The baby gets irritated and cries when he is hungry, sleepy, cold, hot or when the diaper is dirty and so the first step to calm a baby who is super agitated is to satisfy their basic needs.
However, babies also crave for affection and therefore also cry when they want to lap, 'talk' or company because they are afraid of the dark and because they do not understand the world around them.
Here are some strategies to relax a baby who is very restless but needs sleep as soon as possible:
1. With a Pilates Ball
This activity can be used in babies over 3 months of age, which is when it can already hold the neck better. The activity consists of:
- Place the baby on his belly down in a ball large enough so that the baby's hands and feet do not touch the floor;
- Hold baby by placing hands on baby's back and
- Slide the ball a few inches back and forth.
Another way to relax your baby is to sit with the baby on your lap in a Pilates ball and "gently" bounce the ball using your own body weight, as the second picture shows.
Doing this exercise for 3 to 5 minutes is good because the swinging motion of the ball is very relaxing and calms the baby, but it needs to feel safe during the activity to work out. It is also important to use gentle movements so as not to stimulate the child further.
2. Take a shower
A warm bath is a great strategy to keep the baby quiet. Letting the stream of water fall on the baby's back and shoulders for a few minutes while talking to him calmly can help change his mood in a short time. If possible, it is advisable to leave the weakest light or light a candle to make a more serene environment.
3. Get a massage
Immediately after the bath, almond oil can be applied throughout the body, gently kneading all the baby's folds, massaging the breast, belly, arms, legs and feet, as well as the back and butt. One should take the opportunity to look into the baby's eyes and talk to him quietly. See the steps to do a relaxing massage on the baby.
4. Put on calm music
Songs that calm babies down are the classics or sounds of nature, but instrumental songs focusing on the guitar or piano are also great options to leave playing in the car or in the baby's room, providing a moment of relaxation.
5. Continuous noise
The continuous sound of the fan, hair dryer or washing machine are called white noise, which works as well as an off-season radio. This kind of sound calms babies because the sound resembles the noise the baby heard when it was inside the mother's belly, the place where he felt completely safe and calm. Leaving one of these sounds next to the baby's crib can let you sleep peacefully all night.
But in addition to following all these steps, you should take into account the age of the child, because it is normal for a newborn baby to sleep only 2 or 3 hours and wake up hungry, whereas an 8-month-old baby is more likely to sleep more than 6 hours straight.
