Taking care of an infant is a constant work in progress. It can be the most rewarding experience of your life and also the biggest challenge. Babies need support more than a full time night and day service. Some babies can have a hard time finding their own rhythm until they are well into their toddler years. With that said, do you know when to calm a baby and when to let him settle down on his own?

Before you jump to conclusions and become very emotional, thinking you have a stressed out baby, look at all of the signs first. If your baby is only upset during the evenings, then you may have a problem sleeper on your hands. Some infants are just not happy at night. They can be afraid of the dark, suffer from hunger or loneliness and even just cry as they want your companionship. Try to detect what type of cry your baby is providing at night and determine the reasoning afterward.

Another big issue for fussy babies can be an ailment called "colic." This is when the baby has an issue crying excessively and usually during the early evening hours. These babies are still sweet and adorable during the day, but at night their little systems have trouble trying to break down their foods, and as a result, they cry from the discomfort. If your baby cries for more than two hours on a regular basis, and during the evenings, you may need to seek a treatment plan from your pediatrician. On the bright side, colic is not forever and it is usually long gone by the time the infant reaches seven months.

You should never feel stressed over aiming to calm your baby. Mothers tend to over indulge their little ones, and it is completely natural and nothing to be ashamed of. The rule is usually to try to comfort your baby by ensuring they have a full tummy, they have been burped, and that they are comfortable, clean and well rested. If all of these things have been addressed, and the baby is not sick in any way, then you may just have a fussy little one on your hands. A fussy baby can be left to himself to work out his own emotions. You can also opt to take him for a walk, give him a relaxing bath, or read him a story while rocking him.

  

Try not to get in the habit of taking your baby only to certain places or on short trips while he is on a fussy spell. Babies have to adapt to the lifestyle they were born into, and you cannot sit home until your son or daughter decides to relax and be pleasant. Instead, go about your business, and eventually your infant's crying will subside. You can never spoil a baby, but you can work yourself into an anxiety attack trying to calm one. Allow yourself to take a break and remember that you are being the best parent possible for your child.