7 Baby Calming Tips

Every parent experiences those moments when there seems to be nothing you can do to calm your fuzzy child. You've tried feeding, changing the diaper, singing, playing, but nothing will stop the tears. All babies are different, so you have to find your method of calming them down. Once you figure out your baby's tricks, you'll be soothing them in no time. I know all about fussy babies, so here are my seven tips to calming them down.

1. Recreate the womb.

Babies are used to the comfort and security of the womb, so recreating that environment can be especially soothing. Swaddling does it this effectively by touching the baby all over his or her body. The Miracle Blanket combines a classic swaddle with gentle abdominal pressure to comfort baby. It has helped many babies sleep soundly through the night.

It's time to stop swaddling once your baby begins to roll, but transitioning baby from swaddling is not an easy feat. Zipadee-Zip makes the transition out of swaddling easier for babies because it provides baby with the feeling of warmth and security while covering their hands and feet, without restricting their mobility. The Zipadee-Zip is a perfect solution for fussy babies to old to be swaddled.

2. Run a warm bath.

Everyone loves a warm bath, especially babies. Just before bed time, give your baby a quick soak. Use a lavender body wash to relax baby and make him or her sleepy. When it become a part of the routine, your baby will associate the warm water with sleep.

3. Breastfeed your baby.

Breastfeeding baby doesn't just calm her hunger, it also serves to comfort your baby. It's a very powerful way to soothe baby as she feels much closer to mom. Nursing baby for comfort also regulates baby's breathing and heart rate.

4. Use a white noise machine.

Babies are used to lots of noises when they were in the womb - even loud ones. A white noise machine can create just enough noise to make them feel secure like they were in their mom's tummy. They'll be unstressed and stop crying.

5. Give baby a massage

Babies love touch. It's very important for their development. Gently stroke their tummies and rub their arms and legs. Gently kneed the skin, but don't apply too much pressure. Not only is this soothing, but it's a wonderful bonding experiencing for parents and babies.

6. Use a pacifier or teething toy.

Pacifiers soothe babies' instinctive need to suck. Don't let your baby sleep with a teething toy, as this could be a safety hazard, but for those times when the baby is fussy during the day, or you'll be watching them as they fall asleep, it's a great way to end the tears. If baby is fussy because she is teething, a teething toy will help soothe baby's sore gums and ease her discomfort.

7. Rock your baby.

Babies love rhythmic motions - swinging, dancing, jiggling, or rocking. Use a swing, bouncer, rocking chair, or just sway your baby in your arms to calm him or her down. Taking your little one for a ride in a stroller or car is another useful method.

Helpful tip: At some point you'll figure out which method works best for your little one. It's important to let your baby learn how to self-soothe on their own. Any sleep aids you discover should be used sparingly so you don't make your baby dependent. If a baby becomes used to needing to nurse in order to fall asleep, for example, you can be creating a habit that is difficult to break.

Written by Stephanie Parker from Sleepingbaby.com, inventors of the Zipadee-Zip

The motto for Sleeping Baby, makers of the Zipadee-Zip, is: "Inspiring Dreams One Night at A time," and that, in a nutshell, is how it all started…with one little dream that has since become the Parker family's reality. When Brett and Stephanie Parker's daughter, Charlotte, was born, the feeling that welled up inside of them was indescribable; they never realized until first looking into those baby blues of hers that they were even capable of that kind of love.

When it was time to transition baby from swaddling, the Parkers tried every sleep sack on the market and every swaddle weaning trick they could find for nearly two weeks and nothing worked to get baby Charlotte to fall and stay asleep.

Stephanie became determined to restore sleep and sanity to their household and set out to find a solution that would soothe Charlotte's startle reflex and provide her the cozy womb-like environment she loved so much but still give her the freedom to roll over and wiggle around in her crib safely. Out of sheer desperation and exhaustion, the Zipadee-Zip was born. The first Zipadee-Zip(R) Stephanie put together on her little sewing machine worked like magic!

To date tens of thousands of Zipadee-Zips have been sold and all from word-of-mouth marketing. It is so rewarding for the Parkers to see other parents and babies getting the sleep they both need and deserve!

Interested in writing a guest blog for Sleeping Baby? Send your topic idea to pr@sleepingbaby.com.

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