Wow, I still can’t believe over a month has passed since our little Miss Brooke was born. We have replaced our game nights and social gatherings with going to bed early and snuggling with our baby girl. Because this is our first child, we really have had a huge learning curve! I remember feeling so unprepared and overwhelmed as I registered for our baby showers. How was I supposed to know which bottles she would like or which devices would calm her cries? I hadn’t even met her yet!
My mom assured me that no one really knows the first time around and even then, every child is different but that we would figure it out. And she was so right–every day can be different. Sometimes is it easy to sooth her, and sometimes we have to use 3 of the 4 methods I talk about below. So, my best advice is not to worry, you will figure it out as you go. But knowledge is power, and knowing different methods can help you try different things to calm those cries when the moment comes.
Here are 4 Ways to Soothe a Newborn that we found helpful:
1. Noise White noise app, hairdryer, vacuum or shh-ing sounds work really good. We use the good old fashion “shh” the most and it works like a champ. You just have to make sure you adjust your volume to be louder than your baby. We also talk calmly to her when she is really fussy to try to get her attention and calm her down.
2. Swaddle The swaddle will save you not only sleep, but also help soothe your little one. Their little legs and arms can get to moving so fast when they are upset and holding them close or swaddling them can calm them down. We found this worked best when she really got worked up and started moving her limbs like crazy. By wrapping her tight, it caused her body to stop and calm down, thus the crying got softer.
3. Movement Don’t Stop. Pass Go and make sure you have Duracell Batteries on your registry list. Trust me. My go-to soothing device is a Fisher-Price Newborn Rock n Play Sleeper. Brooke takes most of her naps in it and loves it! You don’t want to run to the store at 11am for batteries for your soothing items or have to pace around your house for hours with your already sore arms doing all the work. Many new parents spend a lot of time preparing for their baby, but often forget the little things like good quality Duracell batteries. Experienced parents trust ONLY Duracell batteries to provide dependable power for devices that help soothe their baby.
I’m not sure exactly why movement works so well. I am assuming because newborns are used to you moving around all day while they are in the womb, but I’m really not sure. It just works.
4. Sucking It sounds simple, and it is. Feeding your newborn or giving them a pacifier works wonders. You can often tell the difference between when your baby is crying for food or when they are not. They make movements with their mouth or start sucking their hands. As a first time parent, when I read that you would be able to tell the difference I was nervous that I wouldn’t, but rest assured, it is VERY clear.
Hopefully these 4 Ways to Soothe a Newborn work for you! Like I said, we often have to use these in combination with each other to soothe our Little Miss.
What other techniques do you use to soothe your baby? Leave an answer in the comments and you will be entered for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card!
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Brittany Rasmussen
I will be using all of these, and hopefully some baby wearing with the solly baby wrap to soothe my baby (when he comes!) This reminds me-I need batteries for my rock n play before baby boy makes his debut ! HA!
Brittany Rasmussen
https://twitter.com/GraceinGrey/status/605432891217092610
mami2jcn
I’m expecting my 4th baby in September and my tip would be to use a white noise machine.
mami2jcn at gmail dot com
mami2jcn
tweet–https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/605462308433891328
steve weber
I would say bundle them up tightly and keep them close to you
groogruxking40 @ gmail dot com
steve weber
tweet- https://twitter.com/groogruxking40/status/605464068158152704
Julie Wood
I use a baby sling to keep baby close to me, and I put baby in a swing. My son loved his swing, and he always soothed right down when Daddy was holding him.
my email jewelwood55(at)gmail(dot)com
Julie Wood
Tweet entry
https://twitter.com/JewelWood/status/605467980810481665
my email jewelwood55(at)gmail(dot)com
Lauren
Going for a walk sometimes helps.
nicole dziedzic
My tip is to use a fan in the kids room. Allowing for a little extra noise can actually help your baby sleep better!
nicole.ddziedzic at gmail dot com
nicole dziedzic
Tweeted here: https://twitter.com/lil_lady_dz/status/605503244945612800
nicole.ddziedzic at gmail dot com
Caroline @ In Due Time
We have been waiting 3+ years to have kids, so I don’t have an answer YET! Believing the Lord for BABIES! Saving this post for when we have them!
Elena Istomina
I make sure baby’s room temperature is comfortable, not too cold and not too warm
elena150980 at yahoo dot com
Elena Istomina
https://twitter.com/ElenaIstomina/status/605515085587443712
elena150980 at yahoo dot com
bellagirl07
A great way to soothe a newborn is a nice quiet drive around the neighborhood in the car.
heather [email protected]
Kristen
https://twitter.com/rubylorikeet/status/605583911331069952
kelly
My daughter loved to be held, that was the most soothing for her.
kellywcu8888ATgmailDOTcom
kelly
tweet
https://twitter.com/Kellydpa/status/605734758295814144
kellywcu8888ATgmailDOTcom
Ray Ray Cartucci
I always strolled my first baby around the neighborhood which helped. Hope when my new baby arrives I find what soothes him quickly.
Ray Ray Cartucci
https://twitter.com/RayrayCrisman/status/605820722670215169
onefrugalgirl
Do what works best for you and don’t let anyone else convince you there is a ‘right’ way to do it. It will ease your stress and that alone will help.
onefrugalgirl AT gmail DOT com
onefrugalgirl
https://twitter.com/OneFrugalGirl/status/605848816336568323
Natalie
My tip is that when your baby is having a hard time falling asleep, try putting him or her in a rocker. My daughter falls fast asleep whenever she is being gently rocked. She also likes to be wrapped tightly in blankets. yarbr012 at gmail dot com
Natalie
https://twitter.com/yarbr012/status/605886800058445824 yarbr012 at gmail dot com
Katie
My tip is to use a baby carrier.
Kara Knaack
I swear by swaddling and then the adding the snuggly rock and play sleeper!
jalapenomama
Rocking my babies and singing soft lullabies always worked well for soothing.
thank you
barbara (dot) montyj (at) gmail (dot) com
jalapenomama
Tweet https://twitter.com/JalapenoMama/status/606252872335032321
Amy Tong
Music. My babies love hearing music and they would stop crying right the way. 🙂
amy [at] utry [dot] it
Amy Tong
tweeted:
https://twitter.com/uTry_it/status/606320192302379008
amy [at] utry [dot] it
mysweetiepiepie
Singing and rocking always work.
JessieC
Swing and a bit of white noise help a lot to my babies.
tcarolinep at gmail dot com
JessieC
-https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/606654915235045376
Madeline
We couldn’t have lived without a baby swing to help get our child to sleep. It was either that or carry her around for half an hour!
madelinebrubaker {at} gmail [dot] com
Madeline
Tweet link: https://twitter.com/shala_darkstone/status/607170419452461057
madelinebrubaker {at} gmail [dot] com
Stephanie Phelps
The way I always soothed my babies was to bounce and walk! That always worked wonders! [email protected]
Stephanie Phelps
I tweeted [email protected]
https://twitter.com/my4boysand1/status/607312721948901377
Starla
She is sooo beautiful! Time sure does fly! Such great advice since I am expecting my first little in the beginning of August. I will definitely need all of the help I can get! 🙂 [email protected]
Starla
I tweeted! https://twitter.com/mmstarla/status/607326123966332929
chambanachik
Definitely my favorite way is rocking. Whether it’s reading a story, singing a song, or just being quiet and cuddling, I think it soothes both of us.
chambanachik(at)gmail(dot)com
tina m
singing works for me
tina m
https://twitter.com/HappyTina0115/status/608329726369906689
D Schmidt
I have a routine, black out curtains and a white noise machine.
[email protected]
D Schmidt
tweeted https://twitter.com/mummytotwoboys1/status/608345627328659456
[email protected]
Elle
Singing, rocking and a noise machine are the best techniques for me.
prettyinhotpink6 at gmail dot com
Elle
Tweet:https://twitter.com/PrettyHotPink6/status/609372457598738432
Lisa Brown
I always used the “Rock-a-bye baby” technique; I liked it as a child and knew mine would too 🙂
Lisa Brown
my tweet https://twitter.com/LuLu_Brown24/status/610128823988793344
rachel
Squats. Lots and lots of squats. Sounds crazy but works sooooo well!
Shelby Martin
I have to rub my little guys back to put him to sleep! If I lay him down without rubbing his back, it is a disaster 🙂
[email protected]
R Misenheimer
My babies slept better as newborns when they were swaddled.
Susan Smith
My daughter always slept better in her baby swing.
s2s2 at cox dot net
Susan Smith
https://twitter.com/susan1215/status/612463917873426432
s2s2 at cox dot net
erica best
when my nephew was a baby u use to sing to him
erica best
https://twitter.com/purplelover04/status/612710499398979584
Linda C
I used to take my daughter for a ride in the car.
Linda C
Tweet https://twitter.com/Lindiac/status/612717745742843904
Tamara
Sometimes we would set our babies inside their car seat, put them on top of the dryer — and the rumbling would soothe them. 🙂
westiemks5 at yahoo dot com
Tamara
Tweeted! https://twitter.com/pixel_berry_pie/status/612803513521803265
maria cantu
My babies loved their baby swing.
MCantu1019 at aol dot com
AmandaSakovitz
Singing always worked for me
POKERGRL8 at gmail.com
AmandaSakovitz
https://twitter.com/aes529/status/613355928788824065
POKERGRL8 at gmail.com
bellows22
a baby swing was always good as well as a favorite blanket or stuffed animal
debbiebellows (at) gmail (dot) com
bellows22
i posted a tweet here:
https://twitter.com/bellows22/status/614628927747813376
debbiebellows (at) gmail (dot) com
Jose Benavides
My baby loves being in her swing and smells her blanky.
cynthiac
My first baby liked his swing and the second liked to be held while I rocked in the rocking chair.
cynthiac
Tweet
https://twitter.com/clc408/status/614757283311054848
Galena Penrod
take them for aride
margaretsmith
If possible taking them for a walk in the carriage. I also use a gentle rocking back & forth. Both seem to work very good.
margaretsmith
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/peg42/status/614789434148528128
Thanks so much.
Sandy Klocinski
The best thing parents can do when their infant is crying is to stay
calm. An increase in your stress level will increase your baby’s. Remain
calm and your baby might follow suit.
Sandy Klocinski
https://twitter.com/Attea2d/status/614797210883108864
Wild Orchid
Swaddling is my favorite trick for getting babies to sleep longer.
Thanks for the chance to win!
wildorchid985 AT gmail DOT com
Wild Orchid
tweet-https://twitter.com/WildOrchid985/status/614818357183926272
wildorchid985 AT gmail DOT com
dglitter
All of these things worked for me. Also holding them close.
Stephanie V.
drive in the car
tvollowitz at aol dot com
Denise B.
A warm bath usually does the trick.
markathy
MIne would love to rock
markathy
https://twitter.com/mkjmc/status/614889196776521728
Kim Hilbert
My girl liked to be swaddled and sit outside and listen to the wind and rain
Holly Kennedy
Humming always seems to work.
KPort207
My daughter loved being rocked.
kport207 at gmail dot com
kathy pease
I always loved to play soft music which seemed to soothe my kids
kathy pease
https://twitter.com/klp1965/status/614946175658164224
Joni Dolniak
The porch swing is very soothing.
Joni Dolniak
https://twitter.com/smilekisses/status/615009572609224705
Thomas Murphy
I like to rock and sing to my baby.
rounder9834 @yahoo.com
Thomas Murphy
tweeted
https://twitter.com/thomasmurphy40/status/615045362559123456
rounder9834 @yahoo.com
Tolemee
I like to sing a nice song to my baby girl to soothe her.
redaurelie(at)gmail(dot)com
Tolemee
My tweet https://twitter.com/AurelieRed/status/615095022690635776
redaurelie(at)gmail(dot)com
Brittney House
My daughter loves her vibrating chair.
hawkshoe
We sang to our children to help sooth them.
Daniel M
she likes the rocking chair – regnod(at)yahoo(d0t)com
mommyto2girlz
I patted the bottom of both my girls while holding them. It worked to soothe both of them. Thank you!
crystalfaulkner2000 at yahoo dot com
Anastasia
I always liked the rocking chair or to put her in the baby swing 🙂 Also, having some music or the tv on. 🙂
[email protected]
Anastasia
Tweeted 🙂 – https://twitter.com/Enter_Now/status/615298943979655168
[email protected]
Kerry
I always sang and rocked my babies and it calmed them right down.
nuthouse(at)centurytel(dot)net
Ellie W
I rock and sing to my baby to get her to sleep. Then lay her down gently and try to have some white noise in the room. A sound machine is a great investment.
eswright18 at gmail dot com
Ellie W
tweeted
https://twitter.com/eswright18/status/615412438129754112
eswright18 at gmail dot com
Rebecca Anne
Rocking in a rocky chair can be soothing to a baby.
Joe GErsch
I sing to my baby in a whisper
Lisa Voyce
If I hold my granddaughter in the way she is very comfortable across my chest, I gently sway her to sleep.
Keeley Sullivan
battery operated swing
Kim Ripley
My daughter fell asleep easy when I laid down with her.
Ed Nemmers
Ear whispering!
Stephanie Larison
Both of my girls needed to be held and cuddled to go to sleep.
Stephanie Larison
https://twitter.com/Stephanie64030/status/615659509025890305
Tabathia
For my daughter because of her medical condition, I would rub her back when she was a baby
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
Tabathia
tweet https://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/615695216213917696
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
channallocks
we would hold them till they went to sleep
Kerry
tweeted: https://twitter.com/KerryBishop/status/615706516482564096
nuthouse(at)centurytel(dot)net
Francine Anchondo
I would rock them to sleep or put them in a swing.
Wanda McHenry
A Glider Rocking Chair works great.
Wanda McHenry
https://twitter.com/myfolly/status/615753419442098176
Bert
I sang and rocked my babies
[email protected]
Bert
tweeted https://twitter.com/iamdadtastic/status/615756615552118785
[email protected]
Tina W
Think about all the “stimuli” where the baby is: light, sound, vibrations, smells. Try to limit stimuli if possible.
Tina W
tweeted: https://twitter.com/tinawoo21/status/615759717462208512
Erica Carnes
Warm bath & bottle.
kathy pease
I reall like the mamaroo seat that plays music and has movement
kathy pease
https://twitter.com/klp1965/status/615935925953130497
Denise L
This might fall under the noise category, but singing to them usually catches their attention long enough to get them to calm down.
dmarie824 at aol dot com
Denise L
tweeted – https://twitter.com/dmarie824/status/615962676506705920
rajee
I always use
Ingenuity™ Power Adapt Portable Swing
rajee
https://twitter.com/momsfocus/status/615989454356910080
AngelaLilly
I have heard that using a cool mist humidifier with a few drops of lavender essential oil in it works well. I don’t know though, as I don’t have kids.
Angie
14earth at gmail dot com
AngelaLilly
I tweeted here: https://twitter.com/MsTofuFairy/status/615997181674278912
Angie
14earth at gmail dot com
Richard Hicks
My tip is singing sweet lullabies to them
Richard Hicks
https://twitter.com/ardy22/status/616010187057573888
CandieL
Giving soothing baths helped them calm down. Thank you
Leela
I nurse them or rock and sing to them.
cc
taking a car ride would always sooth the baby and put him to sleep
Claudia C. Davis
use soothing music without vocals
Claudia C. Davis
https://twitter.com/davisesq212/status/616104722022432768