by Emily McDowell

Created on: May 08, 2010

You just got your baby settled down and placed them in the crib for a nap. Before you have a chance to lay your head down for that much needed afternoon rest, you hear the whimpering start. Before you know it, the small cries have turned into full-blown screams. You grimace as you try to figure out what on earth is wrong now with your crying baby.

It's easiest to start with the obvious. There are three main reasons that babies cry – they are hungry, they have a dirty diaper, or they are tired. If you have just fed and changed them, most likely they are overly exhausted and you just need to wait a few minutes. Eventually they'll cry themselves to sleep. Or maybe try feeding them another ounce, this might work to put them to sleep.

Babies also cry when they are bored. Try propping them up on a pillow or a Boppy and dangling some toys in front of them or just making silly faces. This entertainment will distract them from crying. Sometimes I can quiet my baby down by just positioning him so that he can watch the ceiling fan spin. It's simple, but it works.

Swinging, rocking and swaying motions also calm down upset babies. Swings are an invaluable investment with young ones, especially if they have toys, lights or music. If you have a rocking chair or a glider, take a couple minutes just to sit down and relax with your baby while you rock or glide. Or get a Snugglie to wear around your waist and take a walk with baby. His favorite place to be is right next to mom or dad, so this is the perfect way to carry him with you and still have your hands free.

The crying still hasn't stopped? Perhaps your baby has some gas and just needs to burp. Prop her up to your shoulder and gently pat her back. You can also try giving her some Mylicon drops to help with gas pains. Or just try massaging baby's stomach.

If you are nursing your baby, there's always the possibility that the food you are eating is not agreeing with her. You may need to cut out caffeine, chocolate or dairy products. If your baby is on formula, there's a soy-based alternative called Isomil that helps with gassiness, fussiness and spit-up.

The most important thing to remember when your baby is screaming and doesn't want to stop is that you need to remain calm. A baby can sense when his parents feel out of control, and this will make him continue crying. But if you pick him up and talk or sing to him in a soothing voice, he will calm down much faster.

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