A newborn crying relentlessly causes concern and anxiety for new parents.
Every new parent goes through it -- your newborn baby is crying incessantly and you have no idea what is wrong. You're stressed out and at your wit's end. Before you call the doctor or blame yourself for being a horrible parent, remind yourself that all newborn babies cry a lot. One reason is because your baby is still adjusting to being outside of the warm, cozy womb he was so accustomed to. Emulating the experience of the womb as much as possible will comfort and calm your baby so that you can get a little rest.
Instructions
1. Check if she's hungry or wet. Feeding is one of the best ways to calm a baby, as she may just be hungry. Babies are also soothed by their steady sucking during feedings; your baby may take comfort in sucking on something even if she's not hungry, in which case a pacifier may work wonders. A wet baby is almost always an unhappy baby; the wetness on her bottom can make her feel itchy or irritated, so check and change her diaper often.
2. Keep the baby moving. According to "Parents" magazine, newborn infants are so used to moving constantly inside the womb whenever the mother moved, that they may not like lying still. Rock your baby in your arms or place him in a mechanical swing for a constant, consistent motion. Place the baby, in an infant seat, on anything that vibrates gently, such as a washing machine or dishwasher, or take him for a ride in the car until he falls asleep.
3. Swaddle the baby. Newborns are used to being in a tight, confined space in the mother's womb; restricting his movement by swaddling him with a lightweight blanket is comforting, according to "Parents" magazine. Lay a blanket flat in a diamond shape and fold the top corner down. Place the baby on top of the blanket with his head just above the folded top. Pull one side of the blanket over him, tuck it underneath his body, and then bring the bottom side up over his body and tuck it underneath his exposed shoulder. Fold the other side of the blanket over the baby and tuck in the ends.
4. Provide loud, rhythmic sounds, such as the sound of a vacuum cleaner, lawn mower, or an oscillating fan turned on high. Steady, rhythmic noise is soothing to some babies because it resembles the steady beat of the mother's heartbeat they heard from inside the womb. Play a CD with rhythmic nature sounds, such as rain falling, a rushing river, gusty wind or waves crashing against rocks. Try humming with the baby's head close to your neck so she can feel the vibration. Say "shush" repeatedly, close to the baby's ear, in a steady, even tone.
5. Place the baby in a new position. According to pediatrician and author Dr. Harvey Karp, a newborn will feel calm if you lay him down on his side or on his stomach, as it imitates the baby's most common position in the uterus. Do this only long enough to calm the baby down; always put a baby to sleep on his back. If the baby has colic, the recommended "coli hold," according to "Parents" magazine, is to place him facedown on your forearm and cradle him close to your body.
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