Welcoming a newborn into your life is a joyous occasion, but it often comes with its fair share of challenges—one of the most common being persistent crying. Understanding the reasons behind your baby's tears and discovering effective soothing techniques can make this phase more manageable for both you and your little one.
Understanding the Causes of Crying
Babies cry to communicate their needs and discomforts. Common reasons include:
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Hunger: Newborns have small stomachs and may require frequent feeding.
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Dirty or Wet Diaper: A soiled diaper can cause discomfort.
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Tiredness: Overtired babies often struggle to settle.
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Desire for Cuddles: Sometimes, your baby simply wants to be held close.
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Wind: Swallowed air during feeding can lead to discomfort.
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Temperature Sensitivity: Being too hot or too cold can make your baby unsettled l.
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Overstimulation or Boredom: Too much or too little stimulation can lead to fussiness.
Identifying the root cause of your baby's crying can guide you toward the most effective soothing method.
Feeding
Perhaps one of the most difficult parts of navigating parenthood is you and your baby getting to know each other. This means trying to work out just how hungry they are! Whilst you can read every book and think you have an understanding of this, your crying baby may just tell you otherwise. Put simply, some babies are just hungrier than others. Knowing when you last fed your baby can help give you an indication of whether they are crying because they’re hungry or because of another reason. Often a hungry baby will demonstrate their need to be fed through ‘rooting’ - i.e. looking for the breast or bottle and opening and closing their mouth. If your baby does appear to be doing this, make sure to feed them. Of course, your baby will let you know when they are full by turning away from the breast or bottle, or closing their mouth.
Checking for Discomfort
A crying baby is usually a baby in discomfort and it’s up to you to try and work out what the cause of that is. Two of the most obvious signs are your baby needing fed or needing their dirty diaper changed. Just as with feeding, you’ll never quite be sure how many diapers you’ll end up changing - but one thing is for sure, they will need changed often to help keep your baby comfortable. It is estimated that you can go through 10-12 diapers in one day - that’s a lot of changing, but a whole lot less crying. Temperature is another element that can easily upset your baby. Keeping your baby at optimal temperature is important if you want to prevent lots of fussing and unnecessary crying. It is best to keep your baby in breathable, loose layers. This is especially important when it comes to dressing them in winter as going in between indoors and outdoors means layers will need to be removed easily. If your baby appears warm - flushed cheeks, fussing and of course crying - then they may be too warm. Having a room thermometer can also help you understand how warm or cold your baby may be feeling, and help reduce crying.
Gentle Movement
Imagine you’re a newborn who previously held a tenancy in a nice, warm comforting environment where you were permanently close to your mom. And now she expects you to spend time in your cot alone? Never! Sometimes your baby simply wants to be held and this can be another reason for crying. As a new parent, although you may want to hold your baby constantly - there are some things that require two hands and this may mean some solo soothing time for your little one. This is where our Babocush Comfort Cushion comes in - it securely holds your baby while mimicking the comfort of lying on your chest. The vibrations feel like your heartbeat and reassure your baby that they are safe and secure, so their cries quieten down to their normal sweet snuffles.
White Noise
If we think about how much white noise can help adults nod off to sleep, it’s no surprise that this method also works for babies. It works even better for your little one as this sound is very similar to what they will have heard in the womb. If you have a busy household wherein there is lots of activity and other kids, white noise can help drown out your loud family life so the youngest family member can sleep. You can order a white noise machine or simply play it through YouTube to help reduce crying and fussing when your little one is overtired.
Swaddling
Just like white noise emulates the sounds from within the womb, swaddling is an effective method of stopping your baby crying. Swaddling helps your baby feel secure and reminds them of the sensations of their small confines of the womb. This in turn helps them to feel calm, relaxed and wind down their cries. Whilst you may be worried about swaddling your baby, learning how to swaddle effectively can be a useful method if you are at a loss. Swaddling can also aid their sleep if you are similarly struggling with this because it helps prevent the startle reflex that can cause your baby to wake up.
Warm Bath
A warm bath is a great way to distract your baby and soothe them at the same time, especially in colder weather. Again, this heat and warmth can remind them of their time in the womb and bring them great comfort. Water can be an overwhelming experience at times for babies, so swaddle bathing is a great way to introduce them to water and bathing. The warming cocoon of the swaddle and water is definitely a method you should try on your baby if they are generally unsettled or crying and don’t appear to need feeding or a diaper change.
Tummy Time
Tummy time is so important for your baby’s development as it strengthens their neck, shoulders and arms - but did you know it can also be a great way to calm them down? While tummy time requires your baby to have a little bit of independence, you can help them have a positive experience by first introducing it for small bursts at a time and staying with them while they are practicing. Smiling at your baby and singing to them can help them understand that they are safe and that this is an enjoyable activity. Over time, they’ll come to know that tummy time is a good thing and may begin to find comfort in it. By being able to lift their own heads and start to see around them, they can begin to enjoy this little slice of independent solo time.
If you have tried these methods and noticed that your baby cries consistently, they may have colic. If the crying is accompanied by other symptoms like fever, it's important to consult your family doctor. They can rule out any underlying medical conditions and provide additional support.
To find out more about colic, read our advice below;
- How To Spot The Difference Between Colic & Silent Reflux
- How to relieve colic
- 6 tips on preventing colic
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How long does baby colic last for?
