How to Soothe a Fussy Newborn Baby

"Why don't you just let him cry it out?"

"He's probably just exercising his lungs."

"Oh, she's just colic."

"This, too, shall pass."

These are the words of our grandmothers. But for many new parents, they don't hold the reassurance so desperately needed. When a baby fusses or cries for hours on end, the only thing new parents want to hear is how to get it all to stop. They need a solution for the now, not a punch in the arm telling them to just toughen up.

Most parents hate to see their baby upset or cry. And they will try all they can to soothe in effort to make them happy again. But once all the obvious factors have been eliminated (checking diaper, feeding, holding), some new moms and dads are left wondering what in the world to do next. The following suggestions are tried and true methods parents have been using for centuries to successfully help calm a fussy baby. Once baby is calm, parents can finally help their little one sleep.

 When babies are born, they are shoved out of a warm, secure womb environment into a bright, open and cold new world. Many babies cry because they miss the womb environment. In the early months, mimicing the womb can help calm fussy babies significantly. The following tips are often second nature for many experienced parents, but new moms and dads might not instinctively pick up on them.

Swaddling

The act of tightly wrapping, or swaddling, helps many fussy newborns calm down. It reminds them of the secure, tight environment of the womb, where they spent 9 months growing. Swadding in the first few months seems to help babies sleep better and longer as well. Swaddling how-to's can be found online or baby books such as The Baby Book by Dr. Sears, a popular resource for parents of newborns.

A SwaddleMe blanket can be particularly helpful for wiggly babies who seem to always break out of the swaddle. This blanket uses velcro to help secure the swaddle and is popular among many new moms.

White Noise

The sounds of the womb are often similar to that of white noise. Babies appreciate sounds that mimic the womb sounds and machines or tapes that provide these are particularly helpful in getting a fussy baby to calm down or sleep better. Nature sounds such as wind and a babbling brook or a heartbeat sound can be soothing for many newborns. This is why many parents will make shhhhing noises to their baby. The gentle, soft, rythmic sounds are reassuring and remind infants of time spent in their mother's womb.

Babies who are in loud, chaotic environments may be overstimulated. However, the absense of noise can understimulate a baby as well. Try purchasing a noise machine and placing it near the crib to help provide a more reassuring environment for baby.

Rocking

While in the womb, babies were rocked rythmically while their mother walked or went about daily tasks. For many, the act of being still is too much to handle in the early months. Rocking or swinging a baby can help calm them down as they remember the motion they felt while in the womb. Try rocking from side to side in the cradle hold or up and down in the chest hold. Or, try putting baby in a swing. Many parents swear by swings, remarking that it saved them many sleepless nights as well as their sanity.

Sucking

Newborns have a strong sucking reflex that is essential to help they get their food either from a mother's breast or a bottle. Most babies are soothed when they are provided with a nipple or pacifier to suck on. The need to comfort suck is strong in many infants, and these babies need to be on the breast or with a pacifier seemingly constantly. If a baby does not take pacifiers, try offering your finger to suck on. Also, keep in mind there are many different types of pacifers and if a baby does not take one it does not mean she will not take another. Try different ones until you find the right fit. The same holds true for bottles.

 Babies love being swaddled and rocked and they enjoy hearing the sounds of the womb along with sucking. Try out one or two of these methods to help calm a fussy baby, and if that does not work, then attempt to combine some or all of them. What works one night may not work the following night, so be sure to have a handful of methods at the ready for those late night wakings. In time, you will learn how to read your baby better and be able to soothe him or her quickly.

If you think your baby might have colic, or if none of these methods seem to work, consider purchasing The Happiest Baby on the Block. This books includes a more detailed and specific approach to the above techniques while providing valuable information concerning crying and newborns. Still, if nothing seems to work, see your child's pediatritian to confirm that he or she does not have a medical problem and is healthy and thriving.