Presented are practical ideas parents can use to prevent and manage excessive crying during their infant's first year. Designed to foster the development of children's physical and emotional independence, the ideas discussed concern (1) the changing functions of crying throughout the infant's first year, (2) causes of crying, (3) the intellectual development of infants, (4) the emotional needs of infants, (5) past and present child rearing practices, (6) the effect of conflicting advice on parents, and (7) aspects to consider in giving advice to parents about preventing and managing the crying behavior of their infant. The last topic includes brief considerations of infant temperament, cultural perspectives, the intellectual development and emotional needs of babies, social factors related to excessive crying, physical causes of excessive crying, and problematic aspects of handling, which include controlling, calming, picking up, responding, and pushing away. Concluding remarks emphasize that parents who can respond promptly but not urgently to crying and enjoy cuddling for affection's sake without feeling guilty, will, contrary to popular belief, have a baby who at 12 months cries less, is more independent, and is neither spoiled nor uncontrollable. (RH)