11 Genius Ways to Help a Baby Stop Cr@ying
3. Play It Back
"When my sons were babies، I would record them fussing and crying on my phone and let them listen to it. They were fascinated by the sound of a crying baby،" says Jillian St. Charles of West Knoxville، Tennessee.
Why it works: "Babies sometimes get so distressed، they have a difficult time calming down، even when the offending agent، such as a dirty diaper، gets taken care of،" notes Dr. Rivers. They literally get "stuck" crying. 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
