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continued:

Crying baby? How to keep your cool

When the tears won't stop

If your baby seems otherwise OK but the crying continues, do your best to stay calm. Getting tense or upset might only make the crying worse.

Remember, crying doesn't hurt anyone — including the baby.

To stay in control of the situation, you might:

  • Keep it quiet. Hold your baby close to you, and quietly sing or talk to your baby. Repeat a calm word or phrase, such as, "You're OK."
  • Try infant massage. Gently massaging your baby might reduce crying and promote relaxation.
  • Get moving. Weather-permitting, put your baby in the stroller and take a brisk walk. You might even buckle the baby into his or her car seat and take a short drive.
  • Express your emotions. When you're getting irritated, speak up. Saying the words "I'm frustrated" out loud — either to yourself or to an understanding friend or loved one — might help ease the tension.
  • Ask for help. Let your partner or another loved one take over for a while. Take advantage of baby-sitting offers from trusted friends, neighbors or other close contacts. Use the time to take a nap or simply relax.
  • Take a timeout. If you're alone, put your baby in a safe place — such as the crib or bassinet. Let your baby cry while you take a few minutes to regroup in another room.
  • Be realistic. Remind yourself that you're not failing your baby if you can't stop a crying spell. Sometimes babies simply need to cry it out.
  • Recognize your limits. If you're worried about your ability to cope with a crying baby, contact your health care provider, a local crisis intervention service or a mental health help line for support. Post a crisis number on the refrigerator or in another visible spot.

Be gentle

When your crying baby can't be calmed, you might be tempted to try just about anything to get the tears to stop. It's OK to be creative — but never shake your baby.

Babies have weak neck muscles and often struggle to support their heads. Shaking your baby out of sheer frustration might have devastating consequences — including blindness, brain damage or mental retardation. Severe shaking can be life-threatening or even fatal.

If you're having trouble managing your emotions or dealing with parenthood, seek help. Your baby's health care provider might offer a referral to a counselor or other mental health provider.

Remember, taking care of yourself is the best way to take care of your baby.

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References
  1. Coping with crying. American Academy of Pediatrics. http://www2.aap.org/sections/scan/practicingsafety/module1.htm. Accessed July 12, 2012.
  2. Welcome to the world of parenting! American Academy of Pediatrics. http://patiented.aap.org/content.aspx?aid=6326. Accessed July 12, 2012.
  3. NINDS shaken baby syndrome information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/shakenbaby/shakenbaby.htm. Accessed July 12, 2012.
  4. Controlling anger before it controls you. American Psychological Association. http://www.apa.org/topics/controlanger.html. Accessed July 12, 2012.
  5. Underdown A, et al. Massage intervention for promoting mental and physical health in infants aged under six months. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD005038.pub2/abstract. Accessed July 12, 2012.
FL00106 Oct. 16, 2012

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