How To Calm a Crying Baby

Check all the obvious reasons the baby might be crying. In babies under 3 months old, crying is almost always a sign of physical need—she may be hungry or gassy or wet or hot or just plain uncomfortable. So offer a breast or bottle, burp her, check her diaper, make sure her clothes aren’t pinching, and so on.

Offer the baby a pacifier, help her find her thumb, or slip your own clean pinkie into her mouth, nail side down.

Make some soothing noises. Sing, hum, or gently shush her. Some babies may also be calmed by the sound of a running faucet, a radio set on static, a recording of nature sounds or white noise—even the steady hum of the vacuum cleaner.

Try movement. Take her outside for a walk or a car ride, gently dance with her in your arms or a sling, rock her side-to-side, or just walk around the room.

Try massaging her or putting her in a warm, soothing bath.

Change the scenery. Give her something new to look at, by turning on the ceiling fan or showing her a toy. And remember to stay calm and patient—after all, she can’t cry forever.