New parents often wonder, “How do I soothe a baby who just won’t stop crying?” Before trying different calming techniques, start by checking the basics. Your baby may need a diaper change, a feeding, a burp, a temperature adjustment, or a quieter space.
If your baby still seems upset after those needs are covered, you’re not doing anything wrong. Babies cry to communicate, and some need more help settling their bodies than others.
These gentle soothing strategies can help bring comfort to your baby and a little calm to you, too. As a pediatric occupational therapist, I often encourage parents to try different types of input, such as touch, sound, rhythm, movement, and sucking, to see what helps their baby feel more regulated.
Key Takeaways
- Before trying soothing techniques, check your baby’s diaper, hunger, temperature, comfort, and sleep cues.
- Gentle touch, rhythm, sound, movement, and sucking can help many babies settle.
- Swaddling, rocking, shushing, white noise, singing, music, massage, and pacifiers are common soothing tools.
- Every baby is different, so it may take a few tries to find what works.
- Call your healthcare provider if your baby is inconsolable, has a fever, seems sick, or their cry feels unusual or intense.
Strategies To Soothe a Fussy Baby
These gentle, time-tested soothing techniques can help calm your little one and give you a few tools to try when the crying feels overwhelming.
1. Baby Massage
It can be uncomfortable when babies have gas or need to move their bowels. It is not necessarily painful, but it is a new sensation because babies don’t move their bowels in utero. Anything you can do to help things move along more quickly will be beneficial.
Infant massage has several strokes to the abdominal area that help move the bowels. Infant massage has many benefits, including calming the baby, regulating sleep and wake cycles, and helping babies get deeper/more restful sleep.
Related: How To Do Infant Massage (And Why It’s Beneficial)
2. Swaddle
A good swaddle’s neutral warmth and pressure calm babies because they mimic the containment they felt in the womb.
3. Rock Your Baby
Gentle rocking helps calm babies because it mimics the soothing movement they felt in the womb. Some little ones prefer slightly bigger motions, so experiment gently and find the rhythm that helps your baby relax the most.
4. Shush Your Baby
Bring the baby’s ear close to your face and make a shushing noise in her ear. It is very loud in utero. Baby hears the swishing of amniotic fluid, mom’s heartbeat, and their heartbeat, so recreating that swishing sound creates a calm environment for your baby.
Related: 10 Reasons Your Baby Might Be Fussy
5. White Noise
White noise works for a similar reason as shushing. The steady, familiar sound can be calming and help block out other distractions. You can use a sound machine or even a white noise app on your phone.
6. Sing to Your Baby
The sound of your voice calms your baby because it is familiar to him. Talking and singing to him is reassuring and calming.
7. Rhythmic Patting
Babies are calmed by repetition. By patting your baby rhythmically, you are helping them relax. Use firm, gentle pats that your baby can feel through their body without causing discomfort.
Anything your baby feels on her entire body is more calming than just feeling a sensation on only one part of her body. Think about the calming effect of a warm bath versus a trickle of water.
Related: The Five S’s To Soothe Your Baby
8. Music
Lullabies, nursery rhymes, and gentle music can help shift your baby’s attention and create a calming environment.
9. Read a Book
The sound of your voice soothes babies, so by reading to them or telling them a story, you help them calm down and focus on your voice.
10. Take Your Baby for a Car Ride
For some babies, riding in a car is calming and helps them relax and fall asleep. However, some babies become fussy in their car seat and need calming.
Related: 9 Tips To Calm a Fussy Baby in the Car Seat
11. Sucking
Sucking on a pacifier, nipple, or finger (parent’s or baby’s) stimulates the release of a calming hormone.1 It is very relaxing for your baby, and that is why pacifiers are so popular!
Video: How to Soothe a Fussy Baby
Watch this quick video for expert-approved tips on soothing your baby.
Sometimes, babies need to fuss because it’s their only way to communicate.
Other times, they’re overstimulated and just need to release that energy. Try to stay calm and let your baby cry if they need to. Usually, a combination of these strategies will help soothe your little one.
When To Call Your Baby’s Provider
Most crying is normal, but trust your instincts if something feels off. Call your baby’s provider if your baby is inconsolable, has a fever, is not feeding well, has fewer wet diapers, seems unusually sleepy, has trouble breathing, or has a cry that sounds different or more intense than usual.
Related: Baby Fussiness: When It’s Normal and When It’s Not
Every baby is different, and what works one day may not work the next. Try one or two soothing techniques at a time, stay as calm as you can, and give yourself grace. Your steady presence is one of the most comforting things you can offer your baby. And if the crying feels unusual, intense, or impossible to soothe, reach out to your baby’s healthcare provider for support.
