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Just like adults and children, some infants have a temperament that's more sensitive than others. This may mean your baby startles, complains, or cries more easily than most. But even if your infant has a go-with-the-flow disposition, changes in his routine or environment -- meeting new people, encountering new places, missing a nap -- can trigger anxiety.

Babies show their anxiety usually by crying, fussing (not wanting to be held, but not wanting to sit either), or complaining verbally, which they might do with loud screams or shrieking.

"We get a lot of phone calls on Sunday nights from parents telling us that their baby is inconsolable and they can't figure out why. A lot...

Just like adults and children, some infants have a temperament that's more sensitive than others. This may mean your baby startles, complains, or cries more easily than most. But even if your infant has a go-with-the-flow disposition, changes in his routine or environment -- meeting new people, encountering new places, missing a nap -- can trigger anxiety.

Babies show their anxiety usually by crying, fussing (not wanting to be held, but not wanting to sit either), or complaining verbally, which they might do with loud screams or shrieking.

"We get a lot of phone calls on Sunday nights from parents telling us that their baby is inconsolable and they can't figure out why. A lot of times it's simply overstimulation and diversion from their routine that sets the infant off. The relatives might have been in town, and your baby spent the weekend being passed around from one family member to the next without protest," says Tanya Remer Altman, M.D., F.A.A.P., editor-in-chief of "The Wonder Years: Helping Your Baby and Young Child Successfully Negotiate the Major Developmental Milestones" from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). "But then it hits her, and she loses it. It's like she's trying to say, 'Enough already! I'm on brain overload. I want my mommy and I want my routine back now!' "

How to help your anxious baby: First, you need to rule out other possible reasons for her crying and fussiness, such as a wet or dirty diaper, hunger, being too hot or cold, or uncomfortable (maybe her car seat straps are too tight or that pretty pink dress is getting in the way of her crawling).

If any obvious reasons have been dealt with, and she still seems anxious, try calming her with these tips from the website of William Sears, M.D., associate clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of California, Irvine, and the author of more than 30 books on childcare.

• Pop her in a baby sling or carrier. Simply being close to you -- hearing your voice, smelling you -- may be all it takes to soothe her. The movement of your body is also calming.
• Let her suck. Offer her your breast, a bottle, or a pacifier. Even if she's not due for a feeding, the sucking motion will help calm her. Even better, says Dr. Sears, is using motion (say, from a baby carrier or stroller) and sucking at the same time, which he calls a "winning combination that settles even the most upset baby."
• Give your baby a warm bath, or head for the bath together.
• Go off to a quiet room, soften the lights, and sing or read to your baby.
• Try distraction. Most babies can't resist looking at their own little cute faces in the mirror, which might be just what she needs to shift her mood. Heading outdoors is another soother -- the rustling of tree leaves or chirping birds might shift her mood altogether.

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