5 Pieces of Advice for New Parents: Cope with a Crying Baby

On the long list of the great joys of parenthood, you won’t find the words “peace” or “quiet” anywhere. Advice for new parents can vary and change over the generations but one thing that remains constant is that you’re going to deal with a crying baby at some point, and in some cases, you’ll be dealing with it quite a bit. Every variation is totally and completely normal.

But it’s important not to allow this noisy quirk of parenthood to wear you too thin, and with some useful coping methods, you should be just fine. You want to stay cool under pressure and not let tears take a toll on you. 

Babies can cry for just about any reason under the sun. They may be frightened, surprised, hungry, thirsty, teething, or just in a mood. They may even cry for no reason at all. 

That’s why it’s important for you as a parent to become adept at calming a crying child while also honing your ability to cope with the stress of your child’s distress — regardless of whether you can bring them the relief they desperately want. 

To help you do that, we’ve created this collection of useful tips for how to stay calm with a crying baby. Keep in mind that the focus here is on your personal well-being because although it can be easy to forget when looking after a little one, caring for yourself is critical as a parent. And we know advice for new parents is everywhere so these suggestions are what they seem, just kind suggestions.

Tip #1: Remember You’re Only Human

If we can impart some words of advice for new parents, it would probably be this. It’s easy to get wrapped up in trying to be a “perfect” mom or dad. Parents often feel incredible guilt and shame when they sense that they’re failing at one task or another. But the truth is that nobody is perfect, and all parents come up short sometimes. 

When your child is crying, and you can’t seem to get them to stop, it’s more than likely not your fault. And if you become overwhelmed and frustrated, that’s not your fault either. You are only human, and even though it may feel like an eternity while it’s happening, this stressful little episode in your parenting career will pass. 

Tip #2: Try Not to Freak Out

Things can really go off the rails if you let the stress take over and begin to go into panic mode. Your thinking will not be clear, your decision-making will be compromised, and your reactions may even make things worse. 

Babies have an incredible ability to sense your emotions and react to them accordingly. Whether it’s the look on your face, the tone of your voice, the tension in your body, or some as-yet-undiscovered parent-child ESP connection — it’s absolutely true. Bear that in mind at all times.

Tip #3: Practice Controlled Breathing

Okay, so maybe “try not to freak out” seems like an overly vague tip for how to stay calm with a crying baby. While these are great words of advice for new parents, they can only go so far if you don’t quite know how to not freak out. 

Well, controlled breathing is one great way to do that. You may be familiar with that shallow gasping feeling you get when panic sets in and you’re beginning to lose your cool. 

That sort of breathing will only make things worse, so your best bet is to practice the sort of breathing that is used during meditation. Breathe in deeply through your nose, hold it for a bit, exhale slowly from your mouth, hold it for a bit, and then repeat. This should calm your heart rate and help you relax.

Tip #4: Take a Break

It may not seem like it at the time, but your child will be just fine if you put them somewhere safe and give yourself a short break in order to gather yourself and let the panic pass. 

This sort of advice for new parents often feels counterintuitive, but if you’re able to give yourself a moment to clear your head and calm down, you’re more than likely going to return with a more effective approach to solving the problem.

Tip #5: Ask for Help

Whether you’re asking someone — anyone at all whom you trust — to try to figure out how to calm your crying baby, or if you’re just reaching out to someone to tell them how worn out you’re feeling, leaning on a loved one can be the perfect remedy for a stressed and frazzled parent. 

Passing the baton to someone else for even a few minutes can enable you to relax or get some much-needed rest, and expressing yourself can help you avoid any meltdowns due to lack of self-care.

Connect with a Triple P Provider

Are you having trouble navigating parenthood with a baby? Connect with a Triple P provider on our website to find support and guidance with your child.