by BabyCenter Featured Expert posted in Parenting

By Dr. Smita Malhotra
The very first time my baby cried, I was overwhelmed with excitement as it marked her first moments of life. But as time went by, the constant crying turned my excitement into exhaustion as I searched for ways to calm my fussy, crying baby.
As both a mom and a pediatrician, the most common question I get from parents during the newborn period is "How do I make my baby stop crying"" It's difficult to hear your child cry, and it wears on you as a parent.
In my previous post in this two-part series, I shared some of the medical reasons why babies can be fussy, including colic, cow's milk allergy, and lactose intolerance. Once you have ruled out any of these causes with your pediatrician, and made sure that your baby has been fed and changed, here are a few tricks that might help soothe them. 1. Wrap them up
One of the most useful skills I learned in my pediatric residency was how to swaddle babies. When babies first enter the world, they lose the comfort of their mother?s womb. Swaddling mimics that warm, cozy environment they became so used to in nine months. Once you have learned how to swaddle your baby the right way so they?re not startling themselves, it can work like pure soothing magic!

2. Wear your baby
When I talk about wearing your baby I am referring to the common practice of carrying your baby close to your body in a sling or a baby carrier. I instantly fell in love with baby...