Figuring out how to comfort baby isn't always easy. For soothing an upset infant who isn't hungry, the oldest trick in the book is to rock your child in your arms while cooing or shushing. A variation on this is baby dancing, where you hold your child in your arms and dance around the room. Dip baby down, hold baby up, and vary your steps to find one that baby enjoys. Today's moms have the luxury of letting an automated baby swing or bouncer seat take over while you offer reassuring words.

Baby swings come in wind-up or battery-operated versions. When making your choice, try to evaluate how easy it will be for you to take the baby in and out of the swing. You may want to look for a model that doesn't make too much noise, which could wake a sleeping baby. Another consideration is convertibility—the swing may become a high chair, for example, or may offer both front-to-back and side-to-side swinging motions similar to a cradle's motion.