How to Soothe a Crying Baby

All babies cry. Here's how to help soothe the tears.

We all know that babies cry. But when your little one starts to sob, you just want to figure out a way to make it right. First, do a round of checks. Are they cold? Do they need a diaper change? Are they sick? If they're still inconsolable, try one (or more) of these tips to soothe a crying baby:

1. Try the Colic Carry

Colic carry to sooth crying baby

Photo source: Flickr

Tummy problems are often the culprit of inconsolable crying. The "colic carry" helps relieve some of the pressure in your little one's belly and can help soothe their tears. Lay them on their tummy across your forearm, cradling their head in your hand. Your other hand can come up onto their back or stay underneath your cradling hand to help stabilize them. Once your baby's secure, gently sway them side to side to help relieve any air bubbles in their delicate tummy.

2. Get the Five S's Down

swaddle crying baby to soothe

Photo source: Flickr

Do you know what the five S's are? From Dr. Harvey Karp's The Happiest Baby on the Block, the five S's are the things no parent can live without. These include swaddling your little one up tight to replicate the snug feeling they had in the womb, using white noise or "shushing" sounds, resting them on their side to help soothe their tummy, swinging them gently from side to side in a swing or your arms, and giving her a pacifier.

3. Babywear

Soothe baby with babywear

Photo source: Flickr

Sometimes, all baby wants is the closeness to mom (or dad)! So strap them into your favorite carrier as you go about your daily activities. Your gentle movements and breathing will remind baby of the womb and they'll be calm and asleep in no time.

4. Go Outside

Soothe baby with stroller

Photo source: Flickr

Yep, even babies get bored looking at the same four walls. If nothing else will soothe your little one, get outside into nature (possibly in a baby carrier, as suggested above, or in a stroller or car seat). The sights and sounds outside will improve your little one's mood and yours.

5. Figure Out What They Need

Identify baby's needs to soothe

Photo source: Flickr

Babies don't come with an instruction manual and that's why it's so hard to know how to soothe a crying baby. However, if you listen very carefully to your little one's cries, you might be able to get to the bottom of the problem. Check out this article on how to decode your baby's cries so you can fix the problem pronto and put an end to the crying.

Featured image source: Flickr