How To Get Your Baby To Stop Crying

We love our children. Caring for your new baby can feel like the most fulfilling and meaningful thing you've ever done. It can also be the source of some of the most intense stress you've ever felt. A crying baby can quickly turn us from cool, calm, and collected into upset, overwhelmed, and on the verge of a breakdown. Here you're going to find a list of things you can try that can calm your baby down when you don't know where to turn.

Rule #1

You are doing an amazing job. Take a deep breath. If at any point you feel like you are going to do something dangerous, take a break for safety. There is no shame in feeling overwhelmed. Every single parent who has ever parented knows that feeling. Swap out with someone else. If no one is there to swap with you, then put baby down safely in their crib (on their back with nothing in the crib with them) and walk away. Shut the door. Step outside, take a breath of fresh air, and reset. A crying baby is a breathing baby and they will be just fine for a minute while you collect yourself. You are doing a great job. Parenting is hard. Period.

Tips & Tricks

Now, here is a list of things you can try that have been recommended by other parents. Aside from #1, these don't need to be done in any particular order. Make sure you are taking deep breaths and keeping yourself calm throughout these trial and errors. If at any point it feels like it's too much, go back to rule #1 and put the baby down in a safe place, walk away, and calm down.

1. Check to see if baby needs to be changed, fed, burped, or if something is irritating them. It can be easy to forget this step when you are exhausted, and overwhelmed by a crying baby, but there may be a simple solution to them being so upset.
2. Swaddle them. Babies can't really control how their arms and legs move and it can upset them. Swaddling keeps everything in control and reminds them of being warm and cozy in the womb.
3. Un-swaddle them. Alternately, some babies don't like the feeling of being swaddled. So if they have been swaddled and are crying, try letting them go free and see if they like it better.
4. Check if they are too hot or too cold. Are they either sweating or does their body feel cold? (Remember, babies have poor circulation so cold hands and feet are not a good indicator of whether or not they are too cold. Check their bellies or behind their neck) Add or remove layers to help them regulate their temperature.
5. Skin to skin. It's not just for brand new newborns! Skin to skin is great for regulating baby and you. It releases oxytocin for both of you, and can calm everyone down.
6. Take them outside. Make sure they are dressed appropriately for whatever the weather is currently doing outside. Sometimes the fresh air is enough to calm them down. 
7. Put them in or around water. If they are old enough for a submersion bath (the umbilical chord has fallen off) then do that. Similarly, you can just take them near a faucet and turn on the water. The sound (and potential heat if you turned on a shower) can be soothing even if they are not actually in the water.
8. Walk around the house. Sometimes babies don't want to be stationary. Take them on a tour of the house. Let them see all the different rooms. Look out the windows. Tell them about everything you can see.  
9. Carry them front facing. Your baby may enjoy being able to see the world out in front of them. Pat their bottom gently while you carry them around like this or gently rock back and forth. 
10. Sing. Doesn't matter what. Doesn't matter if you think you can sing or not. Sometimes babies like hearing your voice. Sing your ABC's. Sing Twinkle Twinkle. Sing Bohemian Rhapsody. Just sing!
11. Turn on some music. Sometimes just listening to something different is enough to peak their interest and stop them from crying for a bit.
12. Turn on the vacuum. Something about the white noise of a vacuum cleaner running is oh so soothing for babies.
13. Wear them in a carrier or sling. Give the sensation of being swaddled in a baby wrap carrier along with being close to you, hearing your heartbeat, and feeling warm and cozy. Plus they get to move around with you as you walk around. You can purchase one here, if you don't have one yet. 
14. Move them in different ways. Moving around in different ways while carrying your baby can provide them with different sensations. Rock from side to side. Gently bounce. Do some squats or lunges if you can. Try different movements. Think Rachel swinging Emma from side to side in that one episode of Friends.
15. Put them down or Pick them up. If you've been holding them for a while, try putting them down. If they've been in a seat or laying down for a while, try picking them up. Babies are just little humans. Sometimes they don't want to be touched and other times they want some extra attention. 

Just remember, this is temporary. You are doing a fantastic job. Parenting feels hard because it is hard, not because you're doing anything wrong. Keep it up. You got this!