Myths About Causes Of Crying
- Not Due to Gas. Gas passing through normal intestines does not cause pain or crying. All crying babies pass lots of gas. Their stomachs also make lots of gassy noises. The gas comes from swallowed air. The gas is normal. It does not become trapped nor cause any pains. That’s why burping a baby doesn’t help the crying. Blaming gas is a myth.
- Not Due to Spitting Up. Spitting up occurs in half of babies and is normal. It does not cause crying or colic. Heartburn meds do not help crying babies. They also have side effects.
How To Calm A Crying Baby
The best way to soothe a crying baby is to first have an idea of why is baby crying, so you can quickly address their needs. Without knowing whats causing those tears, parents often try a bunch of different calming techniques, but in doing so they often miss the window of opportunity to solve the real problem, and the baby crying escalates. If you still have a crying baby on your hands after checking for all the common culprits mentioned above, try the Five Ssgeneral soothing techniques pediatrician Harvey Karp, MD, outlines in his book Happiest Baby on the Block. Heres a breakdown of how to make baby stop crying using these helpful tips and tricks:
Swaddle. Babies love to be swaddled. It provides them with a sense of security and reminds them of their days in the womb. The first step to soothing your crying baby is to wrap them in a snug swaddle with babys arms at their side.
Side or stomach position. Hold baby on their side or on their tummy over your arm. Both positions are comforting for baby and can help resolve gas and other tummy issues.
Shush. Make a gentle shushing sound directly into babys ear, which is similar to the noises they heard in the womb. Dont be afraid to amp up the volume a bit for a crying baby.
Swing. Try swinging or gently jiggling baby to get them to calm down . Babies are used to these types of motions from their time in utero and can be startled by stillness shortly after birth.
How To Identify A Hungry Baby
Crying is a babys last resort, even if he has been hungry or its been a while. Crying is, then, his violent way of showing hes hungry. To prevent the baby from going too long without eating, pay attention to these signs:
- The baby turns his head to find the mothers breast. Most newborns instinctively seek their mothers nipple for food. By observing this behavior, youll understand that hes hungry.
- If you notice the baby shaking or moving a lot, it may indicate that something is wrong. He might not be hungry, but he might need a diaper change or has gas.
- Another way to recognize that your baby is hungry is if you hear him sucking with his tongue. It might sound like him sucking on a bottle or your chest. Its a sign that its time to eat.
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Watch For Attachment Milestones
If your baby has challenges that get in the way of emotional connection, bonding and attachment may suffer. The following attachment milestones can help you recognize your babys attachment progress.
If the milestones are not happening in the right time frame, you should seek help. Fear or stress might make you feel reluctant to evaluate your baby this way, but attachment problems identified early are usually easier to fix.
Needing A Diaper Change
Alright, so you may think this one is easy. However, because a newborns poop doesnt have a distinct smell yet, it can be tricky . So, how can you tell when theyve done the deed in their diaper?
Your baby might look uncomfortable, restless, or even irritated. Having a dirty diaper can make them cranky and moody.
If your little one falls asleep while wearing a soiled diaper, they may wake up suddenly. Another clue is if its been a while since the last diaper change then its probably time to check.
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When To Let Baby Cry It Out
Its hard for any parent to hear baby crying, and its instinctual to want to soothe those tears. But is there ever a point when its best to just let baby cry? Theres really no hard-and-fast answer. Yes, babies can cry a lot, but given that its their primary form of communication, its not all that surprising. They need to learn the rhythms of living outside the womb, and they need lots of help with thatthrough comfort, rocking and calming, Narvaez says. They cant do these things themselves during the first several months.
When it comes to sleep training, whether or not its okay to let baby cry it outotherwise known as the Ferber methodis a bit controversial. Some critics say letting baby cry can be emotionally scarring, but that claim isnt backed by science. In fact, a 2016 study found that letting baby cry didnt result in any stress responses or have any long-term effects on babys emotional state, outward behavior or the parent-child bond. But every family has to find a sleep training strategy that works for them.
If baby wont stop crying and youve reached your limit, its always okay to put your child down in a safe place, like the crib or play yard, walk away and take a few minutes to compose yourself. If you feel yourself starting to get frustrated and angry with your crying baby, take a step back and find someone to help, whether its your partner, a family member or a friend. And remember, as with all things, this too shall pass.
Expert bios:
Are There Certain Times Of The Day When My Baby Will Cry More
There sure are. The hours when your baby is more likely to cry are called the witching hour for good reason. Youll probably notice the hours between 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. are most difficult for your baby.
These trying hours begin when your baby approaches 2 to 3 weeks of age. But, thankfully, they peter out when your baby reaches about 3 months old.
Theres no definitive answer as to why these predictable fussy periods happen, but most experts agree that a full days stimulation and lower maternal milk supply at night are big contributors.
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Why Do Babies Cry After Birth
A baby crying after birth is considered an ideal situation and with good reason. Once the child is born, doctors usually will work towards using a suction tube to clean out any residual fluid in the babys nose and mouth. This allows the bodily systems to be triggered and stimulate a cry. At times, this is done by the baby himself and the lungs kick into action to cry out loud, which also draws in the first breath of his life.
What Happens When A Baby Cries
Although you might think of crying as something that’s pretty simple, there’s actually a lot that goes into a cry. In order for a baby to accomplish crying, there has to be a lot of coordination between multiple systems in the body, including face muscles, airway regulation, and breathing.
The main thing that needs to happen for a baby to cry is some sort of vocalizationaka sound. A 2005 study demonstrated that there is both a non-vocal and vocal component to crying. So, when a baby starts learning how to cry in the womb, they are exhibiting the non-vocal side of a cry.
But what’s most important to recognize with a baby crying is that a cry is an important developmental milestone. A baby being able to cry demonstrates that their brain and nervous system and body are working correctly to accomplish crying.
So, a cry is much more than tears and sound. A cry actually represents that your baby is:
- Recognizing some sort of outside stimuli happening
- Processing that the stimuli is something potentially harmful or threatening and thus a negative stimulus
- Reacting to the stimuli through a set of multiple pathways, from physically moving away to trying to vocalize to brain sensory awareness
In fact, crying is a survival mechanism. It ensures the baby is able to signal to a caregiver that they need help, are in distress, or needs to be moved from a threatening situation.
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Coping With A Crying Colicky Or Unresponsive Baby
You already know that no two babies are alike, but this reality may still hit you hard when you hear other parents talking about how easy their babies are or how their newborn sleeps peacefully through the night. Try to avoid comparisons and specific expectations, as they can create negative feelingsespecially if you have a very challenging baby. Give yourself a break if you are having feelings you didnt expect. It may take a bit of time to get in sync with your baby, but the extra work will be worth it!
For stressful situationswhen your baby wont stop crying or wont respond to you, and when you are feeling frustrated, tired, and angryyou need to develop some strategies for taking care of yourself. When youre calm and centered, youll be better able to figure out whats going on with your child and soothe his or her cries.
Recognize your limits. Pay attention to internal warning signs when you are feeling overwhelmed. The sooner you spot your personal limits, the easier it is to plan aheadfor extra help, a break, an excursion outside, or a quick pep talk from a friend or loved one. These small steps to prepare will help you get in the best frame of mind to care for your baby.
Remember that time is on your side. For most babies, crying peaks at six weeks and then gradually eases off. There is an end to the crying on the horizon! You may have to put in a little extra work right now and be very patient, but things will get better.
Special Circumstances That Might Require Professional Help
Physical, mental, or emotional challenges at birth, or soon after, are often traumatic to an infant and can cause your babys nervous system to get stuck. A nervous system that is stuck will probably have difficulty with regulation, which means the baby will have a hard time settling down.
Special or traumatic circumstances that might cause problems include:
- Premature birth.
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About Newborn Baby Behaviour
Sleeping, feeding, crying. Thats what newborn behaviour is all about in the first few months.
Although your baby might give you some eye contact, crying is probably the main thing youll notice about your babys behaviour. For example, your baby will cry because they feel hungry, unsettled, wet or uncomfortable, or just because they need a cuddle. And sometimes your baby will cry for no obvious reason.
Babies are born with very different temperaments. Some are relaxed and easygoing, and others seem to be more intense. Some seem to move constantly, and others are quieter. Some are cheerful most of the time, and others are more serious.
Reasons Why Some Babies Dont Cry
Most babies have a natural crying instinct theyre programmed to announce their arrival with a big Waah. Since newborns cant talk yet, crying is simply the best way for them to communicate.
Still, as long as your babys needs are met, theres no issue with them not crying as much. Every baby is different some might feel hungry or cold but arent able to express it by crying.
If your pediatrician has determined everything is fine with your newborn, they may simply still be learning how to cry. If so, you must discover other gestures your little one might use to let you know what they need.
Clinically, I find that the amount of crying varies with the temperament of the baby. This is best seen with twins one twin may seem to cry and vocalize often, while the other is calm, quieter, and cries less.
Editor’s Note:
This is also why its so tough for parents with babies who cry less. How do you know if their needs are met? Its common to label a baby who cries less as an easy baby but chances are its the opposite.
Here are some ways your newborn might communicate with you without crying :
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Preventing Utis In Babies
Just like some babies are prone to coughs and colds, there are some who are prone to urinary tract infections. Most UTIs develop in the urethra due to bacteria present in and around the bottom. Make sure you keep your babys bottom clean, particularly after potty. Clean the bottom front to back after your baby has a bowel movement. And, if your baby wears diapers, change them frequently. Last but not the least, make sure your little angel drinks sufficient water and fluids to flush out harmful bacteria from his body.
Read more: Symptoms and Home Remedies for UTI in Children
Tips For Keeping Your Cool And Calming Your Baby Down
Remember that your baby has feelings. Babies are emotional beings and experience feelings of happiness, sadness, joy, and anger from the very first moment of life. If, for whatever reason, you are having trouble being responsive to your baby, your child will pick up on those signals. How would you feel if your spouse or parent was unresponsive to your signals or attempts to communicate? Thinking of your baby as an individual with a unique personality may make it easier to interpret and respond to his or her cries.
Choose some techniques for taking a time out. Strategies like counting to ten, going outside, taking deep breaths, putting your baby down and walking around the house for a minute, can all help you maintain a calm frame of mind.
Find a mantra. A mantra is a sound, word, or phrase, often said over and over again, to provide comfort and inspiration. With a crying baby, you may find yourself talking out loud anyway, and a mantra can help provide perspective, comfort, and energy to keep going. Some examples might be: Just breathe,This is hard, but doable, and All will be well.
Baby blues or postpartum depression?
Exhaustion, rapidly shifting hormones, and a challenging child might make you feel frustrated, sad, or even depressed. If you find yourself feeling depressed, worthless, or resentful or indifferent towards your baby, dont try to wait it out. See: Postpartum Depression and the Baby Blues
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