20 Solutions when Baby Won’t Stop Crying
We all know babies cry. Sometimes, babies cry…and they won’t stop crying, no matter what you do. When that happens, it can feel completely overwhelming; that’s why we compiled the top 20 solutions when baby won’t stop crying.
Before I dive in, one thing that I found helpful was tracking feeds, diapers, and sleep. You can grab my baby tracker here, which works for one baby and even for twins! It was so helpful for us.
Maybe your baby has been affected by colic, or they simply have fussy periods. But when you aren’t able to fix your baby’s cry, it can cut to the deepest fibers of your being. For me, it hit the deepest nerve inside of me that made me want to jump over furniture to get to them. When you hear that crying for an hour straight without being able to soothe them? It can start to break you.
I’m not going to sugar-coat this one…some days can be tough. Some days you put your babies into the stroller to face the mirror, so you can go sit for five minutes to cry before you head out into the world.
So, take that cry. Let yourself feel the overwhelmingness of the moment. Give yourself those five minutes.
And after that? After you break down?
You get up.
You throw on a scarf, spread on some lipstick, and you take on the day. Most importantly, you show up for them and you keep trying. Inevitably, the next day is almost always easier.
Now, when you have a screaming baby in your arms, all rational thought can leave your brain. You feel like saying “tell me what you want, I’ll give you anything”.
To help bring in some logic to the moment, here’s a list of things that can help to calm a crying baby. When you have a screaming baby on your hands, consider this list.
What I did was went through the list one by one until I found one that worked. Feel free to bookmark this page, and remind yourself you have options when they’re breaking down.
Top 20 solutions when baby won’t stop crying :
- Feed them
- Burp them
- Change their diaper
- Give them a soother
- Swaddle them (for newborns only)
- Strip them down and check all parts of their bodies, including fingers/toes to see if there are any injuries or anything making them uncomfortable. It could even be a hair wrapped around their toe.
- Ensure they’re not too hot or cold
- Walk them in your arms
- Rock them in a chair
- Wear them in a baby carrier
- Take them outside for a walk
- Take them for a ride in the car
- Give them a bath
- Try out baby massage
- Put on white noise
- Sing a lullaby
- Take them to a dark room (aka avoid over-stimulation)
- Call your mom for advice (I lean on this one a lot)
- Call in support – either friends, family, or paid
- See if they will go for a cat nap
What If It Doesn’t Work?
Now, sometimes you may try all of these and it still doesn’t work. I’m not going to lie, those times can feel pretty crappy.
Use your instinct on if they need to see a doctor. If you do go in and a doctor says they’re fine, then remember that sometimes your job is just to help your baby through it. Whatever you do, do not ever shake or rattle your baby, even slightly – it could cause serious long-term damage.
The best thing you can do is breathe, get through it minute by minute and let them know that they’re not alone, even if you’re not able to take their pain away.
And if you need to, leave the room for a couple of minutes. Place the baby somewhere safe, take a moment to regain your composure, then come back out to help again. And if you do bring in help, don’t feel bad about it. If you do feel guilty, remember that you’re bringing in help to help make you a better, stronger mother.
Remember, This Is Temporary
Remember, babies won’t cry indefinitely, and at some point they’ll tire themselves out. You may not be able to solve their problem, yet just being there with your scent, your skin, and your rocking lets them know that they’re safe and loved and safe, even if they’re feeling icky.
Just remember the Robert Frost quote: “This, too, shall pass”.
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