Tips for Safely Soothing a Crying Baby

Babies cry for many reasons and it can be stressful on a parent or caregiver when your baby doesn’t respond to attempts at soothing and/ or crying becomes prolonged. This is referred to as inconsolable crying. This type of crying usually peaks around two months of age. It is unpredictable, often happening for no apparent reason. There is typically a pain-like expression on baby’s face. Crying bouts are often long, lasting 30 to 40 minutes or more, and commonly occur in the evening.

Being a first time parent or caregivers, transitions back to work, and other factors can leave parents feeling increased worry or stress about inconsolable crying in their baby. For a parent or caregiver, the most important thing is staying calm and aware that your baby needs your care and support, even if you may be feeling stress or frustration. It is important to take care of yourself and manage your own stress so you are able to care for your baby. It can be helpful to have friends or family members who are available to give assistance if your baby’s crying becomes too upsetting for you; consider planning in advance so you have someone to call for help if this occurs. It is critical that you DO NOT shake a baby to manage crying or for any other reason because this can lead to severe injury or death. Fortunately, planning in advance and understanding techniques to manage crying can help reduce stress for both you and your baby.