Stay Flexible. During the first month especially, it is hard to tell what a baby is crying for (Later, it will be easier to recognize all of the different cries your baby has when he/she is hungry, wet, tired, or angry.) As your baby makes you play the guessing game of, "What Do I Want?" the trick for a parent to remember is to be flexible. Don't get stuck on one thing. Parents always think of checking the diaper or grabbing the baby bottle, but there are other things to try if your baby keeps crying. Some things to think of when a baby cries:

Keep Calm. One thing that tears at every parent's heart is to hear their baby cry. But remember--the only way for a baby to tell us what he/she is feeling is to cry. Yes, it can make parents and grandparents frantic. Toys and bottles go flying as everyone tries to find something to satisfy the baby. Stress levels go sky high if you are in a restaurant or some other public place. But a baby's cry is not a bad thing. Your baby is trying to communicate with you. Try to relax and not become upset.

I'm wet!

If you're using cloth diapers, it's pretty easy to tell if a baby has a dirty diaper. Disposable diapers can keep children pretty dry from urine, but not poop. Even if you just changed the infant, there's no telling when he or she may go again. A quick peek or smell will let you know if this is the reason your baby is crying.

Some babies cry when they do not receive attention from the adults around them. It's their way of saying "Hey, I'm here too! Look at me! Play with me!" When your baby is crying for attention, it is not the time to simply hush them up or stick a pacifier in his/her mouth. Instead, try talking to your baby, singing to your baby, or just take the time to pay him/her the attention they are asking for.

Spoil a baby? Forget it, don't worry about it. During the first few months, the baby is beginning the important process of developing attachments and social interactions. Holding the baby doesn't spoil the infant, it develops a baby's social abilities and feelings of security. Later on in the first year there will be plenty of time to start setting limits and encourage self-calming. But for now, go ahead and pick up your baby. One day you are going to miss the time your child could be comforted by just a simple hug.

Babies are born with an innate need to suck, whether hungry or not. Sucking creates a comforting and relaxed feeling in most babies. Your baby can go two ways on this issue: the thumb or an artificial pacifier. The thumb's greatest advantage is that it's always there. It never falls out of the crib, and it doesn't need one of those ribbon things to keep it attached. If you go with a 'pacifier' only purchase pacifiers that come in one piece (lowers the risks of choking on separate pieces). Pacifiers are often under a lot of scrutiny. No negative side-effects have been proven from baby's using a pacifier, so use your own personal judgement when it comes to satisfying your baby's need to suck.

Today, there are lots of cute baby clothes to try out on your baby. There's the onesie, the cute shirt, Grandma's sweater, and oh the neat polar fleece thingie. Just don't do it all at once. A general guide for dressing your baby is to put on as many layers as you have got on yourself. Try not to overdress or underdress your baby, both can lead to unhappy tears.

We've all been tired and grumpy. Babies need lots of sleep. Sometimes when parents are on the go and shopping, you forget about your baby's schedule. Check your watch, is it nap time?

Around six months of age your baby's teeth might begin to break through. When this occurs, your baby usually feels pain, and therefore, cries. Everyone has their own favorite things for babies to gnaw on, but one thing you can try is a wet towel that has been frozen in the freezer.

Crying or irritability is one way to tell when a baby might be sick. If after changing your baby's clothes, he/she still feels warm, check the baby's temperature.

Infant colic syndrome is a healthy baby who cries at random times throughout the day or night for no apparent reason. For most doctors: Colic is a diagnosis of exclusion. This means that a baby is thought to have colic only after all the other possible reasons for the symptoms have been ruled-out. Doctors are still unsure of what actually causes colic, but it does have some signs and symptoms to watch out for: