The Crib: A Blog for New Parents

You’ve brought the new baby home, everyone you’ve ever met has been over to see, hold, and of course adore the most wonderful baby that has ever been. But that was two weeks ago.

The doting Daddy has returned to work, every friend and relative has gone home, and you are finally alone with the most wonderful baby that has ever been, crying continuously, excessively, and loudly.

You have done everything that could have needed to be done.

The inconsolable child has been

Changed

Fed

Burped

Swaddled

Undressed

Dressed warmer

Rocked in the rocking chair

Walked around the house

Swung in the swing

Rocked in the baby seat

Massaged

Bounced

Laid down

Given a pacifier

Walked around the block

Taken for a drive in the car

And all of those things repeated again.

And yet, the crying continues. There is no fever, no tummy trouble, and no discernable illness at all. In fact, the pediatrician has told you each time you called that the baby is fine.

So what do you do now? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. It could very well be that what you are doing by doing everything is over stimulating the baby. Infants tire easily, and when they are over tired, they are unable to calm themselves down. The more you do to calm them, actually makes the exhaustion worse.

Place the baby in his or her favorite spot to sleep, and walk away. Or, try gently rubbing their belly or caressing their head, just to assure them that you are still there. The crying will subside, and the baby will fall asleep. If it doesn’t, then try holding them in your arms while you rock in a chair. But don’t be tense, the baby will feel the tension from you, and that will increase their agitation. Try humming softly, which will calm both you and the baby. And once you relax, the most wonderful baby that has ever been, will be sleeping peacefully.