Crying Baby: Handle With Care

No matter how upset you feel, never, never, never shake a baby

Babies have weak neck muscles and heavy heads and even a few seconds of forceful shaking can cause serious damage to babies and small children.

Although it is unlikely that injuries would occur from playing with an infant, parents and caregivers should always consider how easily an infant's brain can be hurt. Always support an infant's head and neck. Even minor injuries to a baby's brain can cause life long problems.

Shaking a baby in a moment of frustration can cause blindness, brain damage or death.

Learn to Help Your Baby

Babies rely on you and other caregivers to meet their needs. This can be very stressful and demanding. Parenting courses can give you support and help you learn more about your child's development.

• Call someone to help out for a while so that you can take a break.
• Contact your child's Doctor or Public Health Nurse for information.
• Never be afraid to ask for help!

Why Is Your Baby Crying?

Crying is normal. Some babies cry more than others. Babies cry because they are hungry, need a diaper change or want to be comforted. Babies may cry because they just need to release some tension of their own.

Crying is an annoying sound. It is supposed to be, so that a parent will pay attention to baby's needs.

Crying may mean that your baby is not feeling well. If you are worried, take your baby to a doctor.

Crying does not mean that your baby is being bad or that your baby is angry with you.

If you are tired, ill or stressed out, it can be hard to be calm and supportive of your baby.

It is important that you take steps to manage your own feelings in order to meet your baby's needs.

It is more important to stay calm than to stop the crying.

What to do for you

• Take a few deep breaths.
• Give yourself a reassuring message such as "this will be okay", "all babies cry", "this will pass", "this is normal".

If you feel that you can't cope with your baby's crying at that moment, put your baby safely and calmly into the crib. It is not harmful to leave your baby crying in a safe place for a short time, until you are calm.

Call for help if you are having difficulty calming down. It is helpful to know all parents feel these emotions at one time or another. It may help just to talk to another person.

What to do for Your Baby

1. Try feeding your baby.
2. Burp baby.
3. Check the baby's diaper.
4. Make sure nothing is irritating baby such as tags, diapers pins, velcro on diapers, tight elastics, etc.
5. Hold your baby in a different way.
6. Give baby a warm bath.
7. Play soft music or TV for background sounds.
8. Rock baby in a rocking chair or cradle.
9. Wrap baby in a soft blanket.
10. Snuggle baby close to you and sing or talk soothingly.

If the crying is constant or louder than usual or the baby has a fever or is vomiting, go to the hospital or health clinic.