Crying serves several useful purposes for your baby.
It gives her a way to call for help when she's hungry or uncomfortable. It helps her shut out sights, sounds, and other sensations that are too intense to suit her. And it helps her release tension.
For parents however, this can be the most frustrating part of parenting.
How can you keep your cool and not be tempted to pick up and shake the child, or worse?
How do know that your caregiver is not feeling that same frustration that might cause them to take it out on your baby?
There are triggers and techniques to calm down and soothe a crying baby with out resorting to abuse.
Here are some tips to prevent an uncontrolled response to your childs crying: Take a deep breath and count to ten. Put your baby in her crib or another safe place, leave the room, and let her cry alone. Call a friend or relative for emotional support. Give your pediatrician a call to see if perhaps there's a medical reason why your baby is crying.
Selected Podcast
Crying Baby? Don't Lose Control, There is Help
Featuring:
Cindy W. Christian, M.D. holds The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia endowed Chair in the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect and is a Professor of Pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine at The University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Christian completed her pediatric residency and child abuse pediatrics fellowship at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, where she has spent her career. Dr. Christian devotes much of her clinical and academic work to the care of abused children. For more than two decades, she directed the child abuse program at CHOP. She is a faculty director of the Field Center for Children's Policy, Practice and Research at The University of Pennsylvania. She is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics'section on Child Abuse and Neglect, and presently serves as the Chair of the Academy's Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect.
In 2007, Dr. Christian was named Pennsylvania Pediatrician of the Year by the PA Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. In 2010, Dr. Christian was appointed as the first medical director for the Philadelphia Department of Human Services, leading the development of policies and strategies to improve the health of Philadelphia's dependent children. Dr. Christian's research and educational efforts are related to the medical evaluation and care of abused children.
Dr. Cindy W. Christian, MD
Cindy W. Christian, M.D. holds The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia endowed Chair in the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect and is a Professor of Pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine at The University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Christian completed her pediatric residency and child abuse pediatrics fellowship at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, where she has spent her career. Dr. Christian devotes much of her clinical and academic work to the care of abused children. For more than two decades, she directed the child abuse program at CHOP. She is a faculty director of the Field Center for Children's Policy, Practice and Research at The University of Pennsylvania. She is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics'section on Child Abuse and Neglect, and presently serves as the Chair of the Academy's Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect.In 2007, Dr. Christian was named Pennsylvania Pediatrician of the Year by the PA Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. In 2010, Dr. Christian was appointed as the first medical director for the Philadelphia Department of Human Services, leading the development of policies and strategies to improve the health of Philadelphia's dependent children. Dr. Christian's research and educational efforts are related to the medical evaluation and care of abused children.