Your Newborn is Crying, Now What?

Try these quick solutions to restore calm

• Hold the baby skin-to-skin
  Skin to skin contact reduces stress levels for both mother and baby. When the baby is calm, then offer the breast
• Let the baby suck
  Offer a finger ( or pacifier) for the baby to suck on for a minute or two. Sucking is a way babies sooth themselves.
• Give a taste
  Hand express milk from the nipple for the baby to taste. Or dribble milk over the nipple to entice him to the breast.
• Provide motion
  Pick the baby up, rock, walk, bounce or dance. Babies are used to constant motion while in the uterus. Providing motion reminds them of “home.”
• Check skin temperature
  Feel your baby’s tummy and make sure it is not too hot or too cool.
• Stay Calm
  Babies are sensitive to your stress level. Remain calm and your baby may follow suit.
• Reduce the stimulation
  Too much stimulation, for too long, can be over-whelming for babies Dim the lights, make no sounds and give the baby a break. Sometimes white noise like the sound of a hair dryer helps.
• Burp your baby
  Maybe there is a burp that needs to come up or gas that needs to go down.
• Do something different
  If none of these solutions work, distract your baby with something different. Sing or hum, hold your baby up over your head or give a bath.