Baby's Crying What to do?
Share
Since they can’t talk yet, crying is a way for babies to express hunger, pain or boredom. Crying is a true “survival” reflex for them. Parents respond to their baby’s cries in order to meet their baby’s needs. Crying and the reactions it causes represent a form of communication between a baby and its parents.
Always remember that a baby's cries can reach 350 decibels, and therefore they represent a risk for your hearing. It is therefore essential to equip yourself with earplugs for your ears and those of your loved ones. You can also get headphones that completely cut out external sounds, for your notice, we sell some of them on this online store.
But consult a doctor or nurse if your baby:
- does not seem to react as usual, does not eat or sleep;
- has a fever, vomits or has diarrhoea;
- has traces of blood in his stool;
- may be crying because of a fall or injury;
- has excessive crying that continues after 3 months of age;
- is not gaining weight. If in doubt, do not hesitate to call your general hospital
Baby Crying: What You Need to Know:
On average, a baby cries two hours a day. That may seem like a lot, but it’s perfectly normal. All babies have periods when they cry more, and some cry more than others. This is, among other things, a question of temperament. Always remember to
All research agrees that babies cry the most and their crying is the most intense during the first three months of life. Several studies have shown that during this period, crying follows a certain pattern, called the crying curve:
- Around 2 to 3 weeks, the baby begins to cry more;
- Around 6 to 8 weeks, crying peaks;
- Then, crying gradually decreases until the child is 12 weeks old.
During these first three months, crying often starts and stops suddenly, without anyone knowing why, particularly in the late afternoon or early evening. So, it may happen that a parent is unable to calm a crying baby, even by feeding him, making sure his diaper is clean or cuddling him.
It is important that you do not doubt your parenting skills during these crying fits, which last on average 45 minutes, but can also stretch out for up to 2 hours. This crying is normal; it is not your fault. The main thing is that your child feels your comforting presence.
Can you let your baby cry?
It is not recommended to let your baby cry, even if he is no longer a newborn. A baby never cries to manipulate. His brain is not yet developed enough to allow him to manipulate his parents. He also does not have the ability to manage his emotions. Letting him cry does not help him learn anything.
Comforting your baby every time he cries is not likely to spoil him. In fact, he will become calmer and less anxious. When you respond quickly and calmly to his cries, your baby feels loved and safe. Your way of reacting thus influences the first bonds of love and the attachment that will unite you with your baby.
You must therefore be careful of preconceived ideas and the advice of those around you. Instead, trust your instincts, because no one knows your baby better than you.
Don’t pay attention to preconceived ideas like these: “It’s good, he’s developing his lungs”, “It’s building his character”, “He’s manipulating you to stay in your arms”, etc.
Letting a baby cry for a long time without comforting him could have negative consequences for his health (e.g.: increased heart rate and blood pressure, stress reaction).
Obviously, you can’t always respond to your baby’s cries by holding him in your arms, for various reasons (e.g.: your other child needs you, preparing dinner). Try to soothe your baby in another way, for example by speaking softly to him, exchanging a look with him, caressing him, etc. The important thing is not to ignore your baby’s cries.
The main messages of crying:
Some scientists believe that infants have different cries to express hunger, boredom, discomfort, colic, letting off steam at the end of the day, pain, etc.
However, this vision is not unanimous. More and more experts believe that listening to cries mainly allows us to measure a baby's level of distress, rather than to determine their precise cause. According to them, the louder the sound or intensity of the cries, the greater the baby's distress. Parents are also often able to guess their baby's needs based on the sound of the cries.
If you don't know why your baby is crying, pick him up. Even if this doesn't stop his crying, he will feel loved and supported.
Babies can express different things through their cries, including:
- hunger;
- fatigue;
- discomfort (too hot or too cold, wet diaper, burp to expel);
- the need to be close to his parent;
- the need to release his emotions;
- the need for stimulation;
- pain.
Even if your baby is strapped into a rocking chair or car seat, they should never be placed on a household appliance like a dryer, because they can easily fall off and suffer serious injuries.
Here are some tips to help you when your baby is crying
If their crying starts during feedings:
When a baby cries, their face can sometimes give the impression that they are in pain, even though this is not the case.
- Your baby may no longer be hungry, or they need to burp.
- They may have colic.
- They may want to suck instead of eating.
- Lay them down or rock them, offering them a pacifier, if they already take one, or a small toy to distract them.
- Don’t hesitate to take a break during feeding, vary the breastfeeding position or offer him the other breast.
If his crying starts when he is in your arms:
- He may be tired and wants to sleep.
- Even if your baby has only had a drink for two hours, he may still be hungry, especially if he is having a growth spurt. Or he may feel the need to drink to relieve his thirst. Breastfed babies also sometimes want to breastfeed to comfort themselves.
- He may need to suck to satisfy his need to suck, which is a survival reflex in infants.
- He needs stimulation (play, music, toy, massage, etc.).
- Something is bothering him: maybe he is cold? maybe he is hot (touch the back of his neck to find out)? is his nappies soiled? does he have nappies rash? Depending on the case, adjust his clothing, change his nappies or treat his rash.
If his crying starts when he is alone in his bed:
- He may be between two sleep cycles.
- Place a hand on his stomach to let him know you are there and reassure him. This may help him fall back to sleep.
- He may have slept enough, or he needs company.
- He needs to be reassured.
- He is cold, thirsty or hot (touch the back of his neck)
Successfully calming your baby will encourage and reassure you. However, when you fail to console him, you may feel anxious and lack self-confidence.
However, these moments can be useful: they will help you take a step back, reflect, observe your child better and better, and therefore get to know him better and respond to his needs. Each child is unique, and what can calm one baby does not calm another.
Separation anxiety: Around 8 to 12 months, children are intimidated by strangers, whereas they used to smile at them. In addition, they cry as soon as their parents disappear from their field of vision.
This worry is completely normal and is called “separation anxiety”. To find out how to react to this new fear and facilitate the entry into daycare if it occurs during this period, you can consult our blog on separation anxiety too.
Crying from colic or fatigue? Colic can start 3 weeks after birth, but it occurs more often between the 6th and 8th week. It tends to gradually disappear around the 4th month.
If all his basic needs are met, but he continues to cry, your baby may be suffering from colic. Generally, we can talk about colic when the child cries more than 3 hours out of 24, at least 3 days out of 7, for more than a week.
It is the crying that upsets parents the most, since they feel powerless to comfort their baby. This period of great agitation may also be, quite simply, the only way that the baby has to let off steam. It is the end of the day, he is a little grumpy and, through his crying, he releases the tensions accumulated during the day.
What to do when your baby cries?
Here are some suggestions to help calm your baby's cries:
- Talk to your baby in a soft, reassuring voice.
- Hold your baby as often as possible. Babies like to be held tightly against you. Human contact helps them relax, calm down, reduce their stress levels and feel safe. If necessary, place your baby in a baby carrier or adjustable sling to rest your arms. everal studies report a significant decrease in crying in babies who are carried every day. Don't worry about spoiling your child by holding him often.
- Touch him, especially on the tummy. A baby massage can soothe him and is completely safe. You can also place your newborn on his back, take his feet in each of your hands and have him pedal by gently bending his legs towards his tummy one after the other as if riding a bike.
- Bathe or take a bath with your baby.
- Provide a quiet environment for your baby: turn off or dim the lights, reduce ambient noise, and avoid loud noises.
- Avoid moving your baby around too much, as this may excite him more, while he may be expressing his need to rest. You can gently place him in his crib and stay close to him, talking to him, and see if he can calm down on his own. After a few minutes of crying in his crib, it is advisable to pick your baby up again.
- If you are breastfeeding, breastfeed him, as many babies calm down when they suckle at their mother's breast.
- Skin-to-skin contact with your baby. Remove your baby's clothes so that he is only wearing his diaper and take off your sweater. Then hold your baby in your arms against your chest and cover his back with a soft blanket so that he does not get cold. Skin-to-skin contact has a relaxing effect on babies. The warmth and movement provided by skin-to-skin contact can also soothe him if he is uncomfortable.
- Gently rock your baby in your arms. The combined effect of movement and warmth seems to calm some babies. You can also place your baby on his tummy on your thighs and gently rock him by moving your legs. If you cannot hold him, you can try placing him in a rocking chair or baby swing.
- Lay your baby on his tummy on your forearm with his head towards your elbow and holding his bottom with your hand. Take a few steps around the room while rocking him gently and massage his lower back if possible.
- Pick up your baby in your arms and bend his legs, holding him under his feet and behind his back. This may help his digestion.
- Take your baby for a walk in the carrier or stroller, as movement often soothes babies. You can also take your baby for a ride in the car. If your baby often cries at the same time, try to go out before he or she starts. This will make getting dressed and getting settled in the carrier, stroller, or car seat more comfortable for both of you.
- Swaddle your baby. Some babies love this feeling, while others don’t.
- Stay calm. Babies are very sensitive to the emotions of the adults who care for them. Your own stress can sometimes make your baby’s crying worse. If you feel angry, exhausted, and lose your temper, it’s important to get help and step away. Acknowledging your emotions can help prevent you from losing your temper.
- To relax despite the crying, take three deep breaths. Next, you can sing lullabies or listen to soft, soothing music or simple, regular, rhythmic sounds (e.g., ocean waves, rain falling). This may even be effective in calming your baby. Talking softly to your baby about your emotions may also help calm you.
- Respect your baby’s schedule. For example, if crying peaks at the same time each evening, try not to schedule activities at that specific time and consider eating ahead of time.
Remember that your baby may continue to cry despite your best efforts to soothe him. This is not your fault, and it does not make you a bad parent.
Please, you can help us too:
If you would like to encourage us to continue publishing baby's articles, please visit our site Jem-wellness.com, whose niche is health and well-being. Many of our products are intended to be used to combat illness or disability.