Nobody can cope for long with a baby who cries a lot. Crying is supposed to be stressful, because mums are uniquely programmed to react to their own baby’s cries in order to feed and comfort them when needed.
However, excessive crying can cause great anxiety and some mums worry that they are doing something to cause it, or that it will never stop. Don’t panic. It might not seem like it now, but it won’t last forever and there are a few things you can do to help you cope:
- Share the crying times with your partner and take turns to try and comfort your baby.
- Take a break. Hand your baby over to someone else, even if it’s just for an hour. Accept all offers of help and ask relatives or neighbours if they can give you a break, to calm down and get some rest.
- Look after yourself. Don’t forget to eat well every day to keep up your energy. If a crying baby interrupts your evenings, make lunch your main meal of the day.
- Try to relax. Remind yourself that crying is normal and that it will get better.
