The birth of a baby brings excitement to the parents, and despite being busy taking care of the newborn, they are genuinely happy. However, at night, after a long day of work, parents want to rest well, but the baby's nighttime crying often leaves them exhausted. Many mothers search everywhere for advice on how to soothe a crying baby at night but often struggle to find effective solutions. Today, we’ll introduce some methods for parents to help soothe a crying baby at night.
I. Reasons for a Baby’s Nighttime Crying
1. Physical Discomfort
Hunger, thirst, being swaddled too tightly, or having a thick blanket can make the baby uncomfortable, leading to nighttime crying. In such cases, parents only need to address these issues, and the baby will quickly fall back asleep.
2. Health Issues
Conditions like rickets or parasitic infections can cause nighttime crying. Parents should identify the root cause and treat the baby’s illness. Once the health issue is resolved, the baby won’t cry at night anymore.
3. Seeking Security
Nighttime crying might be driven by the baby’s sucking reflex. In the womb, the baby was surrounded by warm amniotic fluid, but after birth, the unfamiliar environment can make them feel insecure. This leads to a "sucking need," where the baby seeks psychological comfort through sucking. Mothers can soothe the baby’s anxiety by comforting them promptly, ensuring the baby feels secure and stops crying at night.
II. Proper Methods to Soothe a Baby at Night
Helping a baby fall asleep isn’t difficult if the right methods are used.
1. Holding and Comforting
When the baby cries at night, the mother can hold and soothe them. The warmth of the mother’s embrace makes the baby feel safe, often calming them quickly and helping them relax and fall back asleep.
2. Massage
Using massage to help a baby sleep is a time-tested method. When the baby cries at night, parents can gently massage them while humming a lullaby. This helps the baby relax and gradually drift into a peaceful sleep.
3. Using a Pacifier
Mothers can also use a pacifier to satisfy the baby’s psychological needs and ease their anxiety. However, it’s essential to be cautious when introducing a pacifier directly into the baby’s mouth. With many pacifier products on the market, varying in quality, it’s crucial to choose carefully. Here, we recommend the Philips Avent pacifier, which is comfortable for sucking and helps the baby fall asleep peacefully. It is BPA-free, made from safe materials, and effectively soothes and massages sore gums. It’s also easy to clean—just rinse under running water or sterilize it. Additionally, this pacifier’s size is perfect for tiny hands, and its cute design makes it irresistible to babies.
Nighttime crying isn’t a significant issue. As long as mothers master the right soothing techniques, they can easily resolve it and ensure the baby sleeps soundly until morning.
