11 Genius Ways to Help a Baby Stop Cr@ying

7. Work Out the Stress

Kate Motz، a mother of three in Sunnyvale، California، would plan to exercise in the evening. "As soon as my husband walked in the door، I'd hand him the baby and head to spin class to clear my head،" says Motz.

Why it works: Exercising releases endorphins، feel-good hormones that can improve your mood. It also takes your mind off your munchkin for a while so you can focus on your own body، which can give you back a sense of control، says Dr. Rivers. And the "alone time" may de-stress you enough to head back into the fray and have more stamina to manage the crying calmly.

11 Genius Ways to Help a Baby Stop Crying

Babies can cry as much as two to three hours (or more) in a 24-hour period، and living with the wailing isn't easy. Try these strategies to help your baby stop crying.

My son George was a screamer as a baby. Unlike his go-with-the-flow older sister، he cried for what seemed like the first six months of his life. He cried when he was hungry، when he was wet، when he was tired، and when he was bored.

He would change from a sweet cherub to a hot mess in seconds. His face would turn red، and he'd arch his back and flail his arms. I tried my best to soothe him with nursing، diaper changes، and hugs. But when those didn't work، I'd end up in tears، too. Thoughts such as، "What's wrong with my baby?" were soon replaced with، "What's wrong with me?" I felt totally overwhelmed and، worse، like I was failing at a basic task of mothering: the ability to help my baby stop crying.

"For new parents، figuring out what all the crying means can be challenging، frustrating، and even scary،" says Rallie McAllister، M.D.، a family physician in Lexington، Kentucky، and co-author of The Mommy M.D. Guide to Your Baby's First Year. "If they aren't able to immediately pinpoint the reason for the crying، they get frightened that there is something physically wrong with the baby."

mother lying on floor with crying child