Having a new baby can bring joy and excitement to the family, but some babies are fussier than others and leave parents feeling frustrated and needing sleep. There are many solutions that can help parents to soothe an exceptionally fussy baby so that they are able to sleep and care for him easily. Some babies are soothed by one particular solution, while others may need multiple actions to be combined before they are able to calm down and stop crying.
Swaddling
Swaddling can soothe even the fussiest of babies. To swaddle a baby, parents should lay a soft swaddling blanket on a flat surface. The top corner should be folded down so that the top of the blanket is flat instead of pointed. The baby should then be placed on her back in the middle of the blanket with her head above the flat corner. The right point can be brought over he body and tightly tucked underneath her back. Then, the bottom point should be brought up and tucked above the right side, just at her chest. The left side should then be folded over her body and tucked around so that she is tightly wrapped in the blanket with only her head and neck out. This action helps the baby to feel secure and simulates the warmth and tightness of being in the womb.
Breastfeeding or Pacifier Use
Breastfed babies can be nursed when fussy to provide them with comfort. Nursing releases hormones in the mother and baby that help both to calm down, providing a quiet time to bond. Breastfed babies can be nursed even if they are not hungry, without fear of overfeeding. It is not possible to overfeed a nursing baby, and babies nursing for comfort will naturally receive less milk than babies nursing due to hunger, as they suckle lighter and tend to drift off to sleep. Bottle-fed babies can be offered a pacifier while cuddling with mom or dad to provide the baby with a similar experience to nursing for comfort. The suckling action will allow the baby to feel a sense of comfort and relief from uncomfortable problems such as gas or over-stimulation. Often, the act of suckling in the comfort of a parent's arms will help the infant to quickly fall asleep.
Infant Massage
Infant massage can provide babies with a soothing bonding experience with caregivers, and also helps to relieve any discomfort or gas that the baby is experiencing. Infant massage can be performed by stripping the baby to a diaper on a soft blanket, with baby lotion nearby. Starting with the chest, parents can gently massage a small amount of lotion upward and outward, circling both hands down to the stomach and rubbing them upward to the chest repeatedly. It is important to only rub gently and avoid any sort of deep tissue massage on infants. After the chest and stomach, parents can massage the infant's arms by using a milking motion, moving from the top of the arms to the bottom. The same action can be repeated on the legs and then the baby can be rolled onto his stomach and receive a massage on his back.
Gas Relief
Fussiness is often caused by a difficulty passing gas. Parents can provide their baby with gas relief by laying him on his back and gently moving his legs as though riding a bicycle. After bicycling the baby's legs for a few minutes, mom or dad can gently bend the baby's legs and press them upward against his chest. Both of these motions help to aid in digestion and typically result in helping the baby pass wind.
Soothing Sounds
Infants are used to many soothing sounds while in the womb. Parents can try to simulate these sounds by making quiet "sh" or "whoosh" sounds repeatedly to the baby. Some babies are also comforted by hearing the voice of their mother or listening to soft singing.
Soothing Motions
Babies also experience a great deal of gentle motion while in the womb and become uncomfortable after birth by laying still. Parents can pick up the crying baby and use gentle rocking or bouncing motions to calm him down. It helps to experiment with different motions to find what calms the baby down the quickest; some babies like rocking forward and backward, while some like rocking side to side. Some babies like slow bouncing and others prefer quicker movements.
Warm Bath
A warm bath can calm a crying baby by providing a similar feeling to being in the womb. Having a parent in the bath tub with the baby allows her to relax and feel secure. Either mom or dad can fill the bath tub with warm water and gentle baby bubble bath and then lay quietly in the tub with the infant on their chest. Mothers who are nursing can even breastfeed in the bath tub to provide added comfort to the fussy baby.
Closeness to Parents
Babies often cry due to discomfort from being out in the open, outside the warmth and closeness that they grew accustom to during pregnancy. Closeness with either parent can provide the baby with a sense of security and warmth. Parents can lay in bed with the baby, carry him around with them or even wear him so that he feels secure all throughout the day. A tight, secure baby wrap or sling provides the baby with a feeling that emulates the womb in many ways.
Infant Swing
Some parents come to rely on an infant swing if they have a very fussy baby. Rocking a baby all day and night can become tiring and painful, and swings provide an alternative that allows parents to get some rest and time to take care of their own needs. While swings don't provide the same closeness and bonding as rocking or wearing a baby, they are often necessary for actions that cannot be performed if the baby is in the parent's arms.
Car Ride or Walk
Some babies are extremely fussy and parents have a difficult time calming them, even after trying many of the recommended solutions. Some parents find that their only method of calming the baby is by putting her in her car seat and driving around, or putting her in her stroller and taking a long walk. While both solutions can be helpful in calming a baby, they should never be performed while the parent is sleep deprived. If necessary, the other parent should care for the baby while the first parent rests or another caregiver or family member should be called so that the parent can sleep and be ready to care properly for the baby later in the day.
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