How To Translate Your Baby’s Tears
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Try swaddling
Wrapping your little one in a snug- fitting blanket is an age-old custom still practiced in hospital nurseries and by mothers all over the globe. “Babies have something called a startle refl ex,” explains Larry Scherzer, M.D., M.P.H., a pediatrician at the University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington, Conn., and assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. “Swaddling helps minimize these involuntary jerks of the legs that can get them started on a crying spell.” Research has also proven what mothers have long known: Swaddled babies stay asleep longer and sleep more deeply than those who are not wrapped up. In addition to inhibiting the startle reflex, swaddling keeps babies warm and gives them a sense of security and comfort.
Determine if it’s gastric distress
You may have heard of colic, a term that is widely misunderstood. Colic is not an ailment or condition, as many parents believe. It simply denotes an inconsolable baby who is otherwise healthy. Colicky babies can have crying jags that last from a few minutes to four or five hours. Although these bouts can drive parents crazy with worry, they are part of a normal behavior pattern for many babies during their first three months of life.
A percentage of colicky infants, however, “have either acid reflux or milk protein allergy,” contends Bryan Vartabedian, M.D., pediatric gastroenterologist at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston and author of Colic Solved (Ballantine Books, 2007). “Both are treatable conditions.” If your baby is prone to prolonged wailing, Vartabedian says to watch for these signs of gastro distress: arching of the back away from the breast or bottle after a few sucks, chaotic feeding pattern (e.g., takes an extraordinarily long time to eat), weight loss, frequent hiccups or prolonged congestion. If your colicky baby has these symptoms, tell your pediatrician, who may refer you to a pediatric gastroenterologist.
Just gotta try this Creamy Avocado Dip recipe via Momables.com - love how you can spread it on a sandwich in lieu of Mayo! 
Comment by Kathy on Dec 31 2009 09:08:27:
Seriously, the crying does get imbearable at times and wears on both you and your spouse. My husband is a firfighter and a stay at home dad.HE enjoys being home, but its rough. Our little guy who is four months now, has been a real crier for the last month. When I come home my husband is waiting for me at the door with open arms. I can normally calm the baby, but there are times where he continues to cry even when I try to console him. What has been working is being consistent with a sleep schedule, making sure he isnt too hot in his clothes, that he eats regulary ( he eats every 3-4 hours for sure ), he sleeps in the same spots everyday with white noise, and we have introduced rice cereal into the nightly feedings only. All these ideas have helped to some degree. I hope that they work for you. Good Luck.
Kathy
“Resident Mom”
Comment by Maureen on Jan 18 2011 09:27:46:
What do you do when it is a 7 month old who now cries a lot? We have our LO in daycare three days a week. According to the caregivers, she has begun to cry pretty much anytime she is not being held by someone at the center. I have noticed her wanting more (and more) constant attention at home. She only wants to play by herself if someone is an arm length away. I think she is about to be kicked out of the daycare. How do you encourage the baby to play by his or herself (i.e. in an exersaucer, bouncy seat, swing, play gym, or on a floor mat….) so you can use the restroom without the neighbors think you are torturing the poor LO?
Comment by Monica Strobel on Aug 23 2011 04:09:01:
After two week of non- consolable crying from my 3 week old, I tried the “vacuum cleaner” sound, sitting in a room with a running vacuum cleaner. hard on my, the mom, but worked like a charm to calm my daughter who’d fall asleep to the noise.
For a few months after that, I carried a hair dryer around in my diaper bag, for emergency “vacuum sound” fixes on the road. Folks always asked why I had that in there. If none of your excellent suggestions works above, you might give it a try.
Comment by Baby Stroller Consultant on May 07 2012 05:35:42:
It took my wife and I many weeks to figure out why our daughter was crying. We finally figured out she has different cries for different situations. She has a hungry cry, tired cry, gas bubble cry and they are different. As new parents it took us weeks to figure them out, but once we did it was easier to meet the needs of our baby.