Help, my baby cries a lot

If you need immediate help, click here

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR BATTERIES ARE DRAINING AND YOU’RE RUNNING OUT OF ENERGY:

1. Take a deep breath and do something that calms you down.

2. Reduce stimuli such as light and noise. Look at your baby.

3. Speak to your baby or sing to them.

4. Touch them and bring their little hands or legs to the centre of their body.

5. Pick up your baby and rock them.

6. Give them their bottle or a dummy.

7. Reach out to someone that you care about.

Even if you’re doing everything right, it can sometimes take a while for your baby to calm down.

Try not to do all the steps at once. Slow and steady is often much better.

WHAT TO DO TO PREVENT YOUR BATTERIES FROM RUNNING OUT:

1. Try to follow a regular daily routine with your baby as often as you can. This helps them to get used to the sleep-wake rhythm.

2. If you notice that your baby is getting tired, put them to bed. In their first weeks of life, this will usually be after 1 to 1.5 hours awake. This can help to prevent your baby from becoming overtired.

3. Taking a walk during their most troubling hours can help to calm down your baby.

4. Consider what you need as well. Organise regular breaks for yourself. Can you ask your partner for help? Or a friendly neighbour? Look for and use opportunities to help yourself relax. Because the calmer you are, the better you will be able to soothe your baby.

Contact your parental advisor or your paediatrician if...

… your baby is crying for longer than usual.

… your baby is crying louder than usual.

… your baby seems unwell.

… you are concerned about your baby’s crying.

… your baby suddenly stops crying.

WHY DO BABIES CRY?

Babies cry when they...

… are hungry or tired.

… need a new nappy.

… need peace and quiet.

… are overstimulated.

… hear their parents’ voices and want to be close to them.

… can sense stress and tension in their environment.

On average, babies cry for between two and three hours a day, especially in the evening. Some babies cry much more than others and are difficult to calm down.

Sources:

www.fuerslebengut.ch, T. Brazelton’s step-by-step soothing method