New-parent mistake No. 2: Not letting your infant cry it out

"We, as parents, think our job is to make sure the baby is not crying,” says Atlanta-based pediatric nurse Jennifer Walker, RN. “That’s because we associate crying with the fact that we are doing something wrong and we need to fix it." Walker is co-author of The Moms on Call Guide to Basic Baby Care. "Babies are designed to cry,” she tells WebMD. They can be perfectly diapered and fed and still cry like you are pulling an arm off."

For the most part, crying is just part of being a baby. But if your infant is inconsolable for an hour and crying is associated with fever, rash, or persistent vomiting, call your pediatrician as soon as possible.