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Calming tips for your new baby

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The first step

First respond to her specific needs – if she’s hungry or tired, rocking or massaging her will just make things worse. If you are sure that she is clean, warm, fed and burped and that she is not ill or in pain, she may just need to be calmed down.

Techniques to try calm you baby

Massage

Nothing beats a mother’s loving touch.

Music

Music that has a calming effect on you, will also calm a baby.

You will visibly notice your baby relax and it works a treat for older children who are squabbling or irritable. Well-known lullabies, classical music and nursery rhymes all do the trick?.

Singing

Your baby loves the sound of your voice, even if you can’t hold a tune. Moms and dads inevitably make eye contact with their small audience, mesmerising them into happiness too??.

Movement

Whether it’s taking your baby for a walk in the stroller or a drive in the car, movement is an age-old trick for soothing a fractious baby. Baby carriers can work wonders here, or try a novel approach and dance with or rock your baby for the ideal combination of touch and movement?.

Exercise

Although related to the previous point, this one involves exercising your baby’s body (no matter what her age). Cycle her legs, open and fold her arms, gently roll her from side to side, pull her up into a sitting position and lower her again (keeping her head supported), bend her little legs up towards her head and so on. She will love the attention and touch?.

Sucking

Allow your baby to suck a dummy or your breast in times of distress, because sucking is a great pacifier even if she is not hungry. Meeting this need at the appropriate age in babyhood will keep your child from being overly dependent later??.

Go out

There’s something about being outside that soothes a fractious baby. Push your baby’s stroller or pram under a tree and the gently waving branches and rustling of leaves will capture her imagination, often lulling your baby into sleep. The fresh air will also be of great benefit.

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