Be gentle

When your crying baby can't be calmed, you might be tempted to try just about anything to get the tears to stop. It's OK to be creative — but always be gentle. Never shake, throw or hit your baby.

Babies have weak neck muscles and often struggle to support their heavy heads. If a baby is forcefully shaken, his or her fragile brain moves back and forth inside the skull. This can cause bruising, swelling and bleeding. Shaking your baby might have devastating consequences — including blindness, brain damage or even death.