Babies communicate by smiling, making noises, whimpering and crying.
Every baby is an individual. Some cry a lot, others hardly at all. Babies may cry when they are too hot or too cold, lonely and need comforting, hungry or thirsty, bored and need entertaining, tired, sick or in pain.
Ways to comfort your baby:
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try cuddling your baby to calm him/her. Using a baby sling is often a great help when you are busy
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try moving your baby to another position
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try feeding your baby. Ask a Child and Family Health Nurse if you require more information about the way your baby is feeding
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take your baby for a walk or a ride in the pram or car
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rock your baby in a bassinette or pram
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sing, talk or hum to your baby
Ways to support yourself
Comforting a crying baby may make you feel tense and anxious. Sometimes you may need to put your baby in a safe place and:
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leave the room for a few minutes
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take a short walk in the garden
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phone a friend
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put on some music you enjoy
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make yourself a drink
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plan to make some time for yourself
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let someone else, your partner, family or friend look after your baby for a short time
Remember: Do not shake your baby Babies have soft brains and blood vessels that break and bleed easily. The result of shaking your baby could be brain damage which can cause delayed physical and mental development or even death.