8 Tips for Calming a Crying Baby

Use Warm Compress for Instant Comfort

As someone who spends my days helping clients manage stress and discomfort at Glow Up Med Spa, I’ve learned that controlled temperature therapy works wonders for calming agitated states. When my sister’s newborn was going through a particularly fussy phase, I suggested using the same warm compress technique we use for post-treatment soothing at the clinic.

I showed her how to warm a soft washcloth with water heated to exactly body temperature (around 98-100°F) and gently place it on the baby’s chest while holding him. The key is testing the temperature on your wrist first, just like we do with our spa treatments. Within 2-3 minutes, his crying stopped completely.

This technique mimics the warmth babies felt in the womb, creating an immediate comfort response. I’ve recommended this to several clients who are new moms, and they report it works especially well during those late-night crying episodes when nothing else seems to help.

The temperature precision is crucial though – too hot obviously burns, too cool won’t trigger the calming response. We use this same principle with our warm steam facial treatments, where that specific temperature range activates the body’s natural relaxation mechanisms.

Follow a Simple Soothing Sequence

I start with the basics: check hunger, diaper, temperature, and signs of gas. If those are covered, I use a simple sequence. Swaddle snugly but keep hips free, then hold the baby on their side or tummy against your chest while you stay seated or walk slowly. Add a low, steady shushing sound or soft white noise. Offer a clean pacifier if the baby is seeking to suck. If the room is bright or noisy, lower the lights and reduce stimulation. A brief step outside for fresh air or a change of room can also help reset a fussy spell.

If crying continues, pause and check for discomfort like a tight outfit label or a hair wrapped around a finger or toe. If nothing helps and the cry sounds unusual or the baby seems unwell, seek medical advice.

Safety notes I always share with parents: never shake a baby, keep the face clear during soothing, and place the baby on their back to sleep.

Create Consistent Calming Rituals

As a co-founder of a kids’ innerwear brand, I spend a lot of time talking to parents of children at all life stages – from newborn babies to pre-teen prima donnas. Soothing an upset child is both an art and a science. The most reassuring thing I hear from mums and dads, though, is this: you don’t always need a hack — but you need presence. One new dad told me about how his baby would cry endlessly in the evenings. Instead of trying a dozen tricks, he started holding the baby close and humming the same lullaby every night. “When you avoid all sudden movements, distractions and talk in a whisper, magic happens,” he said. Within a few days, he noticed that the baby began to calm down almost immediately on hearing the tune and feeling that familiar warmth.

When we speak with parents about real-life routines at all stages of childhood (it’s part of our secret product development process at Plan B – yougotplanb.com), small rituals like this one shed light on how parenting is evolving, but also staying as it was since humans started having babies! Children react to consistency. It could be a gentle hum, a slow walk around the room, the familiar feel of cotton fabric against their skin, or even the same phrase whispered — but it’s that repeated, comforting cue that helps them feel safe.

Regulate Your Own Emotions First

One thing I’ve learned is that babies are incredibly sensitive to the energy around them. They can “read the room” better than most adults. If you’re tense, anxious, or stressed, they pick up on it and often respond with more fussing. This is why you sometimes see babies on planes crying throughout the entire flight. The noise, the unfamiliar environment, and especially the mother’s (very understandable) stress all create an energy loop that the baby feels and mirrors.

That’s why my biggest tip for soothing a crying baby is to regulate your own emotions first. Take a deep breath, relax your shoulders, and speak or hum softly. When your energy shifts to calm and steady, your baby often follows. I’ve learned that babies respond to who you are in that moment.

My advice: Treat your calm as a gift you give your child. In doing so, you become their safe place, no matter how noisy or chaotic the world feels around them.

Address Baby’s Needs Promptly

Babies rarely cry when they’re okay. When they cry, it usually means there’s something bothering them, and it’s good to pay attention to what they want. By addressing their needs, they eventually stop crying. Babies cry when they’re hungry, have soiled diapers, feel hot from over-wrapping, or when they’re sick. It’s best to solve whatever the issue is. Breastfeeding often helps, and it’s also important to check their diapers to see if they’re stained. In cases where there seems to be no problem, you can play cartoon sounds or videos, rub their back, or gently sway the baby, but avoid shaking their head too much.

Rock and Hum for Rhythmic Comfort

Rhythmic motion, especially slow rocking combined with gentle humming, often proved to be the most reliable way to calm a crying baby. Holding the child securely against the chest and swaying from side to side created both a steady physical rhythm and the comfort of close contact. The addition of a low, consistent hum seemed to mimic the soothing background sounds of the womb, which eased restlessness more quickly than silence. Timing also played a role; keeping sessions short but consistent prevented overstimulation. Over time, the baby began to associate that combination of movement and sound with safety, leading to quicker settling even during fussy periods. This method was effective because it addressed both sensory comfort and emotional reassurance simultaneously.

Adjust Environment and Offer Skin Contact

While a baby’s crying is a natural occurrence, it’s important to identify the cause whenever possible. In many cases, the reason is obvious—and addressing it directly can bring quick relief. However, when crying seems more sporadic or none of the usual comforts help, caregivers can benefit from shifting their focus to the overall environment.

Start by creating a serene atmosphere: soften bright lighting, minimize background noise (save for gentle baby music), and check that the room temperature feels comfortably neutral. Then, try swaddling the infant to promote a sense of security and calm.

Surprisingly, sometimes easing a baby’s distress can mean gently removing an article of clothing—letting their arms out of a pajama suit, for example. Though it might seem to contradict the swaddle, this approach leverages the comforting warmth of your own touch, offering an alternative form of swaddling that babies often find soothing. The feel of skin-to-skin contact and your gentle warmth can offer profound comfort in just a few tender moments.

Pacify During Takeoff and Landing

Here’s my number one tip to soothe a crying baby on a plane: bring a pacifier specifically for takeoff and landing. The change in cabin pressure during ascent and descent can cause serious ear discomfort for babies, and they can’t “pop” their ears like we do.

The sucking motion – whether on a pacifier or a bottle – helps equalize that pressure and often stops the crying almost instantly. I’ve seen this work like magic so many times that I always mention it in my family travel guides.

The key is timing it right – start the sucking motion as the plane begins its climb or descent, not after the baby is already in distress. Try to pack at least two pacifiers for this purpose, even if the baby doesn’t normally use them at home.