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10 Tips to Soothe a Crying Baby
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What to do when your baby cries? Relax. Credit: Pig Sty Avenue, Flickr
"Babies cry hours and hours a day," says Amy Guiot, a clinical instructor of pediatrics at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. "I mean hours. It's normal."
It's their way of telling you that they're hungry, wet or unhappy, she says. Addressing the unhappy cry can make for some tense parenting moments, so ParentDish asked Guiot and James Peinkofer, author of "101 Ways to Soothe a Crying Baby," for some tips.
Both experts stress the importance of staying calm while dealing with your baby, and the importance of asking for help when the cries become overwhelming. If your child has a fussy time of day, ask a grandparent or friend to visit then.
"Prepare for that and take turns," he says. He suggests dealing with the baby in half-hour shifts.
- 1. Give the baby a head-to-toe checkup. Does he have a dirty diaper? Is she hungry? Is the baby too hot or too cold? (Babies do not need more layers of clothes than adults.)
- 2. Get baby moving. Babies often like motion. Try rocking them in their car seat or gently moving them up and down in your arms, making sure their head and neck are supported.
- 3. Create some white noise. It can be calming to an infant, so run the vacuum or clothes dryer. Static noise from a radio or television station often works too.
- 4. Go for a drive. The motion of a car often lulls baby to sleep.
- 5. Offer a pacifier or clean finger. Sucking is a way babies calm themselves.
- 6. Try swaddling. Babies respond to being wrapped up like a burrito.
- 7. Get wet. If the baby has lost his or her umbilical cord, try a warm, relaxing bath.
- 8. Give baby a chance to calm himself. Place him in his crib or bassinet in a darkened room and see if he will cry himself to sleep.
- 9. Release the gas. Lay baby face down across your legs while you are seated and gently pat her back.
- 10. Sing a song. Try singing or humming baby to sleep.












ReaderComments (Page 5 of 8)
2-28-2010 @ 9:10PM
bcoketins said...Paul...got nothing to say........no other means of child abuse...maybe you yourself experienced this with your own mother wanting to smother you....hating your own childhood becasue you were not nutured like these good parents on this site.
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2-28-2010 @ 9:43PM
vorpalswd said...I heard that it's not a good idea to take your kid for a drive to get them to sleep. It reinforces the tendency to fall asleep behind the wheel later. Does anyone else know if this is true?
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2-28-2010 @ 9:48PM
site reader said...I cannot believe somebody posted that doctors suggest you let premature babies cry themselves to sleep. Failure to comfort a premature baby who is crying does not help the baby develop their lungs. Instead, it increases the stress and means they expend critical calories dealing with that stress instead of growing. No babies, ESPECIALLY premature babies, need to be put through the stress of being ignored when they cry. I would quickly be changing doctors if a doctor suggested I should leave a premature baby crying.
Cry it out is cruel and outdated. Things like infant massage, singing to the baby, holding them, breastfeeding if at all possible, playing soft gentle music, and wearing the baby in a sling or wrap (mine really enjoyed the Moby wrap), are a much better idea for comforting babies and helping them feel secure, even when they aren't crying.
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3-01-2010 @ 5:20PM
Grammy said...I became a Grandmother to twins in August of last year and they are the joy of my life. I am lucky to have seen them a lot since their birth. The little boy is laid back and cries when something is wrong, otherwise very little. The little girl has taught us a lot about calming a baby because she has had colic. Her parents went through a lot of sleepless nights and days. They treated her for Reflux under a pediatricians care, she has been to specialists, and run the gammit of things to do for colic. One GI specialist who had triplets, said when she cries, she doesn't know she it is upsetting to you and she is a normal baby that cries and she is healthy and strong and will be just fine. We don't let her CIO, but she loves motion and to be busy, they are now 6 months old and we and she have learned how to calm her. We have relaxed, now that we know there is nothing wrong medically. She nurses, but she also takes a bottle. We have done the football hold, craddling her face down with her head near our elbow and patting her back, she still loves this, the swing, shushing her louder than her cries, she has been held a lot, bounced a lot, and her parents accept help when it is offered. Her Mom is a massage therapist and teaches other parents and nurses in NICU how those techniques work. They are lucky babies and we are so excited to be part of their ever changing lives. Good Luck and God bless you in your journeys.
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2-28-2010 @ 11:24PM
baby's mommy said...Don't force feed your baby. They'll let you know when they are hungry. Cuddle your baby. Babies can't get enough cuddling. They like to feel your heartbeating against them. They also recognize your scent. So stay close to them.
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2-28-2010 @ 10:22PM
foster mom said...As a foster mom I had babies that were unknown to me. Listen carefully to the baby's cry and you will soon recognize the difference in their cries, hungry, tired, uncomfortable and sick. They do not cry for crying sake, they are trying to communicate and with close attention they can. If you just let them cry then the message is lost because then they cry in temper, they are angry because the needs are not being met.
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2-28-2010 @ 10:22PM
Jen said...Wow. I *really* hope you're joking.
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2-28-2010 @ 10:24PM
Marty Love said...We always attended to our babies when they cried, picked them up and held them, and we never ignored them. Lots of professional people in the early 80's said they needed to cry themselves to sleep, but we always felt they needed to be rocked or held or fed or something if they cried. They grew up to be very secure people with the ability to make longterm and successful attachments and relationships. So follow your feelings and instincts because it is natural to want to hold your baby not ignore him or her like the old philosophy asks you to do. Sometimes you have to realize that you know what your baby needs more than the "authorities" and that goes all the way through childhood. It is helpful to hear suggestion but always check your feelings on the matter of your own child!
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2-28-2010 @ 11:16PM
karen said...WHEN MY KIDS WERE BABIES IN 1989 AND 1997, MY DAUGHTER IN 97 WAS AN ANGEL.... MY SON IN 1989--HE HAD COLIC FOR LIKE 4 MONTHS --OMG !!!!...I WAS UP EVERY NIGHT WITH HIM --I HAD THE PACE THE FLOORS AND DRIVE AROUND IN THE CAR FOR HOURS EACH NIGHT --GOD, IT WAS SOOOOO BAD !!!!!!!.... NO HELP FROM HUBBY-WHO HAS BEEN MY EX HUBBY SINCE 1994.....MY BABY FROM MY SECOND HUBBY , THE ONE BORN IN 1997-SHE WAS AN ABSOUTE ANGEL--NO TROUBLES ......SON IS NOW 20,WILL BE 21 IN A FEW MONTHS --- HE THINKS ITS FUNNY , WITH ALL THE CRAP I WENT THRU WITH HIM .....AIT UNTIL HE GRADUATES FROM HARVARD AND GETS MARRIED & HAS HIS OWN KIDS----THEN WE WILL SEE HOW FUNNY IT IS IF HE GETS A COLICKY CHILD --OMGGGG !!!!!...LOLOLOLOL
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2-28-2010 @ 11:00PM
bcoketins said...Even if you are joking....Do you like your computer...you may want to kiss it goodbye right now...and your baby and your babies momma
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2-28-2010 @ 11:10PM
bcoketins said...Conrad...aka Paul
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2-28-2010 @ 11:33PM
Melanie said...If you are taking care of the basic needs of your baby (and she is not sick) there is no way they cry and cry for hours. Basic needs include food and nurturing. What is wrong with this author? What is wrong with today's parent's? I had three babies in 5 years and they were amazing as I was an amazing Mom. I breast fed for the first 3-4 months to ensure they would have the best start in life, my protective immunities and the necessary bonding they needed. They were bathed every day, fed when they were hungry, cuddles when they needed it, they slept very well because their needs were met and they felt safe and secure. I was their primary caregiver, they were safe and secure. I stayed home with them and my husband and I struggled for many years financially because of this decision. We lived in an apartment only had one car and many times it was a struggle to buy all the groceries we wanted. I would do it all over the same way. I have no guilt about daycare or not giving them the attention and love they needed.
We brought these children into the world and they deserved the best possible care and that came from their Mom.
Today's parents want the house, the cars, the vacations, the Uggs, and the grandparents to babysit.
So maybe your babies have a reason to cry for hours and hours.
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3-01-2010 @ 12:07AM
mike said...I hear you, Melanie. And agree.
3-01-2010 @ 12:07AM
Megan said...Sometimes babies DO cry for no reason. Its called Colic. No known cause, just theories. There are ways to quiet the loud crying, but its not abnormal at all if they cry for hours. Every baby is different and people should not be made to feel like they aren't good parents because their baby is crying inconsolably for hours after they have tried everything.
2-28-2010 @ 11:20PM
bcoketins said...Oh ...Conrad...you will be playing alot of on-line poker in prison because there will be many people standing in line to poke ya!!!!!
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2-28-2010 @ 11:49PM
bcoketins said...Conrad...AKA Paul....you know what is more beautiful as holding a baby in your arms..protecting them...knowing that you on your computer have just been located.
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2-28-2010 @ 11:52PM
sue said...THANKS for all the replys....Khloe weight at birth was 7.1.5....now she is (at 3 wks) 8.5 (as of thursday)....I AGREE ...lol..feed her if she hungry.....hold her tight when she is cryin....i'm thinking she will grow out of this...maybe i'm hopin she will...lol...will let yall no if it gets worse OR better...
thanks
sue
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2-28-2010 @ 11:57PM
Lindsay said...yes i would feed her when she is hungry. if she seems like she is eating too often, you could up the amount she eats at a time.but if she spits it up alot, she could be eating too much or it could possibly be reflux. my son only ate 2 ounces every 2 hours for the first few weeks, but every baby is different. and dont listen to the people who said to give her water. gripe water is okay, but not plain water. babies are not supposed to have anything other than formula or breastmilk for the first 4 months. which is when they can start baby cereal and food. but still not supposed to have water..
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2-28-2010 @ 11:59PM
letasha24 said...This is a great subject for new parents.
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3-01-2010 @ 12:04AM
dugandob said...I personally don't think you can spoil a newborn baby. I had three daughters. I always held them and rocked them when they would cry. I loved rocking my babies anytime of the day or night. If they were hungry I feed them. I don't think you can over feed your baby. Babies do need burping during feedings especially if you are bottle feeding them. The woman who said if you over feed them they will be fat babies, I think is full of it. Non of my girls were over weight, and were active babies. I loved holding them and rocking them. They never slept in our bed, but slept in a had bassinets next to the bed. This is only my personal experience of having three healthy, happy babies. Babies love to be held and rocked. I love the fact that someone wrote about massaging babies. Babies need their legs and arms stretched and massaged. They love their back rubbed. But doesn't everyone love this? If you are calm when your baby is crying your energy flows into the baby. It's important to stay calm when your baby is crying and you don't exactly know why. White noise helps especially if you live in an apartment building and it's a little nosier, or if you have older children running around and the baby is sleeping. I found that a small fan on low will provide the white noise, plus it keep air moving and the baby most likely won't get over heated. Make sure that the fan isn't pointed at the baby. The most important thing is to enjoy your baby. You can never love a baby to much.
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