Calm your crying baby

Crying baby checklist

Like many things about your new baby, there are no set rules on how much or how little a newborn should cry. Until he learns to soothe himself or find other ways of expressing himself, crying is the only method of communication he has with you. Still, this doesn’t mean it can’t be wearisome to an exhausted new parent…

Supernanny’s checklist helps you find out why you have a crying baby and suggests some tried-and-tested ways to quiet him down.

Checklist for a crying baby

• Is your baby hungry? Try offering a breastfeed or a bottle. Most babies will feed on demand in the first few weeks, but follow his lead and you will soon be able to establish a routine.
• Try not to feed your baby to sleep, but put him down just before he nods off. This way he’ll be able to fall asleep by himself in the future.
• If your baby is having trouble latching on to breastfeed tell your pediatrician, or contact a local lactation consultant via La Leche League. If he is having trouble feeding from a bottle, try a different teat or brand of formula milk.
• Does your baby have colic or has he overfed? There are many tricks new moms and dads will swear by to reduce the painful effects of wind and colic. In the first instance, try gently massaging your baby’s tummy, move him to a different feeding position or put him his carrier so you can both move around a little.
• Is your baby tired? If your baby has been overstimulated, he might be finding it difficult to sleep – you may notice him rubbing his eyes or waking up suddenly. Take a good look at your environment to determine what you can change about it – if it’s too noisy, try a different room; if it’s too dark, try dim lighting, and so on.
• Your baby may react well to a routine, and you should keep visitors and stimulus to a minimum around bedtime, so he can anticipate when it’s time to sleep.
• A rhythmic movement should help your baby get to sleep, but try to put him down just before he nods off, as this will help him fall asleep by himself.
• Does your baby have a wet or dirty diaper? Change him, checking that his diaper isn’t on too tight, isn’t twisted and that his clothes aren’t too restrictive. Check for diaper rash or eczema.
• Is your baby too hot or too cold? Health visitors advise that you check your baby’s temperature on his tummy. Layers of thin clothing and covers are often better to maintain a constant body heat than heavy blankets.
• Do you still have a crying baby? If you feel like you’ve tried everything to help your baby stop crying, or if the persistent crying is frustrating you, seek advice from your midwife, health visitor or another voluntary organization (see resources below). Sometimes you just need a break, so see if your partner or a friend can take him for a couple of hours.

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