Most babies can be calmed by recreating the sensory environment they experienced in the womb: gentle motion, steady sound, snug containment, and warm contact. Crying is a baby’s only way to communicate, so the first step is figuring out what they need, and the second is using the right physical technique to help them settle. Here’s what works and why.
Why Babies Cry (and What to Check First)
Before trying soothing techniques, rule out the basics. A hungry baby will put hands to their mouth, turn toward your breast or a bottle, and pucker or smack their lips. Clenched hands are another early hunger signal. Crying is actually a late sign of hunger, so if you see those earlier cues, feed first and soothe second.
Next, run through the quick checklist: dirty diaper, too hot or too cold, tight clothing, or something less obvious like a hair wrapped around a finger or toe. Check for an open diaper pin or a red spot from an insect bite. Once you’ve addressed the physical possibilities, move on to calming strategies.
The Five S’s: Triggering Your Baby’s Calming Reflex
Pediatricians widely recommend a set of five techniques, often called the 5 S’s, that work because they mimic conditions inside the womb. Used together, they’re more effective than any single method alone.
- Swaddling. Wrapping your baby snugly in a blanket recreates the secure, contained feeling of the womb. Keep the swaddle firm around the arms but loose around the hips so your baby can move their legs freely. Always place a swaddled baby on their back. Once your baby shows any sign of trying to roll over, stop swaddling entirely.
- Side or stomach position (while held). Holding your baby on their left side can help with digestion and creates a womb-like sensation. This is for soothing in your arms only. Always place your baby on their back when putting them down to sleep.
- Shushing. A steady “shhhh” sound near your baby’s ear imitates the noise of blood rushing through the placenta and uterus, which was surprisingly loud inside the womb. White noise machines work the same way. Keep the volume low and place any sound machine as far from your baby as possible. There are currently no federal standards for infant sound machine volume, so err on the side of quiet.
- Swinging or swaying. Small, rhythmic movements (not large shaking motions) activate your baby’s vestibular system, the balance-sensing network in the inner ear. This system and the auditory system actually develop from the same tissue in the womb and share the same nerve pathway, which is why gentle rocking paired with soft sound is so effective. The brain links the movement pattern to the sound pattern, helping your baby shift from an agitated state to a calm one.
- Sucking. Babies find sucking naturally soothing even when they aren’t hungry. A pacifier or a clean finger works well. A baby physically cannot cry and suck at the same time, so this technique breaks the crying cycle and lets the other calming signals take effect.
Skin-to-Skin Contact
Holding your baby against your bare chest is one of the most powerful calming tools available. Research published in Frontiers in Pediatrics measured what happens to stress hormones during skin-to-skin contact and found that cortisol (the body’s primary stress hormone) dropped by more than half. At the same time, melatonin levels increased, which helps regulate sleep and promotes a sense of calm. These effects were especially strong in younger and more vulnerable infants, but they apply broadly: bare-chest holding reduces stress in a measurable, biological way.
You don’t need a special technique. Undress your baby down to a diaper, hold them upright against your bare chest, and drape a blanket over both of you for warmth. This works for both parents and any caregiver.
Spotting Overstimulation
Sometimes a baby cries not because they need more input but because they need less. Overstimulation looks different from hunger or discomfort. Watch for your baby looking away as if upset, making jerky movements, clenching their fists, or waving their arms and legs. If you see these signs, reduce noise, dim the lights, and move to a quieter space. A calm, boring environment is sometimes exactly what a baby needs.
The PURPLE Crying Period
If your baby seems to cry for long stretches despite your best efforts, you may be in what’s known as the Period of PURPLE Crying. This normal developmental phase typically starts around 2 weeks of age, peaks during the second month, and tapers off by the end of the fifth month. During this window, crying can be intense, unpredictable, and resistant to soothing. It doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong, and it doesn’t mean something is wrong with your baby.
The hardest part of this period is that some crying episodes simply won’t respond to any technique. Your job during those stretches is to hold your baby safely, keep offering comfort, and take breaks when you need them.
When Crying Signals Something More Serious
Most crying is normal, but certain signs point to something that needs medical attention. A baby who is limp and floppy, doesn’t respond to being held or talked to, or is unusually hard to wake up needs immediate care. The same goes for crying paired with fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or crying during feeding. If your baby seems to be in severe pain and you can’t identify why, or if they’re inconsolable and nothing helps over an extended period, call your pediatrician or seek medical attention.
Taking Care of Yourself While You Soothe
Extended crying is one of the most stressful experiences in early parenthood, and it’s the single biggest trigger for shaken baby injuries. Knowing this in advance helps you plan for it. If you feel your frustration rising, put your baby down in a safe place like their crib (on their back, with nothing else in it) and walk away for a few minutes. Check on them every five to ten minutes. Your baby will not be harmed by crying alone in a safe space for a short time, but they can be seriously harmed by a caregiver who has reached a breaking point.
Call a friend, family member, or neighbor and ask them to take over for a while. If you don’t have someone available, the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline offers free, confidential support 24 hours a day at 1-833-852-6262. Asking for help with a crying baby isn’t a sign of failure. It’s one of the smartest things a parent can do.