11 Genius Ways to Help a Baby Stop Cr@ying

But a surprising distraction، like a recording of their own voice، can jolt babies out of what is making them upset. "Babies are so interested in the world around them that simply introducing something new can help break that cycle of crying،" she notes.

4. Put Out Lights

When Polly Blitzer Wolkstein's twins would get overstimulated، she found that putting them in a completely dark room was the most effective way to soothe them. "I'd pull down blackout shades and put them in their swings with a pacifier. The swings gave them the sensation of rocking in our arms، and they'd be out like a light in about two minutes،" says the New York City mom.

Why it works: Babies can easily become overstimulated by all the noise and lights of everyday life. "After all، newborns are used to the quiet، dark confines of the womb،" says Dr. Rivers. Blocking out all that stimulation can calm them down.

5. Make Some Noise

Another trick that parents swear by is: Turn on white noise. Try a fan or vacuum cleaner، use a white-noise machine، or download an app.

Why it works: The theory is that these sounds imitate what an infant heard in the womb as their parent's blood passed through the placenta، says Dr. Rivers. White noise also masks other sounds، such as siblings playing or dishes banging. Just keep the volume low. According to the National Institutes of Health، research shows that white-noise machines could contribute to hearing loss if they're too loud and too close to a baby for long periods.

6. Change the Scenery

Jessica White، of Smyrna، Georgia، swears that her fussy baby could sense when she was getting stressed. "That's when I knew it was time to hand her off to my husband or Grandma،" says the mother of two. If she couldn't change caregivers، White would at least move to a different environment. "Going from the nursery to the patio or kitchen was sometimes enough to snap her out of the crying spell،" she says.

Why it works: "A new location to focus on may be all a baby needs to change her mood،" says Dr. Rivers.