Childhood Injury Prevention Handbook

Childhood Injury Prevention Handbook

If a baby in your care won’t stop crying:

Call a friend or relative for support or to take care of the baby while you take a break.

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If nothing else works, put the baby on their back in an empty crib (with no loose blankets or stuffed animals), close the door and check on the baby in 10 minutes. Walk away and do something to try to relax and calm down (wash your face, breathe deeply, listen to music, etc.). Once calmer, you can return to care for the infant.

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Call your doctor if nothing seems to be helping the baby—there may be a medical reason for the fussiness.

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No matter what, no one should ever shake a baby for any reason.

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If you’re worried you might hurt your baby or someone else will, call the national hotline 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453) anytime for help.

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Tell anyone caring for your baby to never shake the infant. Share with them the dangers of shaking and safe ways to soothe a baby.

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