Yes. Even a newborn may cry out of rage if she wakes up hungry and isn’t fed right away.

As all weary, new parents know, babies cry because they need to be fed, held, or changed, or because they’re tired, sick, or in pain. And some babies just tend to react to the world more negatively and intensely. The result: a fussy, angry baby.

True temper tantrums don’t usually start until a baby is 12 to 18 months old, but your baby’s angry crying may seem like a smaller version of one. If your baby’s fussy throughout the day but doesn’t need to be fed or have her diaper changed, she may just need to let off steam. Some babies cry to release tension or burn off excess energy – and some just need to cry themselves to sleep.

Even easy-going babies may get frustrated and angry when they start to explore their surroundings but aren’t quite capable of doing what they want.

If your baby is inconsolable and you suspect that she may be sick or in pain, get medical attention right away. But if she appears healthy, is consoled fairly easily, and seems fine between her angry crying jags, then simply be mindful of how you respond to her outbursts.

If your baby has a difficult temperament, it’s especially important to remain calm or let someone else step in when you need a break. Babies can often tell when someone is getting tense or impatient and may react by amping up their crying.

Your baby is more likely to quiet down when the adults around her are relaxed. (Some research even suggests that difficult babies are more likely to respond to calm, soothing parenting than babies who have more even temperaments.)

Don’t worry about “giving in” to your baby’s cries or temper – it’s a good idea to respond promptly to her needs. You can’t change your child’s natural temperament, so you may have to find creative ways of soothing her.

But if your baby is frequently upset or suffers from colic, discuss her fussiness with your child’s doctor so she can rule out a medical problem.

Find out more about how to handle baby “temper tantrums” and see whether it’s possible to spoil a baby.