Firstly, just remember crying is perfectly normal for a baby. It is her way of communicating with you and of telling you that something isn’t right.  Many first time parents are shocked at how much their baby cries.

Listening to your baby crying is very distressing for parents. A baby’s cry is designed this way so she won’t be ignored. However, if at anytime you feel yourself becoming angry with your baby, it is essential to put some distance between you. If another family member or friend is present, ask them to have the baby for you. If you are on your own, place the baby in her crib or somewhere you know she will be safe and just have a few minutes in another room to give you time to calm down ( you must also be sure that baby is not unwell before you do this). When you return to your baby, you will be calmer and she will be more likely to respond to your soothing techniques.

As you get to know your baby it will become easier to interpret her cries, but there will also be times when you have no idea why she is crying. It is important that you don’t feel guilty if this happens, but make use of the tips below to soothe her.

We recommend that you attend to your baby quite quickly when she begins to cry, as the more distressed she becomes the harder it will be to settle her. This will also make her feel more secure and promote a good attachment.

Once you’ve considered the usual things like feeding and nappy changing, have a try of some of the tips below.

Cuddles.  It might sound obvious, but sometimes we’re so busy looking for a problem with baby, it’s easy to overlook the fact that she may just want a cuddle

Temperature.  A new baby can’t control her own body temperature, so parents need to help by adding or taking away layers as necessary. Feel the inside of her vest at the back of her neck or on her chest.  She should just feel pleasantly warm. Take no notice of how her hands and feet feel as these will  feel cold even if the baby is warm enough..

Swaddling. After being in a cosy womb for nine months, baby can feel quite vulnerable.  Swaddling in a thin sheet can help her to feel more secure.  Be extra careful that she does not get overheated whilst being swaddled, as over heating has been linked to cot deaths.

Movement.  Movement of any form is very soothing for baby.  Try rocking     her in your arms, taking her for a walk in the pram or a drive in the car.  Try using a sling, this way she is getting the comfort from the closeness with you and the movement, but you still have your hands free to carry on with any jobs.

Sucking.  Sucking is a great source of comfort for baby.  Try letting her suck your little finger.  (Make sure you hands are washed and your nail is short).  Dummies can also be useful, but best avoided whilst establishing breastfeeding, as it can confuse her.  Use the dummy to calm her down and then remove it so that she doesn’t get used to having it her mouth all the time – you stay in control of it.  Sometimes just putting her to the breast for a few minutes, even if she’s not hungry can settle her.

Sleep. Has she become over tired or over stimulated.  Try putting her in a darkened, quiet room and leave her for a few minutes to see if she settles herself.

Skin to skin. Go back to basics.  Strip baby naked (best leave the nappy on though) and you the top half.  Lay baby on you.  The results can be amazing!

Baby Massage. The benefits list of baby massage is a long one.  Most clinics usually have a course running.  Contact your local health visitor to see if there is one in your area.

Bathing. A warm bath can often quickly settle a crying baby.  Sharing a bath has the extra benefits of skin to skin contact.

Comforter. These can take a while for a child to become attached, but long term they can be very helpful.  Some babies become attached to a muslin cloth or a teddy bear or even mums old nightie.

Noise. For nine months baby has been in a noisy environment.  Even when you were asleep she could your heart beat and noises from your digestive system.  When it’s very quiet, some babies don’t like it.  Baby loves to hear your voice so talk to her in a soothing voice or sing to her.  The noise of vacuum cleaner, washing machine or hair dryer are great at settling baby.  Loud shushing is another tip many parents swear by.

Nappy free time. Sometimes just taking her nappy off and letting her have kick on the changing mat does the trick.  (This usually works better on a slightly older baby).

Colic. Is your baby suffering from colic?  If you think she may be, have a look at our advice on the management of colic in the medical section of our website.

Illnesses.  If at anytime you think your baby may be unwell, seek medical attention.