Calming Your Baby

Shaken Baby Syndrome is a serious brain injury which occurs when a frustrated parent or caregiver shakes a baby, usually to stop the baby’s crying. It is considered a serious form of child abuse. Below are some things to do if your baby won’t stop crying.

Tips to Calm a Crying Baby:

• Softly run your finger around the baby’s face to soothe him.
• Let anger out in a safe way, listen to music, exercise or do housework.
• Call a friend or relative and talk out your frustration or see if they can take care of the baby.
• Slowly feed and burp; change the diaper.
• Check for signs of illness. If signs are present, call a doctor.
• Offer the baby a pacifier.
• Hold the baby against your chest and walk or rock the baby.
• Swaddle the baby tightly in a soft warm blanket.
• Lay baby, tummy-down, across your lap; gently rub or pat his back.
• Take the baby for a ride in a stroller or the car (in a car seat).
• If nothing else works, wrap the baby in a blanket and place the baby on his back in a safe place like a crib, close the door and go to another room. Check on the baby every 10 minutes.

Links:
Never Shake a Baby Arizona – nsbaz.org/
Arizona’s Child Abuse InfoCenter – www.parent-wise.org
Shaken Baby Syndrome – www.aboutshakenbaby.com
National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome – www.dontshake.org