When Your Baby Won’t Stop Crying Baby Families.com

It is frustrating to listen to your baby cry for hours on end. And yet, many parents experience this type of high need baby. Try these strategies for coping with your new bundle of joy to make life more bearable:

1. Wear baby in a sling (or similar carrier). Wearing a newborn in a sling helps “recreate” the womb and eases the transition between inside mommy’s tummy to the outside world. If your baby is very fussy, a sling helps by allowing you to do other things while carrying the baby. Another benefit is that you can offer baby the breast, a bottle or pacifier while moving and the combination of sucking plus movement will usually help soothe even the fussiest baby. Proximity is also a key factor in the calming ability of the sling.

2. Do a little dance. Movement is natural to babies while being still tends to upset them. This makes sense if you think about it: they’ve just spent 9 months being lulled in the womb. While you were up and working, baby was being rocked back and forth gently.

3. The swing’s the thing. While a warm body and arms are the best thing to keep baby calm, let’s face it those arms and warms bodies wear out. Swings are especially great to use when you’re trying to make dinner or eat. The motion of the swing is likely to keep the baby calm.

4. Driving Daddies. If your child is especially fussy, it’s o.k. to use the car to lull him to sleep. You will not spoil him, you’ll likely help him to fall asleep and get what he really needs. Of course moms can use this trick too, but this is a great tool for daddies when they want to give mom a break. Our fussy baby, only wanted to be held by mommy. But she would “accept” a car ride from dad if need be. (If you don’t want to get into the car, try the stroller which works equally as well.)

5. Consider a change of scenery! If you can, go for a walk outside with baby in the sling or carrier. If baby is intent on fussing anyhow, you may as well get some exercise!

High need babies are a lot of work. They take constant parenting, and don’t like to be put down. Just remember while you’re doing all this work now, you are setting the stage for a happy and independent toddler. Babyhood does arrive in stages and rest assured, that although it may be difficult now, your high need baby will pass this stage.