Simple Things You Can Do To Calm Your Fussy Baby
As new parents, a fussy baby can create much chaos in the house. If your baby is fussy for long periods during the day, I encourage you to consult with your pediatrician and your chiropractor. Make sure that your baby is not suffering from a physical cause of discomfort.
If you're a breastfeeding mom, your baby might be reacting to certain foods that you are eating. Find out more HERE.
Once you are sure that all is well with your baby and fussiness is his state of being, here are some ideas that might help you to calm your fussy baby.
Dance together
Gentle music soothes babies rather than fast music with a lively beat. By swaying and humming to the music, you can entertain a baby enough to help him relax and stop crying. If you can, make a tape or CD of your favourite slow songs and enjoy some bonding time together.
Carry your baby with you wherever you go
Babies calm down when they feel you close and hear your heartbeat; a baby sling or a baby carrier will support your back and make it easier to do this. Newborn babies aren’t able to support their own body weight, so a baby sling works best for the first few months. Once your baby is able to sit up on his own, a baby carrier is a great choice as it allows him to face outward and see the world.
Swaddle your baby before you rock him to sleep
New babies like to feel snug and cosy, and swaddling can create that feeling for them. If you would like more information on how to swaddle a baby do a search on youtube for baby swaddling. There are many helpful videos there to show you how.
Skin-to-skin contact can help
One of the nicest ways to accomplish this, especially in the evening, is to run a warm bath, light a few candles and turn off the lights. Sit in the tub, place your baby on your chest, and cover his back and legs with a warm facecloth. Babies like the feel of the close contact, the warm water, and the pretty lights. Bath time is an excellent way for dad to have special bonding time and it gives mom a bit of a break.
Infant massage provides much relief for babies
It helps to promote bonding, relaxation and brain stimulation. It also helps to improve digestion and results in a deeper sleep for your baby. For more information about infant massage, please sign up for my infant massage kit. It’s free!
Wrap up your baby warmly in your baby stroller and go for a walk
Especially if you walk on a sidewalk, the rhythmic bumping movement can soothe a baby quickly. You both get some fresh air and you benefit from adding exercise to your day.
Go for an evening drive
Some babies find the hum of a running engine to be soothing. I found that if I placed two rolled up burp cloths on either side of my baby’s head and then tucked a blanket firmly around him as he sat in his car seat, it helped him to feel more comfortable and secure in the car.
Rock your baby to sleep
Rocking provides gentle movement that can calm a fussy baby. Either hold your baby in the crook of your arm with pillows for support, or hold your baby on your chest as you rock back and forth.
Vacuum the floors of your house
Some babies find the hum of a vacuum to be calming. Place your baby in a sling or a baby carrier and start vacuuming. If your baby does calm down with vacuuming, you benefit in two ways: you end up with a calm baby and a clean floor.
Do You Have a Fussy Baby in Your Life?
Oftentimes, fussy breastfeeding babies are either experiencing physical pain from birth, they are reacting negatively to the foods that their breastfeeding mom is eating, OR BOTH!
Birth is a very difficult process for babies to experience. If you suspect that your baby is in physical pain when you feed or diaper him or her, take your baby to see a pediatric focused chiropractor in your area. We are trained to gently relieve irritations to muscles and joints.
If your baby is fussy after breastfeeding or cries inconsolably in the evenings and won’t settle easily, chances are that your baby is reacting to foods in your diet.
If this is the case, please consider purchasing the Calm Baby Cookbook – it outlines the foods that commonly cause problems for babies to digest and offers 100+ delicious breastfeeding recipes to get started! It has helped to calm many babies in my practice and I sincerely hope that it will calm your fussy baby as well.
Yours truly,
Dr. Melanie Beingessner
Dr. Melanie Beingessner is a pregnancy and pediatric-focussed chiropractor, a breastfeeding counselor, an infant massage instructor and a mom of three awesome kids.