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Newborn mothers face the problem that babies become fussy during breastfeeding. New moms don’t know how to calm their babies during breastfeeding. They go to a lactation consultant to learn tips and tricks to calm their baby. You also face this problem after becoming a mom. I also experienced it and applied some tips and tricks.
Don’t you know how to calm your baby? Let’s learn some tips to make babies calm during breastfeeding.
Create a Calm Environment
Babies are soft and sensitive; keep them in a calm, relaxed, and secure place where the baby doesn’t get irritated and feels comfortable. Before breastfeeding, set your environment according to the baby. Turn off your TV and reduce sound to create a quiet place for the baby. Also, soft lighting helps to create a relaxed environment.
Skin-to-Skin Contact
Skin-to-skin contact has the most soothing effect on a baby. Mother and baby’s skin-to-skin contact controls the baby’s heart rate, body temperature, breathing, and keeps the baby calm and cool. During breastfeeding, just wear a diaper and keep the baby close to your skin for skin-to-skin contact.
Change Position
Change your feeding position during breastfeeding. Maybe your baby is trying to tell you that they are ready for another breast. If the baby doesn’t get enough milk from one side or doesn’t feel comfortable, changing positions can help calm the baby.
Calm Yourself First
You need to calm yourself first. Babies can sense your emotions. If you are anxious, irritated, or stressed, the baby may also feel the same way. So, keep yourself cool, relaxed, and hydrated.
Burp Your Baby
Burp your baby; it makes the baby calm and comfortable.
Gentle Massage
You can give a soft massage to your baby to make them calm. Gently patting the baby’s back during breastfeeding helps calm the baby.
Understand Feeding Cues
As a mom, you need to understand your baby’s feeding cues. If the baby is hungry, they will try to make you understand. Baby sucking on hands and lip-smacking are gestures that indicate hunger. Respond quickly during these cues to prevent the baby from becoming fussy.
Proper Latching
During breastfeeding, ensure your baby opens their mouth widely so that their mouth covers more of the areola, not just the nipple. Proper latching makes the baby comfortable. If the baby takes only the nipple in their mouth, it can make them uncomfortable and fussy.
Give Your Baby Someone Else to Calm
Giving your baby to someone else can help calm them down, and it can also help you stay calm and composed so that you can feed the baby with full energy to manage their fussiness. After a short break, you will notice the baby is okay and ready to eat. Sometimes short breaks help a lot to calm the baby.
Consult a Lactation Expert
If you are tired of using tips and tricks that don’t work, consult with a lactation expert. They will provide you with helpful advice, tips, and tricks to properly calm your baby during breastfeeding.
Remember, all babies are different and unique in nature. Becoming a mother of a fussy baby is not easy. It can lower your confidence level, but you need to stay calm and relaxed. The same thing happened to me when I breastfed my baby. I felt irritated, anxious, and sometimes cried, thinking I couldn’t handle my baby or that they weren’t getting enough breast milk.
So, try your best to make your baby calm and relaxed during breastfeeding. Also, keep yourself cool and relaxed. When you are okay, you can calm the baby.