CRY-SIS SUPPORT GROUP Registered Charity Number 295470Founded in 1981, Cry-sis is a voluntary support group run by parents who
have experienced the problem of a crying, sleepless, or demanding baby or young
child. A network of volunteers, throughout England, Wales, Scotland, Northern
Ireland and the Channel Islands, take telephone calls on a rota basis from
parents wanting help, practical advice, and reassurance about their baby, or
who simply want to talk to someone who really understands what they are going
through. Cry-sis is run by volunteers and one part-time employee. It has a London
address for mail and an answering service, but being a small charity, it has no
office facilities. All administrative work is home-based, which makes it
extremely cost-efficient. Family stress Babies cry and sleep poorly for a number of reasons, even though many will
have been declared medically fit and healthy. The effects on the family, the
relationship between the parents and their baby and its siblings, can be
catastrophic. These demanding babies often leave their parents feeling exhausted,
desperate, guilty, inadequate and embarrassed. Sometimes, family and friends
will not believe just how demanding a particular baby really is 24 hours a day.
Older children can come to resent their new brother or sister with all the
noise and disruption it causes, not to mention the constant attention it
requires. Working with professionals Cry-sis works closely with local health professionals and sees itself as a
back-up to the existing health services. The group receives referrals from
health visitors, GPs, paediatricians, midwives and social workers, as well as
from other voluntary organisations working with parents. It is always happy to help students and health professionals who wish to
learn more about the group and its work, or the problems facing parents of
children with crying or sleep problems. It provides speakers for meetings and
for post-natal groups, mothers and toddlers groups, etc. In 1989/90, Cry-sis volunteers were pleased to be able to help with the
Great Ormond Street Crying Babies Study which concluded that "most parents
found it beneficial to talk to a Cry-sis counsellor". Through its collective experiences, Cry-sis has, over the years, been able
to add constructively to the information available on why babies cry
excessively or sleep poorly, and what can be done to help them. Available help Details about how to call the helpline are given at the end of this
article. Contacts can offer a sympathetic, listening ear and suggestions about
how to calm a baby, help it to sleep better, and generally help parents to cope
with the situation and their feelings about it. Most people feel better after
speaking to someone who has lived through the experience and survived. Cry-sis contacts do not provide medical advice, and will always encourage
parents to keep in close contact with their doctors and health visitors. All
volunteers receive training from Cry-sis and are expected to adhere to Cry-sis
policies and guidelines. They have full back-up from local advisers and the
national committee. You will receive a personal reply, together with tips and
ideas to help you and your baby. Cry-sis operates a telephone helpline, 0207 404 5011. The answering service
redirects you to a volunteer contact in your region. Have a pencil and paper
handy when you call, and be prepared to tell the operator which ITV region you
live in. The Cry-sis helpline is open between 8.00 a.m. and 11.00 p.m., 7 days
a week. Once you have your local contact number, you can ring at any reasonable
time, but please remember that your contact is a parent, just like you, with
small children who may still be crying or waking regularly through the night. PatronsDr David Haslam FRCGP
Dr Ian St James-Roberts PhD C.Psychol
Mrs Claire Rayner RGN
Miss Jane Asher
Cry-sis
London
WCIN 3XX  020-7404 5011
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