to settle/to settle down/to calm down

Question

Hello,I often hear "to settle" used in the context of babies. Can't the other two be used as well? I will do the dishes once the baby has settled down/settled/calmed down. What do you think?

Wilpeter · Accepted Answer

Looking at the other side of the coin, the baby becomes unsettled, agitated, fussy, and in need of attention.  Once all the usual causes are eliminated—burping, changing, rocking, soothing, etc -- is it any wonder we would have different words for the resulting peace?  So long as you're happy doing the dishes, dear, use them.

Gene93 · Answer

Fair enough. What are the nuances between them?

Wilpeter · Answer

My wife and I had two girls—well I think she had them more than did I.  Until they were five and seven years, they shared a room, so nuances are hard for me to apply.  The younger girl ‘settled’ quickly and often ignored the other’s fussing.  During the day, we might agree that we were waiting for them to ‘settle’.  At night, I was usually the one who checked them when one called out, and did what was needed—even to driving around the block with the noisy one in the back seat, which often worked—and that allowed my wife to ‘settle down’.  During teething, I think I would call it waiting for them to ‘calm down’ because it took much longer and was noisier.  Despite all that, I doubt two mothers would have the same story and would pick a word that their parents used.

Anonymous · Answer

In the US (Wilpeter is Canadian-British), the verb "settle" is not used in this context. In fact, it is almost never used outside of situations like the following:

This territory was settled by tribes from the east.

We've finally settled the dispute.

I've just moved to New York and am settling in nicely.

Well, that's settled, we're not going to the party.

to settle/to settle down/to calm down

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