Five Ways To Soothe An Infant

Babies fuss and cry for a variety of reasons, including discomfort, fear and illness. Sometimes, there is not an apparent reason for the tears. Although some who dispense advice may recommend letting fussy infants "cry it out," excessive crying can be harmful to your baby's health, according to the AskDrSears.com website. For that reason, most parents try to find ways to soothe their infants when they are fussy or tired.

Movement

Gentle, repetitive movements are often soothing to infants. Try holding her close and rocking her gently back and forth, whether in a rocking chair or swaying on your feet. A cradle or baby swing can do the rocking for you when your arms get too tired. A ride in a stroller may calm your baby down and will give you some exercise. For an unusual approach, try placing the baby in a carrier on top of a running washing machine or dryer. The vibrations of the machine will soothe your baby, but of course, never leave her there unattended. Once she is calmed or has fallen asleep, remove her from the top of the machine.

Sucking

Infants are often soothed by sucking. Try different pacifiers -- they come in latex or silicone, and in different shapes and sizes -- until you find one that your baby likes. If you don't like the idea of giving your baby a pacifier, help him find his own thumb or fingers or let him suck on the tip of your finger. Nursing is a tried and true method of soothing a baby, and the skin-to-skin contact increases bonding.

Swaddling

Swaddling an infant mimics the tight quarters of the womb and makes her feel secure. Wrap her up in a blanket designed to limit movement and she may sleep better and be less fussy. Many mothers wrap their babies against their bodies. This type of swaddling has the added benefit of letting the infant hear her mother's heartbeat, which is also comforting.

Sound

Sounds can soothe a fussy baby. A gentle song or music may distract a crying baby and calm him down. Try a musical mobile or pop in a CD of lullabies when your infant acts up. Or, hold him close and hum a simple tune in his ear. Sometimes white noise works well also, such as the steady humming of a fan. Noises that mimic the sound of the mother's heartbeat in the womb are also known to soothe infants. Try the ticking of a clock or even a CD that plays the sounds of a heartbeat.

Touch

Touch is very soothing to infants. First, check to make sure your baby isn't fussing because she is uncomfortable. Inspect her clothes and diaper for things that might be irritating her skin. She may also be too cold or too hot. Try a warm bath, and then give her a gentle massage with some perfume and dye-free baby lotion. Gently stroke her head and back and hold her close to your body. If you just fed her, she might even be fussy because she needs to burp, so hold her upright as you stroke her back and see if that helps release any gas bubbles.