Checklist for Soothing a Crying Baby

First time our baby cried unstoppable was the first night after she was born. We were in the hospital and we both panic and hit the emergency button 🚨 When the nurse came she almost cracked laughing at us when asked what’s wrong and we said “The baby is crying and wouldn’t stop!” 😅

As a parent, there’s nothing more distressing than seeing your baby cry and not knowing how to help. Whether it’s due to hunger, discomfort, or simply needing some comfort, babies cry to communicate their needs.

Finally, a lactation consultant came in and taught us different positions to hold the baby to soothe her. This advice was especially helpful for my husband, making him feel included in the soothing process. At that point, we were both scared to try different postures, but we learned that experimenting with various soothing techniques is crucial. In addition the 5 Ss technique described below worked like magic!

Checklist

All infants cry 2-3h a day! Now what to do?

Start with identifying what type of cry it is, maybe that can give you a hint.

Here’s a comprehensive checklist to help soothe your crying baby and restore peace for both of you.

Check for Basic Needs

• Hunger: Offer a feeding if it’s been a while since the last one.
• Diaper Change: Ensure the diaper is clean and dry.
• Temperature: Make sure your baby isn’t too hot or too cold.

Comfort and Reassure

• Hold and Cuddle: Sometimes, all your baby needs is to be held close.
• Swaddle: Wrapping your baby snugly in a blanket can provide a sense of security.
• Gentle Rocking: Rock your baby in your arms or in a rocking chair.
• Skin-to-Skin Contact: Hold your baby against your skin to provide comfort.
• Play Soothing Music: Soft music can help calm your baby.
• Stay Close: Infants need a lot of holding and cuddling. Being held close to a caring adult can be very calming and reassuring to a troubled infant.
• Walk Around Slowly: Hold the child close to you while walking slowly. The gentle, slow movement may help calm the child.
• Hum a Tune or Sing Softly: Soft singing can help soothe your baby.

Check for Discomfort

• Burp Your Baby: Try to relieve any gas that might be causing discomfort.
• Teething: Check if your baby is teething and offer a teething ring.
• Clothing: Ensure clothing isn’t too tight or causing irritation.

Provide Distraction

• Change of Scenery: Take your baby to a different room or go for a walk outside.
• Toys and Music: Offer a favorite toy or play soothing music.
• Take the Infant Outdoors: Walking outdoors can be very calming for both children and adults.
• Watch Fish Swim: Watching fish in an aquarium is very calming for many children.

Use Soothing Techniques

• Pacifier: Offer a pacifier if your baby uses one.
• White Noise: Use a white noise machine or app to mimic womb sounds.
• Warm Bath: A warm bath can be calming for your baby.
• Massage: Gently massage your baby’s back, arms, and legs.
• Lower the Noise Level: Excessive noise can cause stress for children and adults.
• Lower the Lights: Dim the lights to create a calming environment.

Monitor Health Concerns

• Check for Illness: If your baby has a fever or seems unwell, consult your pediatrician.
• Allergies: Consider if there could be any allergies or sensitivities causing discomfort.

Take Care of Yourself

• Stay Calm: Babies can sense your stress. Stay as calm as possible.
• Ask for Help: Get help from family, friends, doulas, nannies, daycare.

The 5 S’s for Soothing Babies

Dr. Karp in “The happiest baby on the block suggests that the first three months of a baby’s life should be considered an extension of the womb, referred to as the “fourth trimester.” He introduces the “5 S’s” as techniques to recreate the womb environment and calm a crying baby:

1. Swaddling: Wrapping the baby snugly can provide a sense of security and prevent the startle reflex, which often wakes babies up. Check the velcro swaddles below! Don’t press babies legs and hips, it can lead to hip dysplasia.
2. Side/Stomach Hold: Holding the baby on their side or stomach (while supervised) can help calm them. However, always place the baby on their back to sleep.
3. Shushing: Making a loud “shushing” sound mimics the constant noise babies hear in the womb and can be very soothing.
4. Swinging: Gentle, rhythmic movements, such as swinging or rocking, can replicate the motion babies experience in the womb.
5. Sucking: Allowing the baby to suck on a pacifier, finger, or breast can provide comfort and help them relax.

He is also the creator of the SNOO that works under the same premise and reproduces 3 of these Ss.

Possible reasons for inconsolable crying

• High-Need Babies – These babies are more difficult to console and more demanding in their requests for consolation.
• Colic – We use this term for infants who have long bouts of unexplained, inconsolable crying. Read Colic: Myth or reality?
• Acid Reflux – Acid reflux is the regurgitation of acidic stomach contents into the esophagus, causing irritation and discomfort. It can be experienced as spit-ups. For some babies, digestion can be quite an uncomfortable process, especially during the first few months of life. Feed the baby small amounts and more often, keep the baby upright after feeding.
• The Missing Fourth Trimester – Dr. Harvey Karp developed this theory of surrounding infants with the comforting sensations they enjoyed 24 hours a day in the womb.

NEVER do this!

1. Never shake the baby! Each year, 1,500 babies in the USA suffer from abusive head trauma (also known as Shaken Baby Syndrome). Inconsolable crying is the #1 trigger for AHT (source).
2. Never swaddle a baby’s hips and legs. Babies need to be able to bend their legs.
3. Never put a baby to sleep on their side or on their belly. These positions are okay when the baby is awake, supervised, and in your arms. Contact sleep is okay as long as you are awake!
4. Never leave a baby to sleep in a bouncer! This can cause suffocation.
5. Never leave a baby in a bouncer for more than 2 hours! This can cause spine injuries.

Products I use

The best thing was the bouncer. We could just have a foot and rock the baby everytime she was fussy.

BabyBjörn Bouncer Bliss	Noise Sound Machine
SwaddleMe Swaddle 3-6 Months	Philips Avent Soothie Pacifier

Remember, every baby is different, and what works for one might not work for another. It might take some trial and error to find out what soothes your little one best. Patience and persistence are key.

You got this mama!