I'm a new parent, how can I keep my cool when my infant won't stop crying?

Babies only cry when they feel uncomfortable or when their needs aren't met. I use this checklist when my baby won't stop crying: - Hungry? - Dirty diaper? - Fever or pain? (Might be teething pain, etc.) - Cold? Hot? - Pee or poop leaked out of diaper? - Colicky? (Burp frequently while feeding. Gripe water (alcohol free) is pretty good to have around.) - Lonely? Just want to be held? - Wants to be rocked? - Trying to fall asleep? - Just feel like crying! It is definitely hard for a first time parent, especially when you just cannot comfort your own baby! I have a 4 month old baby girl. She sometimes cry and scream non stop even after I did everything. Sometimes it is okay to walk away for a couple of minutes, or go take a bath. Just make sure to leave baby in a safe place, eg. the crib. Never shake a baby! It can happen in mere seconds when you feel so frustrated. Some people might say never leave the baby alone crying. But hey! You need to take care of yourself first. You need to be okay and well before you can take care of your baby. It can feel very difficult and overwhelming in the beginning but this shall pass! It will not be like this forever. Your full night sleep will come. Your baby's smiles and laughter and interactions will all come. Good luck!

This is a really difficult situation to be in. Lack of sleep and the constant dependency of an infant can leave us mamas at our wits end. I think the key is the understanding that this time is brief (though it may feel never-ending) and that Soon enough those night time baby cuddles will be gone...and even be missed. Also giving yourself enough distance to realise that in fact it's OK to not have all the answers, you are there. Stress gives us powerful, disturbing thoughts sometimes but these are thoughts and we can change those!

Understanding the innocence of the child. He/she did not ask to be born..they were conceived through love. Remind yourself that patience and understanding is well needed in the process of raising a child in which you chose to give birth to.

Definitely been there. When my little girl started crying, I just wanted to do anything to help solve whatever it was she was going through. One of the ways you can keep calm is recognizing that crying is just the only method your little one has for communicating. Babies usually cry because they're either hungry, need changing or tired. Just make a mental checklist and go through them one by one. As you continue, you'll get better and it will get easier. Hang in there!

An infant doesn’t have the wonderful vocabulary that we have to tell each other what we want. Part of the learning process of a new parent is becoming attuned to your child. You try your best to figure out what it is that they want, and eventually learn from the process. If you have a terrible memory like I do, it could be helpful to write down what has worked for you so far.... there is no need to keep wracking your brain every time your little one crys. Learn from your mistakes and make note of what works, so you can begin to have a toolbox handy to soothe them. Self-care is extremely important in helping keep your cool. You need time to recharge and take a break. That could look like meditation while the little one is asleep, someone to babysit while you recoup, or catching up on much needed sleep. Remember: If things ever get too difficult, either reach out for help or walk away for a minute.

The best way to keep your cool when your infant wont stop crying is to take preventative measures. When you have downtime, please take a relaxing bath/shower, hot tea, soft music, and possibly learn meditation. Also, doing things to quiet your mind, such as reading would be helpful as well. Diet and exercise will benefit you the most. A well balanced diet, and light exercise will help relieve the stress of having a new baby. Even if your not able to exercise due to your busy schedule, eating lots of fruits, veggies and drinking water will also work wonders.