Crying soothers that work

Have you tried just about everything you can think of to soothe your crying baby? Try these clever solutions when nothing else works, writes Phumzile Mavuso

WE GENERALLY KNOW that when our babies cry they’re trying to tell us something, so we change their nappies, give them a feed and check for signs of illness. But, sometimes even these strategies just don’t work. Hence, we’ve canvassed for a bit more unconventional ways to help to soothe your little one. Below are some of the ideas that have been tried by different parents all over and have been proven to work.

1 WRAP HER UP

Your baby spent nine long months in the womb where it was cosy, safe and warm. Try swaddling your newborn for her first few weeks, so that she feels similarly comfortable and warm. Swaddling has this effect because it mimics the tight confines of the womb. Shush and sway your baby to imitate the sounds and movements she felt in the womb.

2 WALK IT OFF

Put your new baby in her pram and take a stroll over gravel or bumpy grass. The fresh air will do you both some good, and the movement just might soothe her enough to put her to sleep.

3 MAKE SOME NOISE

The environment your baby experienced in the womb is a lot noisier than you may think, so dead quiet surroundings may just overwhelm her. Start up the washing machine, or switch on a fan to create white noise while you shush your baby to sleep.

Sounds like these help her to calm down and to feel safe.

4 USE YOUR LOVING TOUCH

Calming a crying newborn is all about making her feel comfortable, loved and safe. Rub your baby’s tummy, or massage her feet. This helps reassure her that you are there for her and that everything is okay.

5 SING HER A SONG

Try and calm your baby down by using your voice and singing her a song. Don’t be shy; your baby will love your voice – no matter what it sounds like! Remember that your voice is one of the first things your baby recognises from the womb.

6 CHANGE THE SCENE

Sometimes babies cry because they are overstimulated. What you can do when this happens is leave the stimulation, so that she can calm down. This means taking her out of the room, taking away any toys and turning off the television or the radio for a bit.

7 BRUSH IT ASIDE

If your baby is a little older, rub your fingers through her hair. This helps to distract her.

Stand in front of the mirror and lightly brush her hair into different hairstyles – she will soon forget she was even crying.

8 TURN THAT FROWN UPSIDE DOWN

Make funny faces or noises for your older baby – get creative. The point here is to try to distract your baby from the cause of her crying. Usually dads and older siblings are very good at this type of distraction.

9 FIND A FURRY FRIEND

Get a cute furry soft toy you can sit and look at with your baby. A family pet, such as a dog or cat, is also an engaging distraction for little ones when they’re unhappy.

10 TAKE A BREAK

Pass your baby to someone else, like your partner or a friend, and take a deep breath to relax. Step out of the room if you have to.

Sometimes a crying baby can be frustrating, especially if you’ve tried everything you can think of to calm her down. Accept all the help you can get from friends and family for this reason; you need to look after yourself too!

If none of these work, look at other options, like a visit to the doctor, if your baby is inconsolable with a high-pitched cry and if you suspect she might be coming down with something.

Don’t doubt your instinct, and don’t feel bad about seeing a doctor often if you’re unsure.