Crying is the way babies communicate. It signals parents to rush to their baby’s side and console them. Even so, being unsure of the reason they cry can further upset your little one, and this can be frustrating for the whole household. In addition, parents may start to doubt their parenting skills if they repeatedly fail to soothe their crying baby.
Reasons for babies to cry
Parents cannot afford to be by their baby’s side at all times to coddle them, so it is okay to let your baby call for your help on their own. A few reasons babies might cry include:
- Hunger
With their rapid growth spurts and small stomach size, it is normal for your baby to demand food often. When they do so, their cry will be low-pitched and repetitive.
- Dirty nappy
Wet and soiled diapers can irritate their thin, sensitive skin. If left for too long or if the area is not well cleaned, your baby could develop nappy rash, which causes discomfort.
- Tiredness
Babies need up to 18 hours of sleep per day. Being repeatedly stimulated by sound, touch, and light can lead to lack of sleep, and inadequate rest can make them cranky.
- Discomfort
Inconveniently placed clothes or bedding tags, or the coarse threads from their own clothing, could rub on their skin constantly and cause annoyance, as could clothes that fit too tightly.
- Illness
Babies often cry when they are sick, and very sick babies may have a high-pitched cry. Look out for other signs of illness, such as fever, vomiting, rash, weakness, poor feeding, restless sleep, and not being active as usual.
- Colic
This term refers to excessive and inconsolable crying in a healthy and well-fed baby, which is common in the first three months of life. Infantile colic generally resolves on its own as babies grow older.
| The rule of 3’s in recognising infantile colic
Crying for: · more than 3 hours a day · more than 3 days a week · more than 3 weeks |
5 ways to soothe crying babies
Once the reason for crying has been ascertained, the next step is to come to your baby’s aid. Comforting your baby will not only strengthen the bond between you and your child but also foster a sense of trust and make your little one cry less frequently over time. Here are five tips to practice:
- Address the cause
Most of the time, the solutions are straightforward. Removing the cause of their distress by feeding, changing the diapers, or rocking them to sleep will easily soothe and quieten your baby.
- Provide a comfortable environment
Since babies spend most of their time lying down, their clothes should be made of soft and breathable material like cotton, not fit too tightly nor too loosely, while the room they sleep in should not be too cold, too warm, or overly bright.
- Bond with your baby
Holding and massaging your baby can sometimes stop the crying. Skin-to-skin contact has been proven to help babies and parents relax. One of the techniques to improve bonding between parent and child is Kangaroo Mother Care, which is done by holding your baby on your chest to let both of your skins touch.
- Use the 5S’s strategy
Shushing, swaddling, swinging, sucking on a thumb or breast, and being held on their side or stomach remind babies of their time in the womb and provide them with a sense of calm.
- Seek help
When all of the above fails, parents should consult physicians immediately, especially when their baby cries for far too long and has poor feeding or other visible symptoms. If the baby is not physically unwell and you are feeling overly stressed or tired by your baby’s crying, you can ask someone to take over the care temporarily. Having a break is important to maintain both the baby’s and parents’ health and safety.
Parents will be more adept at handling their crying baby as their experience grows. Knowing the various reasons why your little one might cry and applying the right techniques to calm them can save you a lot of trouble and bolster your confidence as parents.
