Especially in first-time mothers, stress and fear associated with rearing babies can be too much to handle. If your hamster feels stressed by the demands of her litter, she could killing the babies. The best way to avoid this tragic circumstance is to give her and her litter plenty of alone time. Spending too much time around the cage, acting excited or taking photos can upset the mother to the point of killing her children. With the exception of checking on the litter a few times a day, leave them alone as much as possible for at least 10 days.