close portrait newborn baby

Strategies for Resettling Baby

If you are having trouble settling your baby, don’t be disillusioned. It takes time for you and baby to learn. Try to stay calm. Sometimes your own anxiety at not being able to settle the baby transfers to them. If this happens, it’s best to put the baby safely in their cot, leave the room and calm yourself before going back to try again. Or, if your partner or a friend is there with you, ask them to help you settle the baby. There are many other strategies you can try – see what works best for you and your baby.

Tips for resettling:
Play soft music or sing quietly.

Young father playing with his daughter inside with toys

Tips for resettling

  • Rewrap if that helps.
  • Try giving a dummy.
  • Pat gently and rhythmically, and then slow down as your baby calms.
  • Check that your baby is not too hot or cold by feeling their chest or back.
  • Play soft music or sing quietly.
  • Once your baby is calm, leave them to settle on their own.

Other strategies

  • Stand up, and hold your baby resting face down over your arm at waist level, with their head at your elbow and your hand under their hips. Pat your baby’s bottom rhythmically and gently with your other hand as you sway back and forth.
  • Using white noise, such as a clothes dryer or vacuum cleaner, can help soothe baby. You can also download an app for this.
  • Rewrap your baby, put them in the pram, and roll the pram back and forth over a bump, the join between a carpet and hard floor, the edge of a mat or over a coat hanger. The rhythmical movement helps soothe the baby.
  • If you have a baby rocker chair, you could put baby in this, making sure they are strapped in safely.
  • If it’s daytime you could take baby for a walk outside in the pram – or use the baby pouch. The warmth of your body, and being in an upright position, may help calm the baby.

If your baby keeps crying, check:

  • Feeding: Did they have all their usual feed? Are my breasts soft? If it was only a short feed, maybe they need a top up. If top ups are needed often, try to encourage your baby to have a good feed at feed time so they can have a good sleep afterwards.
  • Dirty nappy: Maybe your baby has become unsettled by a tummy ache, which has lead to a dirty nappy.
  • Wind: Does your baby need another burp?
Senior woman getting out of bed holding lower back in pain

This can be normal behaviour for some babies. It helps to set up a regular afternoon routine. For example, every afternoon give your baby a warm, deep relaxation bath or take them in the pram for a walk before the unsettled period starts.

Common problems

Unsettled every afternoon?

This can be normal behaviour for some babies. It helps to set up a regular afternoon routine. For example, every afternoon give your baby a warm, deep relaxation bath or take them in the pram for a walk before the unsettled period starts.

What if my baby wakes after 30 or 40 minutes?

After about 40 minutes, your baby’s sleep cycle changes. This is often the time they stir and are easily woken or disturbed. If they stir, just listen and see if they resettle. If they are whimpering a little, but don’t seem distressed, wait and listen a bit longer. If they’re awake, distressed and crying, go in to reassure and calm baby, then resettle, using your usual technique.

Young father playing with his daughter inside with toys

Settling support

There are various levels of support in the community. Your first port of call for parenting issues (feeding, sleeping, settling) is often your Child and Family Health Nurse. If you need further assistance, the nurse or your family doctor can refer you to a day stay or residential family care facility, where you can get more intensive support. Or you can call one of the many telephone support lines available (see ‘Where to go for help’).

Chapter 1 Baby Basics

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