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8/30/2008 - by Anne Marie Nielson

Why Do Babies Cry  

A crying baby can be very upsetting and stressful, especially if this is your first. Responding to a baby’s cry is an instinct that has been with us from the beginning of time. As baby grows and changes, the reasons why they cry also change. Their cries also sound differently for different situations for most babies. For example, a tired baby cry may be a soft and slow cry where as a hungry cry may be very loud and demanding. Your baby will have his or her own style of communication. You will become familiar with your baby’s voice and be able to respond to their needs. Above all, RELAX and stay CALM. If you are stressed, your baby will sense this and may cry even more. Some common reasons why babies cry are described below.   

Why Babies Cry: 

Very young babies most often cry because they are hungry.  A newborn’s stomach is very small and will not hold much.  This is why they wake up crying every couple of hours.  If you are breastfeeding, make sure your baby is getting enough milk while they are nursing.  Some babies have a difficult time attaching and getting the proper suction. If this continues, talk to your doctor or midwife, or a lactation consultant to help you learn. This is very comforting for your baby, so don’t give up.  If your baby is only taking a few sips either breast feeding or from the bottle, then falling back to sleep only to wake up 15 minutes later, you will need to encourage them to stay awake a little longer.  I found that if I tickled my son’s feet a little on the bottoms, it would keep him awake and focused on getting his little belly full enough to sleep for a little longer.     

If your baby is fed and is still crying, then we go to the next big reason that babies cry.  Dirty diapers!  Changing diapers seems like an endless task.  But what goes in must come out.  Some babies don’t mind a full diaper as may be warm and comfortable to them.  Most babies don’t like it at all!  If they have a diaper rash or sensitive skin it can be absolutely painful to them.  You may not see a rash, but the skin is new and very tender and the acid in the urine may irritate the area.  A diaper rash cream may be helpful.  If one doesn’t work, try a different one.  I went through 3 brands until I found the one that worked for my baby.  If your baby cries while urinating, please see your doctor to rule out a medical problem or infection. 

If your baby has a clean diaper, he or she may just want to be held.  They have spent 9 months safe and secure, being carried everywhere you go.  They are use to being close and able to hear your heartbeat.    Wrap your baby snugly.  Most hospitals will show you how to do this before you go home.   If not, ask your nurse to show you how.  Some babies need to be held more than others.  While it is good to get them use to being on their own turf, your baby may need a little more holding.  You may want to consider using a baby sling.  This keeps the baby in a comfortable position, while keeping your hands free.  There are many styles on the market today and are very popular.  

Overstimulation may be the cause of the cry. This is a difficult one to deal with as it sometimes seems that nothing will soothe them. You may have had lots of relatives over to visit. They all want to hold and fuss with the new addition to the family. While the bonding is good, the stimulation may be too much. If your baby doesn’t react well to all this activity, you may want to limit the visits to a smaller group and make sure that your baby stays on the schedule you have set. If you are visiting and are not at your home, there are many portable beds available to bring along. Excuse yourself and go to a quite place to feed and put your baby to sleep. You may want to bring along a baby monitor to keep an ear on your little one. This may help you to feel more at ease.    

Sometimes they cry more towards the end of each day as the day’s activities have just been too much.  A quite room with soothing music with baby in your arms in a rocking chair might be the ticket for both of you to relax.   

If your baby cries more than three days a week for more than three hour it may be considered “colicky”.  See your pediatrician to make sure it is not medical problem first.  If you determine that it is colic, there is a lot of information available, but not a lot of answers.  While there are studies being done, there is no determination of what causes colic.  Some research is targeting trapped gas in the digestive tract while others are looking into the gut flora.  Others think that the baby may have an immature nervous system, while others think it may have a relationship to the production of melatonin.  The one thing that is clear is that no one really knows what causes colic.  A baby with colic can be very frustrating.  Get help and take a break when you can.    Be patient.  It is not the baby’s fault.  Babies with colic usually only have it for the first three month.  It begins to subside as the baby grows.   

A baby who is sick often cries in a different tone to their normal cry.  It may be more urgent or high pitched, or weak and listless.   For a baby who cries frequently, an unusual quietness may be a sign that your baby’s may not be well.   Always call your doctor if your baby has trouble breathing while crying, or if the crying is accompanied by a fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation. A common cause of the distress may be an ear infection. My son had an acute double ear infection before he presented any signs that anything was wrong.  Once he did, the symptoms were sudden and severe.  Some babies will give you a sign by pulling on his or her ear.  A trip to the urgent care may be in order.   

A baby can also start teething as early as three months old.  This just plain old hurts.  Excessive drooling can be a sign that your baby has started teething.  There are different types of teething rings that you may want to keep on hand.  Some you can put in the fridge or freezer and get cold can be a wonderful relief to the little one.  Some have little bumps on them that help soothe the gums.  It is good to have different ones available as they may only help for a short time.    Talk to your pediatrician about pain relievers and how to use them for your baby. 

At times you might not be able to figure out what’s wrong when your baby cries. Nothing will work for all babies.  You will gradually get to know your own baby and their personality to find out what works for them and for you. Keep in mind the crying will come to an end. As the baby grows older you will recognize the differences between their cries and what they need.  They will sometimes be able to soothe themselves and sometime nothing will work. DO NOT be afraid to ask someone for help. Your baby is unique and did not come with an owner’s manual, so a friend or parent who has been through this or a medical professional can be a valuable resource to help you.  

At From Pregnancy To Baby, we try to provide you with all of the latest information about going through your pregnancy from your first trimester to the first years of your new babies life. We also provide the highest quality books and products to help you through that time.

Source: http://www.frompregnancytobaby.com/Articles/Why-Do-Babies-Cry/