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The most important skill to have as a new dad<\/a> (if you wish to maintain your sanity) is being able to calm your baby when she cries.<\/p>\n Whether your baby cries a lot or a little will largely determine whether your new dad experience seems easier than you thought or a whole lot harder. Unfortunately, whether you get a really happy baby or a cantankerous caterwauler is pretty much a crapshoot. Regardless of the straw you draw, here\u2019s how to soothe their wailing.<\/p>\n It may seem like your baby is crying as part of some malevolent plot to melt your brain. But usually there\u2019s a reason; remember, when something is bothering her, she doesn\u2019t have any way to communicate besides howling. Therefore, when you\u2019re trying to soothe your scream-machine, it\u2019s helpful to run through a mental checklist of what could be putting a bee in her bonnet:<\/p>\n If you go through your checklist, and none of the fixes stop your baby\u2019s wailing, you may just have a case of undiagnosed crankiness. Happens to all of us. Here are some potential soothers:<\/p>\n If none of the above remedies stop your baby\u2019s caterwauling, and she cries for three hours a day for more than three days a week for three weeks, she has colic<\/a>. The cause of colic is unknown, and it can wreak havoc on your mental state and your relationship with your wife. My only advice is to try the \u201c5 Ss\u201d (Swaddle, Stomach\/Side position, Shush, Swing, Suck) as proposed in The Happiest Baby on the Block<\/i><\/a> and hang in there. Colic often resolves itself around 4-6 months in.<\/p>\n Whether your baby has colic or just intermittent fussiness, their cries can really do a number on your equilibrium. Since babies can\u2019t do anything for themselves, their cries are designed by nature to get your attention, burrowing into your brain and refusing to let go until you alleviate their distress. Their wails elicit a real physiological response \u2013 you start to sweat, your heart rate goes up, and your body releases cortisol \u2013 the stress hormone.<\/p>\nWhy Is My Baby Crying?<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Crying Remedies<\/b><\/h3>\n
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What If My Baby Has Colic?<\/b><\/h3>\n
Try To Be Zen About Crying (And Walk Away If You Need To)<\/b><\/h3>\n