10 things you haven’t tried to calm your crying baby

You’ve done everything you can to stop the bawling. You changed his nappy, administered copious amounts of milk, swayed endlessly, sung his favourite lullaby and popped him in the baby carrier. You even cut the label off the back of his outfit in case it was annoying him. But your baby’s still wailing, and you’re about to join in.
If this sounds familiar, take heart. However frustrating, crying is entirely natural -- after all, it’s your baby’s only method of communication. As Dr Geoff Lawson, clinical director of child health at Sunderland Royal Hospital, points out: “Your baby needs to make sure that he gets your attention when he needs something: a cuddle or a feed or a change, for example. He gets that attention through crying, because he can’t communicate in any other way.”

It’s certainly a very effective way of getting you to sit up and take notice. Nature primes us to respond to our little one’s cries. Your own baby’s cry will sound louder and more distinctive to you: studies have shown that you’re biologically programmed to respond.

Every time he wails, a surge of the stress hormone cortisol is sent through your body; you’ll also experience an increase in blood flow to your breasts, prompting an urge to breast-feed to soothe him.

All newborn babies – yes, even that perfectly behaved one that lives next door –cry for around two hours a day. Between birth and six weeks, those crying jags may last for three hours a day, after which they should drop off to an hour as your baby learns to voice his needs more effectively. But how can you respond to his needs, and get a bit of peace and quiet? There are lots of things you can do. Read on to find out.

1. It’s all in the rub

Touch will be calming for most babies – it sends ‘feel good’  hormones, or endorphins, through your baby’s body, helping him relax.  It can also help with suspected wind or colic if you follow the right moves.

“With each of my three babies, I used to help move on pain in the tummy caused by constipation and wind by ‘winding the tummy’,” says Dr Heather Payne, consultant paediatrician and senior lecturer in the department of child health at Cardiff University.

“In a clockwise direction, gently massage your baby’s tummy using little clockwise rotations and moving in a clockwise direction.”

2. Rub it better 

Ever heard of craniosacral therapy?  It might be just what your baby needs. This is based on the notion that your baby’s body needs to be realigned after birth. “Even a straightforward vaginal delivery could cause problems as it compresses the plates of the baby’s skull,” says craniosacral therapist Judith Timmins.

“Some babies adapt well, but it can cause discomfort – and hence crying jags -- in others. The nerve that passes information to all the major organs can get compressed during the birth, and this can cause difficulties with digestion and breathing.”

Craniosacral therapy is very gentle and there is no manipulation of your baby’s body. Through very gentle touch, the therapist ‘listens’ to the body’s craniosacral rhythm to encourage it to heal itself.

Some mothers see their baby become more contented immediately; others see gradual improvement over several sessions. To find a therapist in your area, contact the Craniosacral Therapy Association on 07000 784 735 or go to www.craniosacral.co.uk

3. Get him wet

 “Warm water is a proven pacifier because it’s one of the rare times when babies can feel weight-free, stretch and kick about,” says nanny and maternity nurse Sarah Crosby. “The water feels calming, and if you take a bath with them, they get lots of skin-to-skin contact.

4. Lay a wet flannel across your baby’s tummy

For those babies, particularly really tiny ones, that aren’t fond of their bath, try popping a large, warm and wet washcloth across their tummy. “It’s very calming and comfortable as it makes them feel more secure,” says Crosby.

5. Pop a telephone directory under the head of the cot

If you suspect the wailing is because of trapped wind, this simple technique may prove effective. Lift the cot mattress, and pop a thick book under the head end. It ensures that your little angel’s head will be raised higher than her stomach, helping air bubbles in her tummy to rise, and so alleviating gas and bloating.

6. Try shushing

After weeks of trilling soothing lullabies in vain, I finally tried shushing my baby very loudly – and her tears stopped instantly. “Loud shushing will often stop a baby in their tracks so they will pause to listen,” says Crosby.
It’s thought that this is because the sound is similar to the rhythmic noises heard within the womb.

7. Check their temperature

Most babies will cry if they feel over-heated or too chilly, so check the back of their neck. Your baby’s okay if his neck is warm -- even if his hands are cold -- but watch out for dampness as it signals sweating.

“People tend to over-wrap little babies and keep the windows closed,” says Dr Hodes. “But really they get just as hot as you or me. In fact, one of the most common reasons older babies wake up crying in the night is that they are too hot.”

Once they are more than a few days old, dress the baby for a trip outdoors as you would dress yourself for that temperature, plus one extra thin layer on top.

8. Pop the baby in the ‘colic hold’

This position is great for those times when you’ve tried everything else. “Lay your baby along your arm, with their head towards your elbow and their stomach in the palm of your hand,” says Crosby.

“By lowering your arm, you can also ensure that the tummy is lower than the head to help air bubbles escape. Despite appearances, this is a very secure hold that will settle the baby.”

9. Take his nappy off

A friend swears that this technique never fails to calm her two-month-old baby: she simply puts his changing mat on the floor, lies her baby on his back on top of it and whips off his nappy. 

He’s thrilled to kick around for a few minutes, enjoying the feeling of fresh air on his privates. Both girls and boys will benefit from this, but it’s especially helpful if you suspect nappy rash.