Tips for Parents on How to Calm a Crying Baby

Rely on our tips and resources

Caring for a baby requires energy, patience and tolerance — usually all at once. You'll need every resource available, especially when your baby starts crying and won't stop.

When your baby won’t stop crying

Babies cry a lot — up to 4 or 5 hours a day can be normal for an infant. But no matter how long the crying lasts or how frustrated you are, shaking your baby is never an option. Shaken baby syndrome (SBS) may be a leading cause of trauma death in children under two, but it is totally preventable.

It's normal for a baby to cry and it's normal to feel frustrated when he or she won't stop. Sometimes, in that moment, you might feel like you are going to lose control. In that moment, do not shake the baby. No matter how bad it gets or how tired and frustrated you feel, shaking the baby, putting the baby down roughly or throwing the baby is never the answer. Instead, calm yourself and calm your baby.

We're here to help. We've consulted with experts, including parents and healthcare providers, to compile information about why babies cry so much, soothing tips for your baby and calming techniques for parents and other caregivers. Our tools even include old-fashioned, tried-and-true lullabies available for free download. We also developed detailed instructions to guide you in making a own individualized plan to safely handle your baby's crying.

Preventing shaken baby syndrome (SBS)

View the Shaken Baby Syndrome Prevention Campaign public service announcement videos on our YouTube channel. For more information about community events, parenting workshops or classes with Children's Hospital Colorado, visit our calendar of events.