A Crying Baby

My 4-month-old baby just won’t stop crying. I’m exhausted. I haven’t had a full night’s sleep for months, and here it goes again: Another night of horror — A screaming baby and no sleep!

Why is this happening?

Because babies:

• Cry to tell us that something is wrong and that they need help.
  
• Cry when they are sick, hungry, cold, have a dirty diaper, are tired or can’t calm down.
  
• Can be frightened by the presence of strangers.
  
• Can cry until someone takes away the discomfort or until they are too exhausted to stay awake.
  
• Can be different: Some cry a lot, others hardly at all. This depends on the baby’s temperament and personality.

Remember: Babies don’t cry to annoy their parents or caregivers.

What can adults do in the situation described here?

• Check the causes of a baby’s crying and do what is needed to eliminate it.
  
• Comfort the baby: This will not spoil the child. When babies cry, they need warm and caring attention to feel secure and safe.
  
• Don’t punish a crying baby — be patient. Harsh responses will frighten the baby and will make the situation worse.
  
• Never shake a baby. It can cause serious injury like brain damage and even death.
  
• Watch for patterns. Some babies cry a lot, others not much, some cry at sunset. Try something different, like walking outside or having music in the room.
  
• Know your baby’s style: Some need quiet, dark places to calm down; others can sleep in the midst of a crowd.

What can adults do if nothing works?

• Call another adult to be there to help calm the baby or simply to listen and support you.
  
• Leave the baby alone, safely in bed or in an infant seat, then dim the lights, close the door and get some rest.