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10+ Ways to Soothe a Fussy Baby

woman holding a new born girl with bow on her head
The constant cry of an upset and fussy baby can challenge us to our core. We may even have a chemical reaction in our body that causes us to sweat and feel as though our blood pressure is rising. When we get that feeling, all rational thinking often disappears on us! 

When that happens, firstly: Try and run through this common checklist of reasons your baby might be fussy.

  • Hunger
  • Too hot 
  • Overstimulated
  • In pain or discomfort
  • Dirty diaper
  • Overtired
  • Needs affection or wants to be held
  • Sick

If you’ve exhausted this list and haven’t managed to soothe your little one, it’s time to try imitating the uterus — the profoundly calming place your baby has just spent the past 40 or so weeks. 

Here’s 12 ways you can recreate the womb-like atmosphere!

  1. Swaddling
  2. Holding
  3. Dancing
  4. Rocking
  5. White noise
  6. Singing
  7. Car rides
  8. Walks outside
  9. Feeding
  10. Pacifiers
  11. Swings + bouncers
  12. Fitness ball

Each baby might respond differently to different techniques but oftentimes combining multiple techniques will be successful. For example, swaddling, pacifier, swinging

and loud white noise might be the perfect combination for your baby, while loud white noise, pacifier, full belly and a car ride might be another winning combination. 

The first three months outside of the womb is also known as the “4th Trimester”. It’s commonly said that babies really need another three months to develop into an infant that is able to somewhat soothe themselves.

For an easy way to remember soothing tips for babies in their 4th trimester, we love Dr. Harvey Karp’s 5 “S’s, From The Happiest Baby on the Block book.

The 5 S’s are said to be so effective as they trigger the calming reflex. The best part — any caretaker can help with these!

The 5 S’s

Swaddling – a feeling of pure “wrap”ture 

Side/Stomach position – your baby’s feel good position 

Shhhhshing – your baby’s favorite soothing sound 

Swinging – many babies need movement as if in the womb 

Sucking – an enjoyable and soothing natural reflex for newborns 

As  you do the 5 S’s, it’s important to remember: 

  • Calming your baby is like dancing with them, but you have to follow their lead. You must do the 5 S’s vigorously, only lessening the intensity after they begin to settle.
  • The 5 S’s must be done correctly in order for them to work.  

If you suspect that REFLUX might be the cause of your baby’s fussiness, check out this blog post for 20 Tips to Help a Baby With Reflux.