How Colic Affects New Parents
Although it’s not harmful in itself, colic can still take its toll. For starters, it puts terrible pressure on new parents. “It sent my husband and me into therapy,” confesses Catherine McManus, a mom from Oviedo, Florida. Excessive crying is also associated with giving up breastfeeding, overmedication of babies, postpartum depression, and shaken-baby syndrome.
Colic is nerve-racking, but it’s helpful to remember that it’s also temporary. “Colic is not your baby’s defining personality trait,” says Laura Jana, M.D., coauthor of Heading Home with Your Newborn . “Once the colic is gone, your child can have a completely different personalityspunky, sensitive, crabby. But colic is not going to tell you which, because it doesn’t carry over.”
What To Do When Pacifier Keeps Falling Out
When the pacifier keeps falling out, what should you do? This isa question many parents ask, so I will tell you my experience and advise.
I know many parents who buy the wrong pacifiers or pacifier training products.
Some of these parents are very frustrated because they keep buying the wrong products, then have to throw away the baby pacifier, the baby gets frustrated and stops taking the pacifier out.
This means that they have a crying baby, then the pacifier fallsout and they feel that they have lost the pacifier altogether. This can be veryfrustrating for both the parent and the baby. Ive had babies who fell out oftheir crib and onto the floor.
Most parents dont realize that its not the babys pacifierthat is the problem, but the way they are taking the pacifier out. Your babydoesnt care if his pacifier falls out he just wants the parent to take it outof his mouth.
When I was a new mother, I had three babies my youngestdaughter didnt like to be picked up so I would pick her up by the arm. Thebaby would cry, and when I took her away, she would start crying again.
This made me realize that the baby was learning that if she waspicked up, she would cry, which in turn meant that she was hungry. This is howbabies learn. Its very important that you train your baby to fall asleepwithout the pacifier.
While this might not happen overnight, it will happen eventuallyand your baby will begin to understand that if the pacifier is taken out of hermouth, she will cry.
When And How To Put Your Baby To Sleep
A lot of people may tell you that you should put your baby down to sleep when they are drowsy, but not fully asleep. This is a good goal, but it is not always possible. Many babies fall asleep while you are holding them, breastfeeding or bottle-feeding them.
You also might hear from advocates of the eat, play, sleep bedtime routine, in which babies feed, play for a short amount of time, and then go to sleep. But, this method can lead to unnecessary frustration for parents and dehydration and in babies.
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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.
Getting Help With A Crying Baby
You can talk to a friend, your health visitor or GP, or contact the Cry-sis helpline on 08451 228 669, open 9am to 10pm, 7 days a week. You’ll be charged for your call.
Cry-sis can put you in touch with other parents who have been in the same situation.
You can also visit the Cry-sis website for information on coping with crying babies.
If you decide to talk to your health visitor or GP, it can help to keep a record of how often and when your baby cries.
For example, this might be after every feed or during the evening. This can help your health visitor or GP to work out if there’s a particular cause for the crying.
Keeping a record can also help you identify the times when you need extra support. You could think about possible changes to your routine.
There may be times when you’re so tired and angry you feel like you cannot take any more. This happens to a lot of parents, so do not be ashamed to ask for help.
If you do not have anyone who can take care of your baby for a short time and the crying is making you stressed, put your baby in their cot or pram, make sure they’re safe, close the door, go into another room and try to calm yourself down.
Set a time limit for example, 10 minutes then go back.
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Baby Latch And Unlatch Repeatedly: 7 Things You Can Do About It
In breastfeeding a baby, latching is very important, it is the way a baby fastens onto the breast while feeding. A good latch leads to high milk flow, it reduces discomfort for the mother such as nipple sore and cracks and low milk flow which are caused by poor latching. When a baby latches and unlatches repeatedly, it could lead to the baby not having adequate nourishment and a lot of discomfort for the mother.
Its perfectly natural to feel disappointed when your baby doesnt seem interested in feeding and feel you are at your wits end trying to figure out what the problem is. However, the best way to fix a problem is to know the cause. Therefore, below are reasons a baby latch and unlatch repeatedly.
Newborn Crying: What To Expect
Crying is a newborns main way of telling you what they need. Its a sound that can spur you into action, even when youre asleep. If youre a breastfeeding mother, it can trigger your let-down reflex.
Crying peaks at about 6-8 weeks. This period of intense newborn crying is hard, but it will pass.
Babies cry and fuss on average for almost three hours a day. Some cry for a lot longer than this. Most of this crying and fussing seems to happen in the late afternoon and evening, although every day will probably be a bit different.
As babies get older, they spend less time crying. The crying is also more likely to be spread throughout the day. And its easier to understand what babies need when they cry.
Crying is often a sign that your baby is tired or overstimulated. But newborns also have other tired signs. For example, newborns might pull at their ears or suck on their fingers when theyre tired.
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Understanding And Responding To Your Newborn Babys Behaviour
Your newborn baby is working out what the world is like. The way you respond to your babys behaviour, especially crying, tells your baby a lot about the world.
For example, your baby might find out that when they cry, someone comes to give them what they need. This might be a nappy change, a feed or a cuddle. If that happens, baby will learn that the world is a pretty OK place.
When you respond quickly to comfort your crying newborn, your baby might cry less often overall. Its absolutely fine to pick up your newborn baby when they cry. It helps your baby feel safe and know that youre nearby.
You cant spoil a newborn. If your newborn is crying, its because they need you to comfort them. If you respond calmly and consistently, it helps your baby learn that the world is a safe and predictable place.
What To Do About Colic
Pediatricians may be sympathetic and recommend Mylicon drops or gripe water, but often doctors will tell parents to just be patient, because colic is not harmful and will go away on its own. Of course, in the midst of all that crying, having someone tell you to be patient may seem impossible to consider. In order to make it through, you will have to develop some great self-care strategies and enlist support.
Focus on one day at a time .
Ask your doctor to consider the possibilities of food allergies or acid reflux , which can be remedied. If you are breastfeeding, you can try adjusting your diet to see if that affects your babys crying spells.
Ask for helpsupport from your spouse, family, friends, and a babysitter or nanny will be essential to getting through the first few months of your babys life.
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Your Kitten Needs To Poop
When kittens are first getting used to using a litter box on their own, its not uncommon for them to be a little fussy about pooping. Kittens under 8 weeks old will often meow before or during defecation, and thats okay as long as the kitten is not straining or uncomfortable.
If a kitten is crying out every time she poops, or is pushing and struggling to use the litter box, bring her to the vet to make sure that there is not an underlying medical issue. Constipation, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal problems must be taken seriously, especially in a young kitten, so dont delay if you suspect that the kitten is unwell.
Preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome
Remember, it is okay to walk away if you find yourself getting frustrated or angry with your baby or child. Your baby will not be hurt if he or she continues to cry.
Gently and safely place your baby in the crib or swing. Make sure you secure any railings or safety belts before walking away. Check on your baby every 5 to 10 minutes.
- Caution: Never shake your baby. Shaking will not stop the crying and could cause serious brain damage. It is important that all caregivers have this information. For more information on this, see HH-I-366, Shaken Baby Syndrome.
- Arrange for a relative, friend, or baby-sitter to stay with the baby while you get out of the house one evening a week. Go see a movie, shop, go out to dinner, or just take a walk.
- Try to rest when your baby naps. Getting enough rest will help relieve your tension.
If you have any questions, be sure to ask your doctor or nurse or call _____________________.
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Identify Your Babys Cries
Generally, a sudden, long, high-pitched shriek means pain, while a short, low-pitched cry that rises and falls indicates hunger. But to say a particular cry means one thing for all babies isnt possible.
Crying is individual from baby to baby, and has much to do with temperament. If your first child was super chill, and this newborn is, well, not so much, you may wonder if theres something wrong with them.
Theres probably nothing wrong, says Hill. Some babies just have a more sensitive temperament and, therefore, are more dramatic in their crying.
If you observe and listen to your infant every day, youll start to distinguish the different sounds of their cries. If your baby screams when theyre hungry, listen to that cry and how its different from the others.
It helps to imagine youre learning a foreign language. If you really pay attention to those cries, over time, you and your baby will develop your own vocabulary.
When Your Baby Just Wont Stop Crying: Could It Be Colic
No matter what you do, your baby just keeps crying and crying, and you dont know what to do. As a pediatrician at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and a mother with my own personal experience, I can relate to this stressful and overwhelming situation. We expect babies to cry and show some fussiness, but around 5 percent to 25 percent of newborns cry a whole lot more than others, which can be very challenging for us parents to handle.
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Baby Cries During Bottle Feeding: Fixing Feeding Problems
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Theres nothing that can break your heart quite like the wails of your little one when theyre attempting to eat but are alternating between eating and crying.
Theyre obviously hungry, but theres also obviously something wrong. If your baby cries during feeding, check for these problems, and try these solutions so that they can enjoy having their bottle again.
Vocalizations And Crying In Newborn Puppies
Newborn puppies make an assortment of gentle vocalizations, such as quiet squeaks, chirps, or grunts. Those early squeaks aren’t technically crying. They’re simply small sounds puppies make as they creep around in search of their mother for meal. Sometimes they even make sounds while sleeping. Like many other newborns, puppies spend the vast majority of their time sleeping, up to 22 hours a day. And when they aren’t sleeping, they’re usually eating.
But a newborn puppy that is truly cryingand perhaps doing it extensivelymay be exhibiting signs of a problem1 and a veterinarian should be consulted. Older puppies may cry because they’re bored or lonely. But crying in newborn puppies is generally due to one of a few issues:
- Hunger. Make sure each puppy is nursing properly and is getting enough nursing time. Watch out for competition from the other littermates and keep an eye out for any issues with the mother dog and her milk.
- Cold. Puppies have difficulty regulating their temperatures during the first four months of life and will likely cry if they’re too cold. Is the puppies’ home warm enough? Are the puppies staying close enough to their mother and each other to keep warm from the combined body heat? Would they benefit from a heated pad or additional heat source?
- Sickness. Newborn puppies can become susceptible to illnesses. Crying in newborn puppies could indicate that something isn’t quite right, so be sure to check with your veterinarian.
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