DISCLAIMER: This post is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding you or your baby’s health. Please read my Medical Disclaimer for more info
DISCLAIMER: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may get a commission if you decide to purchase something through my links at no cost to you. Please read my Disclaimer for more info.
Babies are fussy often because crying is the only way they can communicate with us for a while! But what do you do for a fussy baby if you don’t think they need food or a new diaper?
1. Start with Your Checklist
After checking if your baby has a wet or dirty diaper, ask yourself:
“Do they have gas?” If so, check out How to Relieve Baby Gas Pain!
“Do they need to be burped?”
“Are they hungry?”
Hunger cues from your baby include:
- Rooting
- Active alert state (May be fussy, irregular breathing, indicates your baby is starting to need something)
- Flexing arms/legs, clenching hands
- Sucking motions
- Sucking on finger or fist (Also, a normal developmental milestone around 3 months old so look for more than this around that time)
- Crying (late cue)
If all of these needs from your checklist are satisfied, let’s look at tip #2!
2. Skin-to-Skin
Skin-to-skin is calming for babies. Your baby is meant to desire contact with you as much as possible, therefore, smelling you and feeling your heartbeat during skin-to-skin is relieving for your baby. Your baby loves to look at you, be held, and feel loved. You may also gently rub their eyebrows while doing skin-to-skin to give them more affection.
Furthermore, skin-to-skin regulates your baby’s temperature, stress levels, stimulates their digestion, and increases their oxytocin making them calm and alert!
I highly recommend getting a wrap or baby carrier to make it easier to hold your baby longer and practice skin-to-skin more frequently.
3. Shushing
Making a shushing sound while holding your baby or using a white noise machine can be beneficial for soothing your baby.
I have used this sound machine since my daughter was born and I love it!
Plus, this travel sound machine is also great for on-the-go!
4. Calm Enviroment
If your baby’s environment is chaotic this can lead to your baby becoming overstimulated and very fussy.
To help your baby come down from overstimulation, use the sound machine mentioned in tip #3, dim the lights, quiet outside noises, and utilize movements listed in tip #9.
5. Side or Stomach Position
Hold your baby in your arms (swaddled if under 8 weeks old), on his or her side or stomach with gentle pressure from your hand against their tummy.
The side or stomach position will calm your baby with your presence, smell, and touch. Plus, avoiding having your baby on their back will avoid his or her startle reflex ensuring optimal relaxation for your baby.
6. Bath
Baths often remind babies of being in the womb which calms them.
You can lie your baby on your chest or hold your baby on their tummy with your hand while keeping their head above the water with your fingers at all times.
Furthermore, when your baby is on their stomach this prevents their startle reflex and they can receive tranquility in this position in the warm bath.
7. How Are You Feeling?
Your baby is a reflection of your state of being. If you’re stressed your baby will be stressed as well, and so on.
Try to stay in a calm state of mind by doing things relaxing and nurturing for yourself daily.
Check out, How to Manage Anxiety as a Mother for more tips!
8. Swaddling
The point of swaddling is to make your baby’s upper half of their body snug which will comfort them and remind them of being secure in your womb. The lower half of their body should be loosely in the swaddle to allow for hip and leg mobility. This is important for their development!
Swaddling should be used with another soothing technique as swaddling itself may not calm your baby.
Remember to discontinue swaddling when your baby reaches 8 weeks old as they may begin to roll over and not be able to roll back while in the swaddle which can be dangerous for your baby.
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9. Movement
Repetitive motion helps soothe babies, especially if you’re standing up with them.
Some ideas for movement include:
- Swaying
- Rocking
- Jiggling
- Gently bouncing while on a birth ball
- Taking a walk with your baby in a wrap or carrier
10. Pacifier or Breastsleeping
It’s natural for your baby to practice non-nutritive sucking and if this is done at your breast it’s greatly beneficial!
Breastsleeping is a concept proposed by James J. McKenna, a professor at the University of Notre Dame. He has a doctorate in anthropology and is “the world’s leading authority on mother-infant co-sleeping in relationship to breastfeeding and SIDS”
He proposes this new term to highlight the critical role that immediate and sustained maternal contact plays in the establishment of BF and the fact that normal human species-wide infant sleep can only be derived from studies of BF dyads bc they are so interconnected with each other and so vastly different from non-BF dyads that they need to be studied separately.
Mobbs talks about imprinting which is defined as “the behavioral process that takes place in a sensitive period in the early hours of life during which the baby’s evolutionary biology enables it to orally fixate to a stimulus feature, normally the mother’s nipple, and learn its tactile characteristics. This is the first step in attachment and the central focus of the human evolution of our species.”
However, for when you might need a break, check out The Pros and Cons of Pacifiers for Babies to help you decide if you’d like to use that as an option sometimes!
What is the Startle Reflex?
You may notice the startle reflex (also called the “Moro reflex”) when loud noises, bright lights, or quick movements trigger your baby to fling their arms and legs and straighten their body.
However, as I mentioned above, the Moro reflex is more likely to occur when your baby is on their back. When he or she is on their side or tummy, it’s less likely to occur.
This reflex is a beneficial thing to decrease the risk of SIDS and indicates good neurological health. Therefore, it should not be intentionally suppressed.
The Moro reflex subsides at 3-6 months old and your baby will gain more control over their movements, making their reflexes less jerky. Ensuring your baby has time for daily movement to stretch their arms and legs will help this reflex slowly go away as needed.
It’s Okay to Take a Break
If you need a break while your baby is having another crying spell, ask your partner, a family member, or a friend to give you a break. It’s best if you share this post with them to ensure they know these soothing techniques.
If you don’t have this option but you feel yourself getting overwhelmed then you can put your baby down in their bed and take a step outside in your yard to take a couple of deep breaths.
With the combination of your sleep deprivation and crying, it’s common to get frustrated and feel sad sometimes. Remember, you are the BEST mama for your baby! You can do this.
More Guidance?
Additionally, these tips for soothing your baby are crucial to remember when we talk about how much breastmilk to put in their bottles, you returning to work, why your baby is fussy, etc. because your baby isn’t only going to be fussy when they’re hungry. They crave your touch and love constantly just like they had for the whole 9 months they were in your uterus.
To get the information on how much milk to put in your baby’s bottles, tips for maintaining your milk supply when returning to work, and how to care for both you and your baby in an attachment-focused and evidence-based system, go to Katelyn Lauren’s Guide to Breastfeeding Course (Coming soon!).
I truly hope these tips for soothing your fussy baby work for you! You are encouraged, educated, and empowered. Talk soon!
Sources
DISCLAIMER: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may get a commission if you decide to purchase something through my links at no cost to you. Please read my Disclaimer for more info.
DISCLAIMER: This post is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding you or your baby’s health. Please read my Medical Disclaimer for more info
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