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Babies cry-this is what they do.  Crying, especially in the late afternoons and early evening, may increase during the first 6 to 8 weeks.  Two to three hours of crying a day in the first 3 months is considered normal.  However, crying is also a major trigger for most physical abuse and death from physical abuse for infants and young children.  All parents can understand and relate to feelings that a crying baby evokes.  Therefore, focusing on crying, and assessing the impact that it is having on the household, rather than stressing, “don’t shake your baby”, which no parent believes they would ever do, is more universally appealing and is more likely to help prevent abuse.  Also, reminding parents that responding to an infant crying will not result in an infant being "spoiled" or over coddled.  Both infants and their parents vary in temperament, and some variations “fit” better than others.  By starting early to help parents recognize the effects of temperamental variation on their child’s difficult behaviors, the pediatrician can help them adapt more successfully to their new responsibilities (read more).