Now that I have had two babies, I have more experience and confidence in navigating when my baby cries. With my firstborn, I would instantly get tense and pick my child up to soothe him. I felt guilty and at times, while driving with him screaming his little head off, I cried. Although I knew I could do nothing, the guilt of letting my baby cry still consumed me.

Although I still feel tense at times with my second baby and hate to hear him cry, I can breathe a second before urgency kicks in. So, if you are a new mom, I promise it does get better! 

What to do when your baby cries:

1. 1. Check the basics:
      1. 1. Hungry – This may seem obvious, but sometimes cluster feeding can have your baby asking for more than usual. It’s always safe to double-check to be sure. Even though the doctor says to feed your baby every two hours when they are young, we sometimes forget they also tell us to feed them whenever they want to eat.
      1. 1. Burp – I am so bad at remembering this, but make sure to burp them afterward. Those air pockets can feel uncomfortable and provide relief when burped.
      1. 1. Diaper – Some babies, more than others, hate being in a wet diaper as soon as they pee. Either way, change their diapers to help maintain good hygiene for your baby. They will fall asleep after changing them and sleeping longer in a dry diaper.

1. 1. Cuddle Time: Sometimes, your baby wants to be held or be near you. Especially as they get past six weeks and become more alert. It might be confusing when you notice you have fed them and they don’t go right to sleep but instead want to chill with you. This is okay and normal. Remember you are their parent and the source of comfort so they want to be near you!

3. 3. Babies Cry: This has been my husband’s favorite line, and although I just found it annoying with my first son, it has helped with my second. Babies cry, and sometimes, there isn’t much you can do to stop them from crying. Sometimes, you might not be able to soothe your baby immediately because you are driving or your hands are full. I struggle to deal with my baby’s crying during these times.

So, I tried a few things. First, remind yourself your baby is probably okay; they can’t wait to be in your arms. Second, focus on your breathing and less on the screaming baby. Especially if you have already covered the basics and your baby is still screaming, you can rest in the fact that they are probably okay.

It is okay to walk away for a second. I couldn’t do this with my firstborn because it made me feel guilty, and with my secondborn, it’s still a struggle, but now I don’t panic when I hear him cry. I still make my way over to him, but I am more confident in knowing everything’s okay, and he probably wants some loving attention or to eat. Crying right now is one of his primary ways of communicating since he can’t talk, crawl, or make too much noise.

It’s not easy, but know you are not alone in navigating this season of motherhood.