Babies are a blessing, and as parents, we love them more than anything in the world, so we tend to do everything to provide them with the best of everything. A newborn baby is entirely dependent on the mother, so you have many responsibilities as a mom.

You might get the constant feeling of being needed all the time, and that is okay because it happens with all of us, so you are not alone. As a mother, the most challenging job is to tackle a crying baby. We are sure that all moms out there can agree with that. The first thing you want to hear when we deliver our child is his cry, but that cry can be frustrating and alarming over time.

When your baby starts crying, you hear an inside voice in your head saying that there is something wrong with your baby. That voice makes you worry, and when you are unable to soothe your child, you feel like you suck at your job and you failed at being a mom. But we are here to tell you that you have it all wrong. You are a great mom, and with time you will learn the perfect techniques to calm your baby down while staying calm and positive yourself.

Before getting into ways to calm your baby down, let's first talk about the reasons behind a crying baby.

To soothe your baby, you first need to understand why he or she is crying in the first place. This can be hard to figure out but let us talk about it and see how it all works out in the end.

Why do babies cry?

Babies cry because that is the only way of communication that they know. So it doesn't always mean that there is something wrong with them. Babies cry for different reasons, and as a parent, it is your job to figure out the reason behind the crying because that is the only way you will be able to stop it. We aren't going to lie; in the first few months, it will be challenging, but you will get the hang of it over time.

In the first few weeks, crying is the only way your baby can tell you about something, so it becomes hard to figure out what they want. Still, after that, it gets easier because you start picking up cues, and your baby starts to learn other ways of communication such as noises, eye contact, and actions that help you pinpoint the actual cause of the crying.

Reasons behind crying babies

Let us talk about the first few weeks. Newborns have a handful of basic needs, so your baby will cry only when those needs aren't fulfilled. Those non-accommodated needs are the reasons behind a crying baby, so here is the list of things that can triggers a cry;

Hunger

Hunger is one of the main reasons why your baby cries. "I feel like my child cries because he is hungry." This is the easiest reason to pinpoint and also the easiest to deal with. All you have to do is feed your child, and the crying would stop. With time you would start picking up signs that would help you feed your child before he or she even cries. Some of the signs to look for are;

• Fussing

• Lip-smacking

• Licking of hands

• Rooting

Once you start understanding the signs that your baby is trying to show you, you will quickly help them.

Pain

The other primary reason behind a crying baby in pain; even adults cry from pain, so why not a child. If your child hits something, you would know what symptoms to look for, but if you are blank, look for injury points and if nothing works, then take your baby immediately to the doctor they can help him.

Attention

Many babies cry just because they need attention. In the first few weeks, everyone wants to hold the baby and cuddle him. Babies get used to that, so when you stop paying attention to them, they start crying so that you would hold them and show love and care. 

Fear

Fear can also make your baby cry. Most parents feel that babies are unaware of fear, but that is not the case. Fear is a natural feeling, and everyone has it. So if you leave your baby alone in a room with dim lights, he is most probably going to cry due to fear. Try keeping your baby close to you so that they don't develop the feeling of fear so early.

Tummy Ache

Tummy aches are one of the most common reasons behind a crying baby. The organs in a newborn are still developing and getting used to the external environment, which is why your baby might experience tummy aches during the first few weeks. There can be a lot of reasons behind a tummy ache, but the most common ones are:

• Colic
  

Pain Colic pain can leave a baby crying for hours. It is not easy to figure this one out, and it usually occurs after feeding and mostly late at night. You can rub your baby's tummy or use the oral drops recommended by the doctor to soothe the pain.

Check out these Amazon Best Sellers Colic Relief drops:

• Gas
  

Gas pain is only common among newborns. They are still adjusting to the food and the milk, so it will take some time for the stomach to get used to all that. Try putting your baby on his back to soothe the discomfort.

• Need to burp
  

If your baby is crying after a feeding, then a possible cause could be the need to burp. Burping is very important for the baby as it reduces the chances of him throwing up and removes the discomfort that helps with the crying. According to many moms holding your baby upright and patting at the back can help with the burping.

Dirty diaper

Most babies tend to throw a tantrum the moment they mess up their diapers. The feeling of discomfort makes them cry, so the only thing you can do to stop the crying is clean them up immediately and put on fresh diapers.

Sleep

By now, you know that your baby is going to cry for everything, as a way of communication. If babies are sleep-deprived, they will also cry to communicate this to you. Try to no overstimulate your baby when nap time is approaching. A well rest baby is a happy baby!

Teething

Teething can be a painful process. Imagine a calcium rock pushing through those soft gums. So if your baby is between 4 to 9 months and crying for no obvious reason, try to look for hard gums. According to pediatricians, you can't help with the pain, but providing them with something soft to chew on does help to reduce it.

Check out these popular teethers:

Stimulation

Babies learn from their surroundings. Some babies like to stay in quiet and dim places, while others love the noise and the lights. So babies can cry either because of high stimulation or low stimulation. To know which one is it, you need to know about your baby's behavior and needs.

If your baby starts crying in a gathering, try taking him to a quiet and lonely place and if he cries when he is alone, then take him outside where he can interact with the world around him. Keep an eye on your child's behavior so that you know what he or she needs.

Temperature regulation

The temperature change can also trigger a cry. Babies love to stay warm, so they are less likely to throw a tantrum when they are warm than when they are cold. Cover your baby in an extra layer of clothing to keep them warm during the winters, and use a wipe warmer to avoid crying every time you change a diaper.

Even though your baby loves to stay warm, don't overdo it in the summer season because he or she isn't going to like the sweating part.

Feeling Unwell

Your baby might be crying to indicate to you that something is wrong. This only happens once in a while, so this cry might sound different from the others, and you will quickly identify it and feel the motherly instinct to call the doctor and get the help that your baby needs.

Tips to calm your crying baby

Now that you know the primary reasons that can trigger crying in your baby, the next step is to use the techniques to help him or her to calm down. Not all babies are the same, so some tricks might work for your child, and some might not, but just take a deep breath and don't overthink everything.

You can only calm your baby when you, yourself, are calm. So let us first look at how you can calm yourself in those stressful situations when your baby just won't stop crying because if you are angry and frustrated, there is no way you can soothe your baby's cry.

These tips and tricks will help you relax and handle the situation more positively:

Define your limit

You are also human. You also have limits, so don't strain yourself. The earlier you define your boundaries, the better you would be able to plan ahead.

Get some alone time to clear your head, go for a walk or visit a friend. These small acts would ultimately help you take care of your baby.

Remember this is only temporary

Babies cry, and we all know that, but what we fail to believe is that there comes a time when they stop crying as well. So tell yourself that it is only temporary and time is on your side. These stressful situations will pass, you might have to put in some extra effort now, but it will be all worth it in the end.

Ask for help

Mothers feel like it is only their duty to look after the child, so if they ask for help, they will look weak, and everyone will think that they are bad at being a mom. This is certainly so not true.

Everybody needs help, so ask your partner, your parents or your siblings to look after the child for a while so that you can get some time off. Hire a nanny in case you have older kids as well. It is acceptable, normal, and there is no shame in it.

You don't have to be perfect

Being a mom is hard. You need to understand that no one is better at looking after your baby than you. So stop being perfect. Just be yourself and enjoy motherhood instead of turning it into a competition. It is impossible to always be on top of everything, so relax if you get something wrong because it is okay.

Let us move on to babies now.

How can you calm them down? Some common practices are used by mothers around the globe to calm their babies in everyday situations. Try them and see which one works for your baby.

Hold your baby

Babies need love and affection. So it doesn't matter what the reason is behind the crying. The moment you hold your baby close to your chest, he or she will stop crying. Personal contact provides warmth that helps your baby feel safe and nourished. Holding your baby in your arms, swinging him, and playing with him help with the soothing process.

Swaddle your baby

The mother's womb is quite warm, and babies ask for the same warmth when they are out of it. So sometimes the only thing that your child needs is to be wrapped in a comfortable swaddle. 

Check out these parent's favorite swaddles:

Give a massage

Massaging your baby gently on the head or the back can help calm him down. Massages help us all, so why not the babies. It provides a comfortable and calming feeling to the baby that helps to soothe the crying tantrum.

Sing to them

You might not be the best singer in the family, but you are for your baby. Your voice helps soothe your baby down, so sing a song or a lullaby to him/her. Show your baby that you are there for him/her. If you can't sing, then speak in a soft voice.

Take your baby outside

Sometimes a change in the environment can also help in calming your baby. Babies also get bored, staying in the same bed all day, looking at the same walls, and hearing the same sounds. So babies that are bored begin to cry, which is why taking them out to a park or supermarket or just your backyard can also help with the crying.

Provide motion

Put your crying baby in a rocking swing or sway him in your arms. Babies enjoy repetitive behavior, which is why rocking them in a chair, swaying them in your arms, driving them around in the car, and other rhythmic motions can help soothe a crying baby.

Play soothing music

Music can help soothe both adults and children. Babies mostly feel calm and relaxed when they hear white noises.

White noises are the sounds that babies hear in the womb, such as the whooshing sound of the blood pumping through the mother's blood vessels. You can also play natural sounds such as the sound of rain or a waterfall, or a bird chirping. All these help soothe your baby's cry.

Here are some great white noise machines options:

Conclusion

The best way to stay on top of your crying baby is to avoid the crying altogether by keeping an eye on your baby's behavior. Even when a few weeks old, your baby shows certain signs that can help you look after them.

As time passes, you get to know more about your baby, and the more you know, the better it is for you. Crying is just a phase, so don't take it so hard. Just relax and go with your instincts and communicate with your baby through love, and you would be fine.