How To Calm A Fussy Newborn

Some babies come into the world and are calm and happy for the most part. This is every parents' dream, but not usually a reality for many families. Even the calmest babies are going to have moments when they need something and you are not sure what that would be. A fussy newborn can be frustrating, but there is usually an easy way to help them calm down. The trick is learning what each cry means, and to learn a little bit about where baby just came from and how to recreate that for them.

A fussy newborn may be hungry or tired. These are pretty easy ones to figure out. Listen to how the baby fusses or cries so that you can learn what their noises mean. Some babies do not like wet diapers, even for a few minutes, so they may come up with a 'change me' cry as well. You may also have a fussy newborn on your hands if something is bothering them. It could be that the tag on their sleeper is rubbing on their skin or they have hair wrapped around a toe or finger. Inspect them carefully if nothing else seems to calm them down. You will usually find what is wrong.

Some babies are fussy newborns simply because they are having trouble adjusting to this new world. The life they knew in the womb was comfortable and calm for them, and then taken away from them quite quickly. During the first three months (and sometimes longer), they may miss how they felt while they were still inside you. That means finding a way to recreate the womb for a fussy newborn to make them feel more secure. This type of thing can do wonders when nothing else seems to be wrong.

Swaddling is important for a fussy newborn. Have a nurse at the hospital show you how to swaddle your baby. Generally the blanket is tucked around the baby, up over the feet and then around the other side of the baby. This gives them the feeling of still being confined in the womb. You want the swaddle to be snug, but not too tight. They should be able to move a little but feel resistance to that movement. This is what they experienced inside and what a fussy newborn may be missing.

There are other things you can do to recreate the womb for a fussy newborn. The sounds they heard inside of you are going to be soothing. The 'shh' sound works because they heard something similar in the womb. You can find CDs and toys that have the sounds they heard, including what your heartbeat sounded like to their little ears. A rocking motion in all directions can also be helpful, as that is what they felt each time you walked or even moved. Put these all together and many a fussy newborn will be calm and content. Most babies will respond to this for the first three months, and some will for a longer period of time. It all depends on how quickly they respond and adjust to a brand new world.