Where can parents go for help?

Being a parent or caregiver is not easy. A baby's constant crying can be stressful, and can be a dangerous trigger for you. But there are many resources and professionals who can help you in difficult times.

If you have concerns or questions, talk to your pediatrician, family physician, or public health nurse, and look for local community resources that support parents and caregivers such as Dunebrook in LaPorte County, IN.

Check the first pages of your local phone book for the emergency numbers in your area.

If you feel like you might lose control, stop! Place your child safely in the crib, take a time-out and leave the child's room for a few minutes.

Talk to a friend, family member, neighbor, or anyone else you trust, and get some support.

If you feel you may hurt your baby, call for help: a local crisis line, your child welfare agency, or police.

Remember, no matter how upset you feel, DON'T SHAKE YOUR BABY.

What should parents do?

• Plan ahead. Some tips for parents:

• If your baby tends to cry often, make some arrangements for regular child care relief, and get some rest.

• Form a "back-up" plan for calling in reliable help when your baby's crying seems impossible to deal with.

• Talk to a friend, family member, counselor, or health professional about your situation.

• Know your caregiver. Never leave your child with someone you don't trust or who has violent reactions.

Shaking is not first aid!

If a baby is not breathing, shaking will not help. The appropriate treatment is artificial breathing, or CPR. Many community organizations, such as the Red Cross, offer inexpensive or free courses for these first-aid skills.

Don't harm a baby in a moment of frustration. The effects could last a lifetime!

Read More

• Healthy Sleep, Happy Child by Marc Weissbluth, M.D.

• Touchpoints: Birth to 3 by T. Berry Brazleton, M.D.