Clever parents since the beginning of time have figured how out to soothe their crying babies—I wouldn't want to imagine a world where they didn't! And as technology advances, each generation discovers their own baby calming techniques. Whether you tend toward the old or the new, experiment with a few and you'll soon find the ones that work best to calm your wee wailing one!

10 of the Best Ways to Soothe a Baby 


  1. Holding
  2. Dancing
  3. Rocking
  4. Swinging
  5. Swaddling
  6. Feeding
  7. White Noise
  8. Singing
  9. Pacifiers
  10. Smart sleepers

        Most soothing techniques fall into one of the 5 categories: swaddling (snug holding), side/stomach position, shushing (white noise, swinging (motion) and sucking—also known as the the 5 S’s!

        What do these techniques have in common? They all impersonate the uterus!  

        Parents have used many of them for millennia, but our generation is the first in history to know that they work by switching on the calming reflex.  

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        Did you know? Happiest Baby developed SNOO, the world's first smart sleeper. Our one-of-a-kind baby bed responds to infant fussing with just the right amount of motion and sound – to turn on the calming reflex. It can soothe middle-of-the-night crying and dramatically boost infant sleep. Learn more.

        About Dr. Harvey Karp

        Dr. Harvey Karp, one of America’s most trusted pediatricians, is the founder of Happiest Baby and the inventor of the groundbreaking SNOO Smart Sleeper. After years of treating patients in Los Angeles, Dr. Karp vaulted to global prominence with the release of the bestselling Happiest Baby on the Block and Happiest Toddler on the Block. His celebrated books and videos have since become standard pediatric practice, translated into more than 20 languages and have helped millions of parents. Dr. Karp’s landmark methods, including the 5 S’s for soothing babies, guide parents to understand and nurture their children and relieve stressful issues, like new-parent exhaustion, infant crying, and toddler tantrums.

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        Disclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or condition. It is only meant as general information. If you have any medical questions and concerns about your child or yourself, please contact your health provider.