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Here are a few techniques I've learned to soothe Avery.
1. Always see if your baby has a wet or dirty diaper.
Avery's always fussy when he has a dirty diaper. Nothing will soothe him. I am pretty sure you would feel the same if poo was riding up your butt. Hence, check the diaper first. 2. Hungry baby! After checking the diaper it may be a good idea to see if your baby is hungry. Newborns eat quite frequently and I've learned a technique to see if your baby is hungry. Stick your curled up pinky in your child's mouth to see if he/she would suck it. Sucking means there's a good chance that he/she is hungry. ** Note: If your baby gets used to breastfeeding, he/she may not take any bottles. This is a pretty common issue with babies. Then you may not be able to help much. I will be writing a new article later on regarding this issue as Avery currently refuses to eat from a bottle. This means no babysitters would be able to help you, and your partner/wife won't be able to leave your child for long! Eeeeek. I'm experimenting ways to fix this issue around right now and will keep you posted when I am able to get him back onto a bottle. 3. Sleepy! Your baby might just be over exhausted and sleepy. Babies do not know how to sleep when they are over exhausted. Then its our task to try to figure out a method to soothe them to sleep. The tips below may help you. |
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6. They love to suck.
Introducing a pacifer may work. However, be prepared to buy numerous different kinds of pacifers for your child to try. Avery liked his dinosaur pacifier and so did Monica because the stuffed animal held some weight so he could keep it in his mouth. However, there is another brand that she wanted to get where the paci is removable for easier cleaning. I say ‘wanted’ because now he does not take pacis anymore... |
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Borrowed a Bjorn Carrier from our Doula and it works pretty well with Avery. Thanks Rylie~
Avery snugged in the mamaroo.
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7. Put your child on a sling. <-- works miracles
Avery loves the carrier or sling. He literally KOs to sleep when his head is leaning on my chest. I prefer carrying him on a carrier when he's a bit more fussy. I rather use a carrier than a stroller when I go shopping with him. He's usually sleeps the entire time he's in the carrier/sling. 8. Get yourself a rocking chair (your partner/wife would love you). Avery loves falling asleep while being held on the rocking chair. A rocking chair is also great for your partner/wife for breastfeeding. We got ours at Toys "R" Us. 9. Free Rocking options to Rock-a-bye baby to sleep. We borrowed Monica's sister's mamaroo. Its a motorized/automatic cradle that moves with music. However, we didn't find it that effective. We used it more like a bed where he passed out. Luckily we didn't purchase it because it’s an expensive item. Also Avery's almost outgrown the cradle. We did recently purchase a motorized baby swing that also plays music. He seems to like that more. The swinging motion makes him sleepy and less fussy. It also entertains him when he’s awake. 10. White Noise may soothe your baby. Some babies calm down after hearing rhythmic whooshing sounds. Try different sounds like a fan, street noise, static radio, etc. Most of the new gadgets nowadays come with these sounds as an option. I don't think the white noise soothes Avery, however its probably a good idea to have them adapt to these sounds for the future. Or else, any sounds would wake him up easily. We do run a nebulizer during the night, so perhaps that is the soothing white noise that he has become accustomed to. |
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11. Bath time!
Filling a tub with some warm water and bathing with your baby may work. Buy a thermometer to check the temperature of the bath water and have the tempature be less than 37 degrees c. Avery's really calm in the bath and he loves to be swaddled up after his bath. Also, get a gentle comb and stroke through their hair. It helps massage and stimulate their scalp. 12. Ways to relieve your gassy baby. There are times where Avery would not stop crying. His tummy would be hard and you know that he needs help. He basically needs his tummy to feel better. I would either give him some tummy time, hold him upright with his abdomen on my shoulder, while I rub and pat his back. Sometimes I would need to rub his tummy in a clockwise motion or bicycle kick his legs to relieve the gas. 13. Fresh air! Walking around or going outside with some fresh air may help calm your baby. Maybe your baby is overheating and needs some fresh air to cool down. Make sure your child is clothed appropriately before you head out. 14. Toys! Amuse your child with their rattles or make some funny noises. Or use some toys to amuse them as young babies may get bored too. 15. Overstimulation Dim the lights, turn the sound down, put away those flashy toys or show your guests the door. Sometimes, Avery just wants to be in a quiet atmosphere. 16. Sleeping on your chest. This method works wonders when you are tired. Avery almost always fall asleep on my chest when he's fussy. I would hold him tight and pat his butt to sleep on my chest. He literally would knock out on my chest. 17. Try to catch their early signs before its too late. Avery would babble or make some noise when he needs attention. However, the noise would escalate to crying when he's not tended to immediately. Always check on their diaper and hunger. Those are the two most common reasons why your child cries. Or maybe your child is just really sleepy and needs help falling asleep. |
Avery's expression after a bath.
Avery enjoying his time on his tummy time play mat.
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Keep in mind that your baby isn't invincible, although you may want to dress them as one.
Happy Baby = Happy Wife = Happy Life
Working together as a team is the most important in soothing your baby. Always keep your communication lines open between you and your partner. Don't be afraid to ask for a breather when you need one.
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18. You've tried everything and your baby is still crying? Maybe have their temperature checked for a fever.
Most doctors – and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) — agree that a normal body temperature for a healthy baby is between 36 and 38 degrees Celsius. If your baby's temperature is 39 degrees Celsius or higher, your baby has a fever. http://www.babycenter.com/0_fever-in-babies_84.bc 19. Observe and see if there's anything noticeable that would make your child uncomfortable. Babies cry for a reason. It is our duty to try our best to solve the mystery. If you are unable to figure it, I would suggest you calling the 8-1-1 line as its available 24/7 8-1-1 is a free-of-charge health information and advice phone line available in British Columbia. The 8-1-1 phone line is operated by HealthLink BC, which is part of the Ministry of Health. By calling 8-1-1, you can speak to a health services representative, who can help you find health information and services; or connect you directly with a registered nurse, a registered dietitian or a pharmacist. Any one of these healthcare professionals will help you get the information you need to manage your health concerns, or those of your family. http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/servicesresources/811/ 20. Keep yourself sane and intact. It may be frustrating at times when our baby won't stop crying or you do not know the reason or how to soothe your child or you are just outright too tired to handle it. It is totally normal and okay to take a breather. Ask your partner for help or a friend or even step away for a little bit (however, make sure your child is in a safe area). If you can't soothe yourself, you won't be able to soothe your child. Keep this in mind, you are not alone and every father has trouble. I'm still having trouble myself at times when Avery cries.We ain't perfect that's for sure. You just got to keep going at it. NOTE: I will be discussing about Purple Crying and Shaking Baby Syndrome on another article. |
