Fussy Baby Network^® - Infant Specialists Supporting Struggling Families

Erikson Institute’s Fussy Baby Network helps families struggling with their infants’ crying, sleeping, or feeding.

We offer a range of services to support families as they learn new ways to calm a fussy baby.

All services in English and Spanish.
Free phone consultations
$40 in-home consultations from infant specialists. Sliding scale payment is available.
Parent support groups – online, in your community, or at a hospital

Our infant specialists are here to help — not to judge.

We take calls from around the world. And the call is free. An infant specialist will answer your call Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time. After hours, we will respond to your message the next business day.

“

A Fussy Baby Infant Specialist called me, and she was so wonderful. I was bawling on the phone at work. I was so stressed out. Our child care provider was saying we needed to meet her needs without picking her up. The infant specialist was a lifesaver to me and gave me the confidence I needed to do what was best for my child.

”

Maggie Steffy•Parent and Fussy Baby client

Fussy Baby Support Services

Phone Support and Consultation for Parents

We call our phone support a “warmline”, not a hotline, because that’s what our infant specialists are: warm, caring, and knowledgeable.

We work to provide the best, research-supported information to parents in a compassionate and sensitive way.

We offer all of our services in English and Spanish, and we will answer the phone Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. We will return after-hours calls the next business day.

Call (888) 431-BABY (2229)

At Home Visit with an Infant Specialist

Sometimes a phone call isn’t enough, especially when taking care of a baby is such a hands-on and overwhelming experience. In those cases, our infant specialist will come to you within a week of your call.

We’ll talk about your baby’s day, and how the baby sleeps and eats. We’ll discuss strategies to soothe and calm your fussy baby. And we’ll explore ways that you can enjoy your baby more.

Home visits are $40 and offered on a sliding scale — no family will be turned away for financial reasons.

To request a home visit in Cook County, call (888) 431-BABY (2229) or email us at [email protected].

Parent Groups Online or in Your Community

We travel to hospitals and community centers across the Chicago region, helping caregivers learn how to cope with and soothe fussy babies. More than anything else, these group sessions help families realize they are not alone.

To learn more about our philosophy for supporting families, go to our Facilitating Attuned Interactions (FAN) page.

If you’re interested in hosting a parent support group or Fussy Baby class, contact Linda Horwitz at [email protected] or (312) 566-4466

Since 2003, Fussy Baby Network has touched the lives of thousands of families.

240

"Warmline" calls for assistance annually

300

Home visits for face-to-face guidance annually

Caring for a Baby can be Stressful, Especially During the Covid Pandemic

You are Not Alone, We’re in this Together

Help for Parents with Fussy Babies:

Warmline telephone support is open and ready

Video home visits available

Web-based parent groups available

Caregiver Corner virtual meetings – a drop-in group for parents to connect with other parents, share stories and get support

There are NO FEES for Fussy Baby services during “shelter-in-place”

Call 888-431-BABY (2229) or email [email protected]

“

It is an incredible honor to serve as president of Erikson Institute, and I look forward to working with the entire Erikson family and community. Erikson is poised to deliver an extraordinary, high-quality educational experience, make programs more accessible to diverse populations, expand the knowledge base, and influence systemic change. I envision a future where all children experience equity, inclusion, belonging, justice and opportunity.

”

Mariana Souto-Manning, PhD
Erikson Institute President

A Resource for Worried Parents

Are you wiped out? Worried your baby has colic? Uncertain about the way your baby is crying, sleeping, or feeding?

If you’re looking for extra support, then call us. If you’re stressed and can’t put your baby down, call our “warmline.”

No judgment. Just help.

Call the Fussy Baby Network at (888) 431- BABY (2229) or email [email protected]

Meet Our Fussy Baby Infant Specialist, Here to Support You

When you call the Fussy Baby Network or a member of our staff visits your home, you likely will work with one of these infant specialists.

“

Nancy’s areas of expertise include colic, sleep in the first year, and postpartum depression.

”

Nancy Mork•More about Nancy

“

Linda is a child development specialist and specializes in working with premature babies.

”

Linda Horwitz•More about Linda

Meet the Fussy Baby Team

Do you have a fussy baby but don’t live in Chicago?

Fussy Baby Network Chicago provides phone support to any family. We receive calls from all over the world. We also have partners — members of our Fussy Baby National Network — that offer similar programs in six cities:

Concerned that you can’t calm your fussy baby? No issue is too small for a worried parent.

Our infant specialists use research-based practices to help you find the best ways to calm your fussy baby.

No judgment. Just help. Call us at (888) 431-BABY (2229)

“

It was extremely challenging to come to terms with the mix of conflicted emotions that dealing with a fussy baby produced in me. I felt inadequate and ashamed to share my fears and concerns with other moms. The Fussy Baby Network gave me the confidence to enjoy motherhood and build a relationship with my babies built on love, nurturing, and mutual understanding.

”

Elizabeth Aguilar•Parent and Fussy Baby client

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Fussy Baby Network^® - Infant Specialists Supporting Struggling Families

Our infant specialists are here to help — not to judge.

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Fussy Baby Support Services