How to Calm a Crying Baby - Download PDF

Why does my baby cry so much?

The first cries of a newborn baby are often music to parents' ears. However, as the weeks pass, this "music" can become grating and difficult to deal with. This is especially true when all attempts to stop the crying fails.

All babies cry a lot during the first few months of life. Crying is the way babies communicate. It can be challenging to distinguish newborn crying. However, as babies get older, parents can sometimes differentiate an "I'm hungry" cry from an "I've been over-stimulated" cry. Babies cry because they are hungry, uncomfortable, frustrated, tired or even lonely. Sometimes, cries can easily be answered with food or a diaper change.

It is important to respond to your baby's cries. Contrary to "old wives' tales," young babies cannot be spoiled by being picked up when they cry. Being held is reassuring and comforting when a baby cannot express herself any other way.

Although babies cry in order to communicate, crying can continue for a long time with no apparent reason. Crying can be a mystery and it stops as quickly as it begins. Your baby is not mad at you and he is not trying to make you look like a bad parent. Even the most loving parent and caregiver can feel frustrated by a crying baby. Feeling frustrated does not make you a bad parent or caregiver. It is very normal to feel aggravated by crying.

Remember:

All babies cry. Your baby may cry more each day until they are 2 to 3 months old.

Babies often cry more in the evenings

Crying can last 30-40 minutes and even longer. An infant may spend 2-3 hours a day crying.

Babies often cry intensely when they are not in pain, even though they may look like they are in pain.

Sometimes your baby may need to cry to relieve stress and it's okay to let him cry.

Crying may come and go, and you won't know why.

Crying may not stop no matter what you try.

Take comfort in knowing that the crying will eventually stop.

Your job as a parent is not to make your baby stop crying.

How can I console a crying baby? - Download PDF

Talk to your child's doctor. There may be a medical reason why the baby is crying so much

Seek parenting support - Families First offers a 24-hour family support line at 1-877-695-7996 OR call free child abuse hotline at 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453). These hotlines are free and they will listen to you, offer emergency help, then direct you to local agencies that can help you and answer your questions.

Call a friend and talk about it

Let the baby cry it out if you have tried to calm him, but nothing seems to work

Call the doctor if you think the baby may be sick

No baby has ever died from crying.

But babies HAVE died from being shaken.

Print copies of this list and put them in locations around your home where you and the baby spend a lot of time. Put one on the kitchen refrigerator, in the baby's bedroom and in the family room.