As your baby grows and learns, they will begin discovering all the new parts of his body. One part of his body he will probably discover by the time he is about three months old is his hand. Every time you look at him you may see him sitting there with his hand in or near his mouth.

Now, for a while your baby will be fighting and trying to work that hand all the way in, however he will probably fail as his mouth may be smaller than his hand. This can lead to frustration and fussiness in your baby.

While discovering his hand is a normal occurrence for all babies, it can also be a sign of teething and a way that a baby begins to sooth himself when tired or fussy. If there is a lot of excess drool, it probably means that your baby is starting to teeth and that they are putting pressure on their gums with their fits. If this bothers you try getting a teething toy for your baby to chew on that will help their gums.

If your baby begins putting his hand in his mouth, and then you discover that it has gone from his hand to just his thumb or a couple of fingers it means that your baby has found a way a way to help calm himself down. You should be happy about this as it means you may have some more free time on your hands.

In most cases, unless your baby has been crawling around in an unsanitary environment or outdoors, you don’t have to worry too much about cleaning your baby’s hands constantly. If you keep your floors vacuumed and mopped and your house pretty clean, then there shouldn’t be anything on the floor that could hurt your baby. What you would need to watch for is your baby picking something up off of the floor and putting it in his mouth. If you really think him putting his hand in his mouth is bad, wait till he discovers his foot….

When your baby cries, it’s important to respond quickly without making a fuss. Letting him cry for a long time will agitate him more. There are simple things that you can do to help soothe your newborn and help him fall asleep.

Swaddle
Wrap him up quite firmly in a baby quilt or receiving blanket, tucking the ends under him to make a neat bundle. It may comfort him to feel safe and secure. Carry him around in your arms still swaddled up until he seems happier, and put him down to sleep on his back without unwrapping him. If your baby is crying because of something you’ve had to do to him–perhaps he hates being dressed or washed, for example–swaddling may be the best way to reassure and calm him, and stop the crying.

Rock
Movement often comforts a cranky baby, and may put him to sleep. Rock him in your arms, and if he doesn’t quiet down, try rocking faster — perhaps 60 to 70 rocks per minute. Or just jiggle him up and down by shifting from foot to foot, perhaps with your baby in an infant carrier on your chest. Or rock with him in a rocking chair, if you have one. Or put her in her stroller or carriage and push her back and forth or go for a walk around the block.

Cuddle
Very often, this will be just the sort of loving contact your baby needs to calm down and stop crying. If he quiets when you hold him upright against your shoulder, or face down in your arms, it may have been gas making him cry. If he has been passed around for relatives and friends to hold, he may just want a few quiet moments of being cuddled by a familiar parent.

Distract
Something to look at may make your baby forget why he was crying, at least for a while. Bright, colorful patterns may fascinate him. He will often gaze intently at postcards, wallpaper, or your clothes. Faces and mirrors are also excellent distractions, and a walk around the house to look at photographs or to peer into a mirror may calm him.

Pat
Your baby may be gassy and need to burp. Rhythmically patting and rubbing his back or stomach will often calm him down and may help him to bring up gas. The feel of your hand will often comfort him when you first put him down to change his diaper, too. Try patting his chest or belly to help him calm down.

Sucking
Almost all babies are soothed by sucking, and nowadays mothers are often sent home from the hospital with a pacifier for their newborn. Obstetrical nurses have been known to use them, so don’t be afraid to try one. You might also offer your cranky baby your own clean little finger. Some newborns suck their own thumbs or fists. Your baby may not want to suck on a prop, but would rather nurse for comfort. This is ok, too. It will just help strengthen the bond between you and your baby.