Try these quick solutions to calm him down
- Hold the baby skin to skin
- Skin to skin contact reduces stress levels for both mother and baby. When the baby is calm, then offer the breast - Let the baby suck
- Offer a finger (or pacifier) for the baby to suck on for a minute or two. Sucking is a way babies sooth themselves. - Give a taste
- Hand express milk from the nipple for the baby to taste. Or dribble milk over the nipple to entice him to the breast. - Provide motion
- Pick the baby up, rock, walk, bounce or dance. Babies are used to constant motion while in the uterus. Providing motion reminds them of “home”. - Offer swaddling
- Wrap the baby snuggly for a few minutes - Check his skin temperature
- Feel your baby’s tummy and make sure he is not too hot or too cool. - Stay Calm
- Babies are sensitive to your stress level. Remain calm and your baby may follow suit. - Reduce the stimulation
- Too much stimulation, for too long, can be over-whelming for babies Dim the lights, make no sounds and give the baby a break. Sometimes white noise like the sound of a hair dryer helps. - Burp your baby or bicycle his legs Maybe there is a burp that needs to come up or gas that needs to go down.
- Do something different
- If none of these solutions work, distract your baby with something different. Blow in his face, sing or hum, hold him up over your head or give a bath.
Watch for feeding cues for the next feeding:
- Waking up
- Licking lips & sticking tongue out
- Sucking sounds
- Hand to mouth activity
- Rooting
- Generalized body movements
Feed the baby before the last feeding cue…
11. Crying
You won’t spoil your baby by attending to his needs!
