How to settle a crying baby
To settle a crying baby, check the basics first: hunger, a wet diaper, being too hot or too cold, or trapped wind that needs burping. Then try holding them close with gentle swaying, a steady shushing sound or white noise, a snug swaddle for young babies, or a pacifier. If you feel yourself losing it, put the baby safely on their back in the crib, walk away and breathe. Never shake a baby.
About 15 minutes to learnSafety critical: tightly scoped, know when to call a professional
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How to do it
- Run the checklist: feed, change, adjust layers, and burp over your shoulder.
- Hold the baby close against your chest and sway or walk slowly.
- Make a steady shushing sound near their ear, or run a white noise machine or fan.
- Swaddle a young baby snugly around the arms and loosely at the hips, and stop swaddling once they show signs of rolling.
- Offer a pacifier if the baby takes one.
- Try a change of scene: a walk outside, a car ride in a properly fitted seat, or a warm bath.
- If you feel angry or overwhelmed, put the baby on their back in the crib, close the door, and take ten minutes to breathe or call someone.
- Never shake a baby, even for a second; shaking can cause brain damage or death.
Stop and call a professional if
- A baby under three months has a fever, or any baby is hard to wake, floppy, not feeding, vomiting repeatedly or has a high-pitched cry unlike usual: call the doctor now, or 911 if they seem very unwell.
- You are afraid you might hurt the baby: put them down safely and call someone you trust, or 988.
- Any question about your own baby's health, feeding or sleep: call your pediatrician's office or its after-hours line, which is there for exactly this.
Common mistakes
- Assuming constant crying means you are doing something wrong; many babies cry for hours in the early weeks.
- Trying a new trick every thirty seconds without giving any time to work.
- Swaddling tight at the hips or after the baby can roll.
- Pushing on alone when you are at your limit.
Quick self-check
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Teach this to someone
A one-page sheet for showing a friend, a roommate or a kid: what to say, what to show, and one question to check it landed.
Teach: How to settle a crying baby
What to say
To settle a crying baby, check the basics first: hunger, a wet diaper, being too hot or too cold, or trapped wind that needs burping. Then try holding them close with gentle swaying, a steady shushing sound or white noise, a snug swaddle for young babies, or a pacifier. If you feel yourself losing it, put the baby safely on their back in the crib, walk away and breathe. Never shake a baby.
What to show, in order
- Run the checklist: feed, change, adjust layers, and burp over your shoulder.
- Hold the baby close against your chest and sway or walk slowly.
- Make a steady shushing sound near their ear, or run a white noise machine or fan.
- Swaddle a young baby snugly around the arms and loosely at the hips, and stop swaddling once they show signs of rolling.
- Offer a pacifier if the baby takes one.
- Try a change of scene: a walk outside, a car ride in a properly fitted seat, or a warm bath.
- If you feel angry or overwhelmed, put the baby on their back in the crib, close the door, and take ten minutes to breathe or call someone.
- Never shake a baby, even for a second; shaking can cause brain damage or death.
When to stop and call a professional
- A baby under three months has a fever, or any baby is hard to wake, floppy, not feeding, vomiting repeatedly or has a high-pitched cry unlike usual: call the doctor now, or 911 if they seem very unwell.
- You are afraid you might hurt the baby: put them down safely and call someone you trust, or 988.
- Any question about your own baby's health, feeding or sleep: call your pediatrician's office or its after-hours line, which is there for exactly this.
The check question
Ask: What do you check first?
Related skills
- Safe sleep for babies
- How to support a partner after birth
- How to cool down when you are angry
- Every skill in Dad and Family
Sources
- National pediatric guidance for parents, current edition. Checked September 28, 2026.
Last reviewed . First published .