortable, in pain, over stimulated, sick, frustrated, lonely, bored, worried or scared or for a medical problem such as colic.
So what can you do?
Research and experience shows that in many cases infant massage is an effective way to soothe a baby. Babies generally respond very well when nurturing touch is delivered by parents who have undertaken baby massage training and have learnt correct baby massage techniques.
Baby massage can almost always be enhanced through the use of baby massage oil. It is important that any oil is tested on a small area of the baby’s skin to check for any irritation or adverse reaction, but in most cases massage is made all the more enjoyable with the use of oil. In fact, the effects of baby massage can be as relaxing for parents as they can for a baby and many parents really enjoy the opportunity to connect with their baby in a different way.
Infant massage can also be enhanced through the use of a baby cushion as this will promote the child’s comfort and make it easy to deliver the massage effectively.
Cuddle your baby:
Regardless of why your baby is crying, being held by someone who is warm and reassuring helps your little one to feel secure. Although babies do love to be held in your arms, there are other alternatives that give you more freedom such as slings and carriers that attach to your front.
Ultimately, it is physical contact that the baby is seeking and when they get the cuddles they seek, most babies are effectively soothed.
Move around:
It is often instinctive for a parent to sway, rock, swing, jiggle or dance with an upset baby. Most babies love rhythmic, repetitive motion and respond well when held and moved around.
Many parents also find that the rhythm and motion of the car helps to soothe a distressed baby.
White noise:
As adults we sometimes forget the fact that the womb was actually a noisy place to be. Newborn babies are used to hearing all sorts of noises, many of which are mottled and so it follows that white noise can be remarkably calming.
Such white noise needs to be uniform and continuous and may include sounds such as: a heartbeat, static, vacuum cleaner, the sea or the rain.
There are many different ways to soothe an upset baby and very often a parent will be guided by their natural instincts and understanding of their baby. However, the techniques such as baby massage that are listed in this article provide some good ways to calm and reassure an unsettled baby.