How do you settle a crying baby?

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asked Jan 9, 2022 in Baby/Newborn by 670ms (1,590 points)
How do you settle a crying baby?

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answered Jan 15, 2022 by Cynthiastowel (1,390 points)
To settle a crying baby pick the baby up and hold the baby in your arms close to yourself and then gently pat the baby on the back.

And also sway or rock them back and forth.

Sitting in a rocking chair or a recliner and rocking back and forth while holding the baby is also a good way to soothe and settle the crying baby.

Sometimes the only way you'll be able to settle your baby is to hold them until they fall asleep.

Your baby could be fussy all of a sudden due to colic, being tired, hungry, sick etc or the baby may just want to be held and comforted.

A common cause of fussy, colic-like symptoms in babies is foremilk-hindmilk imbalance (also called oversupply syndrome, too much milk, etc.) and/or forceful let-down.

Other causes of fussiness in babies include diaper rash, thrush, food sensitivities, nipple confusion, low milk supply, etc.

At some point though, some babies cry for no apparent reason. Simply put, babies get really cranky.

Babies get cranky for lots of reasons.

The good news, is there are steps you can take to ease a fussy baby or at least to better understand why they're upset.

To get your overtired baby to stay asleep pick them up and play with them for around 10 to 20 minutes.

Then try laying the baby back in their crib to sleep and most times they will go to sleep but you may have to repeat the process a few times.

Try lots of reassurance : 1) Talk quietly and cuddle your baby until calm 2) Put your baby on their back in the crib awake (drowsy) 3)

Comfort your baby with gentle 'ssshh' sounds, gentle rhythmic patting, rocking or stroking until baby is calm or asleep.

Babies cry more at night because the baby is more hungry at night.

For sometimes the first 6 months of your babies life they will usually cry more at night and need feedings through the night.

You'll lose some sleep at night when a newborn and for around the first 6 months.

You can let your newborn cry for 5 minutes.

It's okay to let your newborn cry it out for 5 minutes or even a bit longer and they will usually stop crying and fall to sleep as long as they are not hungry, sick or need of a diaper change etc.

Crying it out is not damaging to babies as long as they don't cry it out for too long.

Most babies will only cry it out for 30 to 40 minutes and then drift off to sleep.

But if the baby cries longer than 40 minutes then you should go in to comfort them and check on them.

Although "crying it out" as a sleep training tactic is not recommended for newborns, if you're about to start crying hysterically, it's OK to put baby down in a safe space for a few minutes to give yourself a break.

Crying it out for short periods of time will not harm the baby but if the baby is crying too long then they could suffer brain damage or other health issues.

If a baby is allowed to continue crying for too long then the excessive crying can eventually lead to brain damage in the baby.

It's always best to go check on the baby and comfort them even if that's all they need.

Babies are a huge responsibility and require lots of work and love from the mother and father.

If the baby continues to cry for longer than an hour and hasn't fallen asleep then go into comfort them or check on them to stop the crying.

But you can let the baby cry it out if it only lasts an hour or 2 but any longer than 2 hours you really should go into check on the baby.

Babies will tend to cry a lot even during the middle of the night for the first 6 months of their lives and you won't get much sleep but eventually that will go away and they'll cry less.

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