I admit that I don't have kids, but isn't this the easiest way to stop a kid from crying: put your hand over their mouth -- then they'll simply breath through their nose. After all, you can't cry through your nose. I'm not trying to be insensitive, but it seems like this wouldn't hurt the kid physically. Little kids can breathe through their noses, right? So do this for a few seconds and won't the kid stop crying? Or will he just start crying more. As I say, I don't have kids. Maybe this is against the law as physical abuse. I don't know.