It is so stressful trying to calm a crying, fussy baby. I’ve been there, though let me be transparent about one thing: Hailey, my first-born, was a good baby. I mean, all babies are wonderful, of course, but I’ve come to learn from other parents that I had it pretty lucky in terms of sleeping, eating and general newborn drama.
That doesn’t mean that I didn’t struggle, though. Hailey would sometimes get fussy for reasons I couldn’t totally understand, especially in the evenings…
I’m sure it had nothing to do with mom forcing a bow on her head.
Thanks to other moms sharing their tips, and then a lot of trial and error, I was able to discover some invaluable weapons to add to my arsenal that help conquer the crazy times. Some you may find in the baby books, and others you won’t, but they’ve been newborn tested and approved, which make them far more worthy in my opinion.
5 Proven Ways to Calm a Crying Baby
1. The Hairdryer.
We discovered this gem in the hospital on the second night. I always knew white noise was supposedly comforting to babies, so when we couldn’t settle Hailey down, I whipped it out and plugged it in.
As soon as we turned it on, it was like a switch flipped. She quieted down immediately. That night we slept with the hair dryer on all night long… it worked! We ended up using it every night at bedtime — 10 minutes of the noise helped her zonk out, and then we switched to the sleep sheep ocean noise.
2. The Birthing Ball.
Also known as an exercise ball. Though it failed me miserably in helping me go into labor, it became incredibly helpful in the first few weeks at home with a new baby, and acted as another chair in our living room.
Sometimes Hailey didn’t like being still, rocking or walking, but she never said no to bouncing. I’m not sure if it’s all the time I spent bouncing on it when she was in the womb, but she loved it.
[Tweet “5 proven ways to calm a crying baby”]
If we couldn’t calm her down, we’d simply hold her and sit on the ball and bounce. Instantly, she quieted down and her eyes got big as she looked around, completely content.
The only downside to the ball? Eventually it made me ache, but I suffered through it because of how much she loved it!
3. The Swaddle.
I always winced a little when I saw babies turned into tiny burritos. How can it possibly be comfortable to be restrained like that?
Well, now I know why people do it — it works! And babies love it. As they explain in The Happiest Baby on the Block (a book that turned out to be very helpful for us!), the swaddle alone may not always do the trick, but it is the perfect position to get your baby in in order to calm her down.
Babies aren’t able to control their limbs when they are real little, so they flail around like crazy sometimes, which can wake them up. When Hailey went to bed, we double swaddled her nice and tight to make sure she couldn’t Houdini her way out of it. It worked wonders because she slept like a champ and woke up usually one time each night, either around 2am or 4am.
David is the super swaddler. In the hospital the nurses all commented on how David’s swaddle was the best they’ve ever seen… I’m so proud 😉
PS- I’ve heard a lot of people say that their baby fights the swaddle and doesn’t like it. Now, I’m no expert, but yes, the baby will fight the swaddle at first, but once they are tightly wrapped up and being rocked, I’ve found that it really does work wonders in keeping them calm.
4. The Pacifier.
I have mixed emotions on this one. I had it in my head that I should NOT use a pacifier. I heard they can mess with breastfeeding, cause dental problems, hinder speech development and be a nasty habit to try and break.
However, my sweet little angel loved to suck. When she could find her fingers, she loved it, but she lacked the coordination to always find and keep her fingers in her mouth. So one night, at about 3.5 weeks old, I broke down and offered my crying child a pacifier. She loved it. I felt guilty.
I polled moms and asked friends their opinions on pacifiers and found that overwhelmingly, people liked them. Sucking teaches babies to self soothe and I also heard that many babies weaned themselves off of them as soon as they didn’t need them anymore, sometimes by 3-6 months. Also, I heard stories about how breaking a pacifier habit is easier than trying to take away your child’s thumb. That makes sense 🙂
So, we did use a pacifier, although still with some hesitancy. I followed my own made up rules of not forcing it on her, only offering it when all else failed and removing it once she calmed down and spit it out. I also didn’t give it to her at night because she didn’t need it then, so I saved it for when we were out in public and I needed a sure-fire method to calm her down.
[Tweet “What techniques do you use and love for calming fussy babies?”]
Oh, and she was still great with eating, so it’s nice to know it didn’t interfere with breastfeeding.
5. Interaction.
Before having a baby, I heard about people that raised ‘box babies.’ meaning they always put the babies in places, rather than holding them. They would put the baby in a swing, then a boppy, then in the crib, etc.
Well, even though Hailey did take a nap in her boppy occasionally, I found that sometimes when she got upset she just wanted to be held, entertained or change positions. If she’d been on her back and became fussy, sometimes just putting her on my chest for come tummy time would calm her right down.
Other times, she just wanted me to sit in front of her and make goofy faces and noises (I’m convinced she liked this and I was looking ridiculous for a good reason ;)). Usually I was rewarded with big smiles, which felt like getting a gold star in the parenting world.
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*BONUS*
Bathtime. The child just loved it!
These are methods that seriously worked like a charm for us. Of course, check first if the baby needs a new diaper, is hungry, hot or uncomfortable, but if all the basics are covered, these take care of fusses every time!
What is one method you use that is guaranteed to calm down a crying baby?
christina says
She is so precious. I think swaddled babies are the cutest thing!
Rachel says
Ha, I always resort to bouncing on the birthing/exercise ball if I’m holding a newborn that is inexplicably fussy. Seems to work like a charm! But on the other hand, my husband can just hold a baby, and they instantly quiet (he is magic). We don’t have kids yet, but these are good tips!!
Your daughter is so beautiful! I love all the pictures you’ve shared. All of her little expressions are so cute.
Jen says
I’m favoriting so many of your posts lately! This is such helpful info that I’m sure I’ll be using in a few months. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences with us!
Can’t wait to meet little Hailey tonight! 🙂
Brittany says
I can’t wait to introduce you to her! We’ll be there.. pacifier in tow at 6 🙂
Melissa @ Be Not Simply Good says
If all else failed, a car ride was soothing to my babies. My daughter would get fussy about the same time everyday, and we discovered the funniest thing that soothed her. She liked to look at the shadow that the valance made on the wall. So strange, but we could tell she liked to look at that shadow. For my son, whispering sh sh sh soothed him. Musy be similar to the white noise machines. I’m feeling nostalgic. My ‘babies’ are 8 and 6 now.
Brittany says
I hear time flies- I already feel like Hailey is so much bigger! I’m savoring every moment I can 🙂
Heather @ Side of Sneakers says
I’ve had it in my mind too for who knows what reason that I wasn’t going to use pacifiers either, unless I had to, but then I read it actually helps decrease SIDS risk at night! So many things to think about. 😉
Shannon says
Brittany, I had to let you know I tried “Ew-vernight” oats this morning and I might have an idea for you if you ever want to try them again! I used 1/3 C. oats, 1/3 C. milk (had plain soy in the fridge), and about 3 T. of canned pumpkin. I sprinkled a little pumpkin pie spice blend on top and mixed everything up. I just used a bowl covered with plastic wrap. This morning, I took them out, stirred them up then added a drizzle of maple syrup and a small handful of walnuts. I let it sit out while I got ready for work. The consistency was just like regular oatmeal, but the cool pumpkin-y flavor was kind of like pumpkin pie!! Anyway, just thought I’d share 🙂
Shannon says
PS – I love this post. Hailey is so sweet.
Brittany says
ok, since you mentioned pumpkin pie, I’m willing to give these another shot. Thank you for sharing! Fingers crossed… 😉
Emily says
my kids love baths too 🙂 and their pacifiers! They both go for their thumbs a lot. I had a HUGE thumb sucking obsession when I was younger…,like don’t look at my 2nd grade school picture kind of obsession haha…the pacifier you can take away eventually, the thumb is always there. And braces are expensive! 😉 my twins love to be rocked, I swear they’d be happy if I just held them and rocked them all day long. Luckily if I do it for a little bit, they calm down enough that I can put them down and they’ll be ok…atleast for a little while haha
Lee says
That bow is so cute! It’s the size of her whole head!
Brooke @ Veggie Table says
She is absolutely beautiful, Brittany! As you know, I have a furry baby (definitely not the same) BUT the hairdryer puts Salvador to sleep too! 🙂
Adrienne Osuna says
Great tips! She’s such a doll!! And pacifiers also help prevent SIDS. it’s been studied! So no guilt for you mama! 🙂
Kimberly @ Healthy Strides says
The exercise ball did wonders! Miles and I would just bounce on it until he quieted down. (We tried to hold out on the pacifier but gave in at 5 weeks – don’t feel bad!)
Oddly, just going outside and walking up and down the driveway helped. There were many a day in that first month when I put him in the sling and walked the block.
Brittany says
Yes! She loves going outside, too. Loves the fresh air and the natural light I think 🙂
PS- I tried to hold out until 4 weeks- didn’t happen. Good for you!
Susan @ Real Life Travels says
So I was a thumb sucker and I had lots of dental problems from my thumb pushing out my front teeth, causing an over bite. I went through retainers, expanders and braces … So I’m pro paci ..like you said at least it can be taken away 🙂
CK is in this 4 month funk right now I may have to revert back to a couple of these… Nothing seems to soothe or put him to sleep except nursing ..ugh
Jess @atasteofconfidence says
Love the hairdryer! We used to calm my nephew down with a water machine thingamabob.
Kelli H (Made in Sonoma) says
She is so adorable and I love reading all your tips! Eventually, when I have a baby, I’ll have to come back here and reread all your info.
Kind of embarrassing but I didn’t stop using a pacifier until I was 6 years old and it caused me to have a major gap between my front teeth — yikes!
Kelli H (Made in Sonoma) says
I retract that last statement about the pacifier. I just asked my mom and she said it didn’t cause the gap, it caused a cross bite but she said she would do it again bc it calmed me so well.
Alison says
Great tips! We also loved many of these things. The pacifier never took, though – she’d spit it right out, we tried at least 6 different kinds.
Around 2-3 months we started wearing her when she was fussy and that helped a ton – we had a fleece pouch, also the moby/sleepy wraps, which are awesome. If she was being fussy we’d pop her in the wrap and go for a walk. I’ve lent them out to friends who have also found them a lifesaver.
Our last resort was the vacuum cleaner! Instant silence.
Verna says
When we went to pre registration at the hospital the nurse doing our paper work said that after the baby has latched correctly a few times, they often don’t have a problem with nipple confusion. We ended up using a pacifier in the hospital after my son tried to eat for 2 hours straight and tried out a bottle the night we came home from the hospital. He never had any problems at all.
Lisa says
We are lucky and our daughter is an incredibly easy baby (don’t know what we did to deserve her!) but she still have fussy moments and a lot of these methods have worked for us too. Especially the swaddle!
Alison says
Oh one more thing – if she was fussing on a drive, we’d put on the white noise between radio stations for her just on the back speakers!
We also use low volume nature ocean sounds/gentle music for her bedroom at naps and night (one thing we still do even thought she’s 2)
Sarah says
I loved this post not because I have my own kids (yet), but only for all the super cute pictures 😀
Shari says
Seconded! 🙂
Carol says
Thirded!
By the way, do you have any tips how to relax after long and stressful day in work? I think my baby can feel my discomfort. I read bits and pieces all over the internet, like this article:
http://babycennter.com/parenting-tips-for-soothing-a-crying-baby/
But nothing in one piece…
Brittany Dixon says
Hi Carol, Thanks for the sweet comment! I don’t work outside the home, but I know when I get stressed while at home, I enlist the old techniques of taking a quick time out and deep breaths. It’s ok to put the baby down in a safe place (crib/playpen) and take a few minutes to sit a breath. Good luck! <3
Kristen @ The Concrete Runner says
Love these! Definitely keeping them in mind – and hopefully picking up Happiest Baby on the Block! I’ve heard good + bad things about using a pacifier. I’ve heard that you should at least wait until breastfeeding is established before giving them one, which is what I intend to do. Sounds like you waited plenty long and I think what you’re using it just how you should!
maria @ a life to Bragg about says
This is all great to know! I share the same hesitations about pacifiers but still plan on using them, apparently babies have a sucking reflex and need to suck 16hrs a day? That seems excessive to me but who knows. I think I need to start bouncing on a ball seeing as how I’m so close!
Maryea @ Happy Healthy Mama says
I suggest you get an actual sound machine:-) They are invaluable. It helps drown out household noise and acts as a sleep trigger when traveling. My daughter still uses hers at 3.
Marie says
What is the brand/name of the sound machine? thanks!
Maryea {Happy Healthy Mama} says
I will have to check–she’s sleeping right now! 🙂 I’ll try to remember tomorrow.
Lindsay @ Schnoodle Soup says
She is just so sweet and precious that it gives me chills. And, box babies? I’ve never heard that term but it sounds completely inhumane. No offense to any of your readers that used it as a method of raising their kids. I just cannot imagine.
Lisa says
Hailey is so adorable. 🙂 and the exercise ball really does work!! Babies love it!
By the way, I saw the comment you left on Julie’s post about hummus.. I literally LOL’d when I saw it … hahah sabra hummus really is crack! lol so yummy!
Christie says
When my sister was a baby (I was a teenager and kept her), things that soothed her were: looking into the mirror (she loved it!), riding in the car, riding in the stroller, and laying her across my lap on her belly and bouncing my legs a little (this works better on a baby who’s a bigger than tiny newborn stage). If it wasn’t one of the usual suspects (hungry, gas, diaper change), then one of those would usually get her to calm down.
Jill @ Just Focus Well says
Holy moly you have a beautiful baby! That’s great that you found methods that work for her when you’re trying to calm her down. It’s all about finding what works for you (and the baby). You seem like such a great mom 🙂
Maria says
Hi there,
Your daughter is sooooo precious! My hubby and I are pregnant with our first and are starting to think REGISTRY. What is the name of the rocker/cradle you have pictured under your hairdryer tip? It looks pretty neat! Glad you and your family are doing well! Thanks for all of the tips!
Danica @ It's Progression Not Perfection says
Love the tips and it’s great to hear all the things that you’re figuring out works for you and your baby-she’s so adorable!
Shayla @ The Good Life says
What a great post, thank you so much for sharing this! I don’t have a baby (yet!), but these tips are so very helpful, especially the blow dryer one – who would’ve thunk?! And that photo with Hailey on daddy’s chest just melts my heart and brought tears to my eyes…she’s absolutely precious and the cutest baby girl ever!
Tina @ Faith Fitness Fun says
Yes yes yes to the pacifier! Makenzie wouldn’t use one and sucked her fingers instead. She turns 3 in a week and we’re not even close to being able to stop it completely.
Sherry says
I use to put you in your carrier and sit you on the dryer (which was running). Got two things done at once–you quieted down and the laundry got done too.
blackhuff says
There is so much ways to calm a baby but just some of new work on each child. It depends on what the child likes or dislikes. This is what makes us so different from each other 🙂
We had an extremely difficult time with our first born. All that got him to go to sleep, was a car ride. Yes. Each night hubby needed to go for a drive in the car while my first born lay on my chest. We would drive for 5 minutes and he would get so calm, that he would fall asleep. We had about 3-4 evenings a week we had to do this for about 6 months of his first year of life. Was hectic.
Sarah says
I, too, like the “let’s be real” posts. Thank you so much for sharing what works for you! I’ll be sure to try some (or all) of your ideas:-).
Brittney says
So great to see you and Hailey last night! Thanks for letting me hold her for a while, she’s a little angel 🙂 I love all your tips and hopefully I’ll get to actually use them someday!
Michaela says
Hailey is sooooooooooooooooooo cute, seriously!!
And in the last pic I really thought she looked like you!
I am not a mum yet, but I have plenty of babysitting and aupair experience, and the bouncy ball and haidryer have always worked wonders;)
Don´t feel guilty for giving her a pacifier, if it helps and you don´t offer it all the time, it´s fine! One of my girlfriends decided to not use a pcifier, but her baby would not calm down at all, so she used it, anyways, and it helped them both so much. After about 2 month, the baby didn´t want to take it anymore, so they were all good 🙂
Jen@FoodFamilyFitness says
Awwwwww!!!! Seriously, SO dang cute!!!! She looks like the best snuggle buddy ever 🙂
TheCrunchyGemini says
Omg.. Why had I not thought of the double swaddle idea??? Totally trying this tomorrow night… Maybe I’ll get more than an hour out of her at night.. Lol