It’s 2AM, no one in the house has slept. Your little infant has turned into one of those monsters called a fussy baby. If you have already done the big three, Diaper, Feed, and Burp, it is time to move to some new strategies.
One of the first things to try is swaddling your baby. A fussy baby often quiets down when wrapped snugly in a blanket. It feels more like the womb, and is very comforting to their senses. Make sure their arms and legs are snugly trapped inside so they cannot frighten themselves with sudden movements.
If swaddling the baby has not stopped the fussing and crying, start rocking, or swaying the baby. Very gently shaking the baby is many times very effective. Make sure you keep the emphasis on gently. The rocking, swaying, or shaking motions help to simulate the feelings they experienced in the womb, as you moved about.
Another item the baby experienced in the womb was constant noise. Mommy’s tummy is not a quiet place, it is filled with whooshing and shooshing sounds from the heart. To simulate these sounds for a fussy baby, try making loud “ssshhhhh” sounds. Your sounds must be loud enough for the baby to hear over their crying. Don’t worry about becoming too loud.
Sometimes, Dads have the perfect solution. A Father’s arm is the perfect size to hold your fussy baby on its side, and sway the baby. Mom’s you can do this, too, but will probably need to use two arms instead of Dad’s one arm.
When all of the above fails to help, it’s time to get rid of the blanket, get rid of the clothes, and get rid of your shirt. Sometimes the only thing which will calm a fussy baby is real skin to skin contact with their parent. They can feel the warmth, hear the sounds of the body, and feel the love radiating from you.
None of these techniques are guaranteed to work, especially with an agitated parent. When you are exhausted, and at wits end, there is only one solution. You must hand the baby over to the other parent. Your baby is going to react to your feeling of agitation, and needs the calming effects of a quiet and relaxed parent.
Another idea, which has been effective for many parents is music. You may need to experiment with different styles of music to see which one is most calming for your infant. Some infants respond to slightly loud music with a good beat by quickly relaxing, and can sleep right through the night with music playing.
One last idea, to take the burden off your arms, and to give the baby a very close simulation of the womb, you may wish to try a baby hammock, or sling. One which holds the baby closely against your body, while you move about the house.
The real solution for any fussy baby is trial and error. You will need to attempt different techniques until you find one which calms them. Most times you can use the same methods the next time your infant turns into a fussy baby. Keep your list of solutions handy, so in the middle of the night, when the mind is screaming for relief, you have a quick reference of what you wish to try. Soon, you will be both sleeping soundly, and you once again will be amazed at the beauty of their little face.