From fifteen to thirty minutes a day is not too much.

_What is the nature of this cry?_

It is loud and strong. Infants get red in the face with it; in fact,
it is a scream. This is necessary for health. It is the baby's
exercise.

_When is a cry abnormal?_

When it is too long or too frequent. The abnormal cry is rarely
strong, often it is a moaning or a worrying cry, sometimes only a
feeble whine.

_What are the causes of such crying?_

Pain, temper, hunger, illness, and habit.

_What is the cry of pain?_

It is usually strong and sharp, but not generally continuous. It is
accompanied by contraction of the features, drawing up of the legs,
and other symptoms of distress.

_What is the cry of hunger?_

It is usually a continuous, fretful cry, rarely strong and lusty.

_What is the cry of temper?_

It is loud and strong and accompanied by kicking or stiffening of the
body, and is usually violent.

_What is the cry of illness?_

There is usually more of fretfulness and moaning than real crying,
although crying is excited by very slight causes.

_What is the cry of indulgence or from habit?_

This is often heard even in very young infants, who cry to be rocked,
to be carried about, sometimes for a light in the room, for a bottle
to suck, or for the continuance of any other bad habit which has been
acquired.

_How can we be sure that a child is crying to be indulged?_

If it stops immediately when it gets what it wants, and cries when it
is withdrawn or withheld.

_What should be done if a baby cries at night?_

One should get up and see that the child is comfortable--the clothing
smooth under the body, the hands and feet warm, and the napkin not wet
or soiled. If all these matters are properly adjusted and the child
simply crying to be taken up, it should not be further interfered
with. If the night cry is habitual some other cause should be sought
(see page 121).

_How is an infant to be managed that cries from temper, habit, or to
be indulged?_

It should simply be allowed to "cry it out." This often requires an
hour, and in extreme cases, two or three hours. A second struggle will
seldom last more than ten or fifteen minutes, and a third will rarely
be necessary. Such discipline is not to be carried out unless one is
sure as to the cause of the habitual crying.

_Is it likely that rupture will be caused from crying?_

Not in young infants if the abdominal band is properly applied,