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When your baby cries, they are
trying to tell you something.

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Crying is how a baby
communicates. They may be:

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Hungry; Tired; Hot; Cold; Sick;
Or just uncomfortable. Babies

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often cry for 2 to 3 hours every
day in the first 3 to 4 months

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of life. And some babies cry
more than this. You may notice

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your baby cries more often
around 4 to 6 weeks of age. All

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babies are different. As long as
your baby is content in between

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periods of crying, the behavior
is usually normal. But trying to

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comfort a crying baby can be
stressful. The good news is:

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Consistently responding to your
child's crying with love and

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comfort strengthens your bond.
And over time you'll learn what

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your baby needs when they cry.
You may even be able to tell

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what they need by how they cry.
As you and your baby get to know

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each other, try these tips to
comfort your crying baby:

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Respond quickly and lovingly.
Addressing your baby's needs

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right away will help them better
cope with stress when they're

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older. Remember, it's impossible
to spoil a newborn baby. Start

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with the basics. For instance,
check if your baby is hungry,

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has a wet diaper, or may be cold
or tired. Or maybe they need to

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be burped. Console your baby.
Hold them. Sing or talk to them.

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Or try playing music. Change the
environment. Babies can become

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overstimulated or even bored.
Taking your child for a walk,

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going for a car ride, or giving
them a bath may soothe them. If

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you have trouble calming your
baby, or if you feel frustrated

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trying to, ask for help.
Sometimes babies respond to a

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change in caregiver. It doesn't
mean you are doing a bad job.

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And no matter how much your baby
cries or how frustrated you

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feel, never shake or hit your
baby. It can cause serious

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injury, including brain damage.
If you need a break, set your

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baby down in a safe place and
walk away for a couple minutes.

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Sometimes a baby can cry a lot
more than normal, and for what

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seems like no reason at all.
This excessive crying is called

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colic. Babies with colic tend to
have sudden, loud, and intense

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bouts of crying that last 3 or
more hours a day. They are often

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hard to soothe. Although this
can be very frustrating, it

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doesn't mean that anything is
wrong. And it usually ends by

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the time a baby is 3 to 4 months
old. If you are concerned about

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your baby's crying, talk with
your child's healthcare

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provider. Remember that crying
is normal. It will be a main

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part of your baby's behavior
until they are old enough to

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communicate in other ways. So be
patient with yourself and your

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baby.