5 Additional Techniques To Stop Inconsolable Crying Of Babies

Crying is said to be the infant's inherent language which he uses to communicate with his caregiver. It is his way of expressing his needs and how he wishes to be tended. Previous studies have proven that an average infant may spend 2 to 3 hours a day crying, and about one-third of infants exceed that amount of time.

Sometimes a baby cries to imply an emergent need; but most of the time a child just merely needs attention. This is when the trouble arises due to the fact infants vary in the kind of attention that they want. Because they are incapable to verbalize, most caregivers have no easy way of knowing how to ease them, leading to an inconsolable infant crying.

One new standpoint regarding infant crying was revealed by a California pediatrician, Dr. Harvey Karp. According to him, infants may have become adapted to the kind of environment inside the womb. An infant's inconsolable crying throughout the first 3-4 months of life, may actually be the outcome of the child missing the constant noise (e.g. blood circulating through the mother's arteries) and stimulation (e.g. gentle stroking and patting of the mother) of the womb.

From this presumption, new techniques to quiet the baby have been developed. These methods are said to activate the baby's calming reflex by mimicking his experiences in the uterus. Much more research needs to be performed though, to ensure these techniques are safe and effective.

1. Shushing sound

The whooshing sound of blood flowing through the maternal arteries in the womb can be mimicked by playing a recorded cd of rhythmic sounds of vacuum cleaners, clothe dryers, hair dryers, or dish washer.

2. Gentle swinging

To replicate the movement of the child in the womb, a gentle rhythmic swinging of the infant in an infant swing, rocking chair, or a vehicle ride can make the little one feel contented.

3. Sucking

Sucking reflex does not commence until about the 32nd week of pregnancy. Satisfy this reflex by letting the child breastfeed, or bottle feed, or provide the child a pacifier to suck on.

4. Swaddling

At the end of pregnancy, the baby has achieved a considerable size that makes tight-fit inside the womb. Mimic this experience of warmth and protection by wrapping the little one snugly in a blanket.

5. Side or Belly positioning

Until about 6 months, the child has an inherent startle reflex, also known as the Moro reflex, wherein in reaction to the sound or movement, the baby quickly extends out his arms and lower limbs, cries, after that pulls the arms and legs back in. Laying the baby on her side or belly shuts down the Moro reflex, avoids the baby from the sensation of falling, thus keeping him calm. Even so, it is worth mentioning here not to put the little one to sleep on his abdomen, because this may increase the risk for sudden infant death syndrome or SIDS.

As mentioned earlier, a baby's cry can just simply indicate an emergent need that warrants instant attention by his caregiver. For that reason, once the child cries, you should first check if the baby's basic needs are met. Ensure the following are looked at just before doing anything else to soothe the child's cry: a) the baby is not hungry, b) he had been burped after feeding, c) his diaper is not wet, d) his clothing is not too snug, e) he isn't too hot or too cold, and f) the infant is free from any crawling or biting insects in his crib.

Being able to calm a crying child feels like winning a lottery ticket worth a million bucks. No wonder any parent or caregiver could explore all the possible means to pacify his or her little one, no matter what and how long it takes.


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