A crying baby could mean sleepless nights, annoyed strangers and neighbours, and frazzled parents overall. It can be extra challenging for first-time parents who have to raise a baby without prior experience. Fortunately, there are tried and tested ways to calm down agitated babies.

Ways To Stop A Baby From Crying

1. Recreate movements in the womb

The baby’s agitation probably stems from the unfamiliar feel of the surroundings. To make him feel secure, try recreating the motions of the womb. While the baby was inside the womb, he has gotten used to constant movement by being surrounded by fluid. This is why you see parents slowly rocking babies back and forth, swaying or dancing, to calm down the baby. This soothes them and reduces stress from the novel experience of being born.

2. Put on some white noise

Being in the womb for quite some time also conditioned the baby to constant noise that the mother’s body makes, such as beating heart and breathing. As such, they look for similar sounds to soothe and comfort them. To do this, some parents plays white noise via noise machines, similar to the apparatus recommended for insomniacs. You can also sing or turn on a fan inside the baby’s room for that humming sound.

3. Swaddling

Swaddling is also a tried and tested approach to pacifying a child. It mimics the warm and snug confines of the womb. It envelopes them in a literal security blanket. One paediatrician, Dr. Robert Hamilton, even came up with a unique swaddling technique dubbed as “The Hold” which proved effective for placating crying babies.

4. Divert the baby’s attention

In certain instances, babies are just restless due to a lack of stimulation. Perhaps they need a change of environment or something to focus on. If you’re indoors, take a stroll outside. Babies love fresh air, having a change of environment is often distracting enough to get the little bulb quiet. You can take him or her to a different place or dangle toys or cheap flowers in his line of sight to divert his attention. It’s also a way for you to stimulate his senses to familiarise him to the surroundings so long as the sights and sounds are not too overwhelming.

5. Get to the root of the problem

Ultimately, you need to learn to read your child’s emotional reactions. Oftentimes, there are underlying issues that’s why he is emotional. Perhaps the baby is hungry, in pain, or the diaper is dirty. As a parent, interpreting your child’s behaviour is part and parcel of the learning curve. Make a mental checklist of your child’s needs and test out the possibilities until you get to the root of the problem. Once you satisfy their immediate need, they should calm down pretty soon.

This article is contributed by Nadia Jamal