How to Soothe Your Crying Baby

No parent wants to hear their child cry, but sometimes it can be very difficult for a parent or caretaker to determine exactly why a child is in distress, so fixing the problem or soothing the baby may be difficult and frustrating. Soothing a baby can be difficult sometimes, especially for new parents. There are many tips and tricks that can be helpful to parents and the infants, especially when starting out.

The first step in soothing a crying child is to remain calm and relaxed, even if you don't feel it on the inside. It's okay if the crying baby annoys you or makes you mad, but it's not okay to act on an impulse to hurt the child. Every parent becomes frustrated, even with small children and babies, at some point. If you have to, leave the room, if it is safer for the child. Make sure the child is in a safe environment, such as a crib or play pen and go into a different room to take a deep breath. Return and deal with the problem appropriately.

When a baby is crying for a very simple reason, such as being hungry or sleepy or needing a diaper change. Other times, a baby will have had every basic need met and may still be unhappy. In some cases, the child may simply be bored or want attention. Make sure the baby has been fed (and is still not hungry; remember, when babies go through growth spurts, they may eat more than usual) and burped and has clean clothes (that are dry) and a dry diaper. If the child does not seem ill (flushed skin, rash or pale) and all basic needs have been satisfied, the parent may need to look for something else. Some new parents will have a baby that has a lot of gas and feeding and burping does not help. Gas medicine is available for babies in the baby section of grocery stores and pharmacies (like Walgreen's and Wal-Mart). This liquid can be put right into a bottle or administered directly to the mouth and may help ease some stomach problems that a child is experiencing, but can't communicate with the parent.

Try wrapping the baby snuggly and speaking to the child in a soothing voice. Sometimes, turning the lights down and playing soothing music helps. It's never too soon to read to a baby, so try reading her a story or entertaining the child with a favorite toy or game. Sometimes an environment is too stimulating for babies, so removing the child to a calmer environment helps the situation. Whatever you do, assure the child that everything is okay and that as a parent or caretaker, you are there for the child and will be there even if she is cranky. Sometimes it helps to just allow the baby to cry and to let the baby know that it's okay to cry it out.