Calm a Crying Baby

Babies can be one of the most precious gifts we can get, but when your baby is crying, it can be maddening. Don't feel guilty if your crying baby is making you want to tear your hair out. Don't even feel guilty if the baby is making you angry. This happens to almost all parents. After a baby has been crying for 30 minutes or more, it's enough to drive almost anyone crazy!

The important thing to remember is that your baby doesn't understand that he's making you angry. All he knows is that he's having trouble and he needs something. And crying is the only way he knows to communicate that to you.

If you must, take the time to calm down and get away from the baby. Just let him cry for a bit while you get a breath of fresh air or put headphones on for a bit. As long as you check your baby thoroughly for any medical issues, it's perfectly fine to let him cry for a bit.

Once you've taken 5 or 10 minutes to calm down and clear your head, you'll be more rational and in a better mood to deal with your crying baby. Then you'll need to attempt to identify why he's crying.

There are many reasons why a baby might be fussy. Here area few of the most common reasons. You should check each of these in order, eliminating as many of these possibilities as you can until you find the problem.

1. Your baby could be hungry. Try feeding him.
2. Your baby's diaper might be wet or dirty. Check his diaper and change it if necessary.
3. Your baby might have diaper rash. Check to see if his diaper area is red or has a rash. Apply diaper ointment or powder if needed.
4. Your baby might have gas. Try burping him.
5. Your baby might be too hot or cold. Check to be sure your baby is wearing appropriate clothing for the temperature.
6. Your baby might be sleepy. Babies sometimes cry in order to keep themselves awake so they can be stimulated longer. They might also cry because they want to go to sleep and aren't currently able to. Try putting him in a dark, quiet spot for a nap.
7. Your baby might be bored or lonely. Try talking, singing to, or playing with your baby for a while.
8. Your baby might be teething. Try rubbing his gums or giving him a teether to chew on.
9. Your baby might be experiencing discomfort. Check to be sure nothing is pinching or scratching him, and make sure his clothing isn't restrictive.
10. Your baby might be feeling sick. Be sure he doesn't have a fever by checking with a rectal termometer, under the arm, or with an ear thermometer, as recommended by your baby's doctor.

If you've tried all of the above and still aren't able to calm your fussy baby, you have two options. You can either leave him alone and see if he'll cry himself to sleep or wear himself out. Or you can call his pediatrician and ask for advice.

Most parents tend to let their babies cry themselves to sleep if nothing else seems to work. Doctors generally say you shouldn't allow your baby to cry for longer than 20-30 minutes without going back to check on him. If he's still crying after 30 minutes, run back through your checklist again.

If you still can't find anything wrong, try one of these:

• Take your baby for a ride in the car. This seems to calm babies and sometimes makes them go to sleep.
• Put your baby in a vibrating seat, in a seat on top of a running clothes dryer (with you holding the seat so it doesn't vibrate off into the floor!), or running a vacuum cleaner nearby. These vibrations can be soothing.
• Put your baby in an infant swing or cradle. Swinging motions can calm babies.
• Turn on some music videos. You can use children's music videos or your own favorites. Babies love music, and they'll also enjoy the lights and motion from the videos.

If all else fails, consult your baby's pediatrician. There may be something wrong with your baby that you can't find, and there may be no fever present. If your baby cries continually for more than one hour, there's no need to panic. Simply call your baby's pediatrician and ask for advice about what you should do.

Sometimes babies can cry for hours at a time without stopping. This can be normal, but it can also signal that something is wrong. If your baby won't stop crying after an hour, call his pediatrician and ask for advice.

If your baby has been crying for more than three hours without stopping, you might want to take him to the E.R. just for your own peace of mind. There may be nothing wrong, but E.R. doctors are used to seeing panicked parents bringing in crying infants. Don't worry about feeling embarrased, they'll understand. It's better for your sanity to be sure nothing's wrong, and it's better for your baby just to make sure everything is ok.