Hold the baby skin to skin
Skin to skin contact reduces stress levels for both mother and baby. When the baby is calm, then offer the breast
Let the baby suck
Offer a finger (or pacifier) for the baby to suck on for a minute or two. Sucking is a way babies sooth themselves.
Give a taste
Hand express milk from the nipple for the baby to taste. Or dribble milk over the nipple to entice him to the breast.
Provide motion
Pick the baby up, rock, walk, bounce or dance. Babies are used to constant motion while in the uterus. Providing motion reminds them of “home”.
Offer swaddling
Wrap the baby snuggly for a few minutes
Check his skin temperature
Feel your baby’s tummy and make sure he is not too hot or too cool.
Stay Calm
Babies are sensitive to your stress level. Remain calm and your baby may follow suit.
Reduce the stimulation
Too much stimulation, for too long, can be over-whelming for babies Dim the lights, make no sounds and give the baby a break. Sometimes white noise like the sound of a hair dryer helps.
Burp your baby or bicycle his legs
Maybe there is a burp that needs to come up or gas that needs to go down.
Do something different
If none of these solutions work, distract your baby with something different. Blow in his face, sing or hum, hold him up over your head or give a bath.
Watch for feeding cues for the next feeding:
- Waking up
- Licking lips and sticking tongue out
- Sucking sounds
- Rooting
- Hand to mouth activity
- Generalized body movements
Feed the baby before the last feeding cue:
- Crying