Soothing a Fussy Infant
As strange as it is to say, the sound of crying children has become the background noise of my life. Infants and young children cry in my office for many reasons – they don’t like to be weighed on the scale, they don’t like to leave the movie in the waiting room, they are afraid of the exam or have “stranger danger,” or they are receiving shots or other procedures. Similarly, infants and children cry for many reasons at home, but while it is easier to understand the reasoning in my office it can be much more difficult at home.
Sure, crying at home occurs for common reasons, too – hunger, injury, frustration, discomfort – and many times it is easy to figure out in older children. But what about the crying infant? The infant who has been changed, fed, rocked…and changed, fed, and rocked again? The frequently fussy infant can be very difficult to interpret and is particularly stressful for parents.
Common causes
The first thing to do when your infant cries more than expected is to look for common causes. Is he or she hungry? Wet? Having stomach upset? Too hot or too cold? Also look for things that could be bothering or irritating your baby, such as zippers and tags, or scratches, abrasions and rashes on the skin. If you have ruled out all of these things, it is important to realize that sometimes infants are simply fussy. There may not be an easy reason or a quick fix. However, there are some methods of soothing your infant even if you can’t determine what is wrong.
The 5 S’s
A common method for soothing cranky infants is known as “The 5 S’s” and has been shown to help when the typical causes of crying are ruled out.
Swaddling: swaddling an infant involves wrapping them tightly in a blanket to help keep them snug and warm. Remember, infants spend the last few months before birth tightly packed into the womb. After birth, some babies do not like the wide open spaces of the basinet or crib. Swaddling works to help calm fussy infants by giving them that same sense of security.
Shushing: shushing noise are also reminiscent of the womb environment, when everything was muffled and indistinct. Use louder shushing noises closer to your baby’s ear while he or she is actively crying, with quieter shushing sounds as your infant calms down. White noise machines can be used for soothing as well, though there is some evidence that the pattern of shushing with breathing in and out is actually more effective.
Swinging: the motion of swinging back and forth or side to side is calming for infants. Research has shown that crying infants who are carried around in swinging motions by parents calm more quickly. If you are soothing your infant in this way, be sure to support his or her head and neck carefully. Keep your face close to your infant, smile and make cooing noises as well. I am often able to surprise parents in clinic by calming crying infants through gentle but deliberate swinging motions.
Sucking: the suck reflex is one of the first that is developed. In fact, unborn babies have been seen sucking thumbs in the womb during ultrasounds. It is a natural comfort mechanism for infants and can be incredibly calming for them. Use of pacifiers can allow for comfort sucking behavior that does not lead to overfeeding. Generally we recommend pacifiers be used only after successful breastfeeding has been fully established, usually around 3-4 weeks after birth.
Side/Stomach: While it is not recommended to allow infants to sleep on their stomachs, it can be soothing for infants to rest in that position while awake. A side-lying position can also be helpful when infants are upset.
It’s ok to walk away
Trying to calm a fussy infant, especially a consistently fussy infant, can be mentally and physically exhausting. Combining this with the underlying fatigue and stress of new parenting presents a particularly high risk for infant injury.
Lay your infant safely in the crib, without blankets or stuffed animals. It is not harmful for your baby to cry for 10-15 minutes while you take a break. Activities that may help you calm down and relax include the following:
- Take a walk through your house.
- Count slowly to 10, taking deep breaths
- Call a family member or friend to talk
- Listen to some soothing music
It is absolutely normal to be frustrated, upset, or fearful when your infant is fussy, but the most important thing you can do is keep your baby safe. It is never safe to shake or jerk your baby. This can cause brain injury due to “shaken baby syndrome” and is a form of child abuse. It also does not help resolve the problem you are dealing with.
Reach out if you need help
When to see the doctor
First, reach out to your child’s Pediatrician anytime you are concerned, because we are here to help you. If your infant has been inconsolable – meaning that nothing you do is working for an extended period of time – please have your infant seen by a doctor right away.
Final thoughts
Caring for infants can be challenging in many ways, but this can be even more difficult when a child is fussy. Parents often feel helpless, frustrated, and inadequate when infants go through particularly fussy times. Check for common causes, try the 5 S’s method for soothing, and reach out to friends, family, and your Pediatrician if you need help.
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