6 Most Common Reasons For Baby-Cries
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Seeing a person cry is often heartbreaking, and when it is your baby crying – it is heart wrenching! Babies tend to cry a lot and for various reasons, and it is common, natural, and expected. But whatever the reasons be, watching them cry is painful and unbearable. Our first instinct is to keep them from crying and try to bring a smile on their face. How far is their crying normal and what should you know about it? Well, read on to find out more.
1. The Crying Behavior Of Babies
Crying is essential for babies as it helps them communicate that they are either hungry, tired, or irritated. If your baby ate two hours ago, chances are she’s hungry. If she has been up for more than an hour or hour and a half, playing and flapping her hands in the air, it’s likely that she is tired. You may sometimes know or not know why your baby is crying, but it is essential to understand the cues.
2. Sometimes Your Baby Is Inconsolable
Your baby’s cries don’t come to a halt at once. No matter what you do, your baby can be a fair bit inconsolable. It is normal and should not worry you. You just need to find cues to distract your baby from crying.
3. If Your Baby Is Hungry
Your baby’s cries will sound adamant and desperate, with a high-pitched cry. Just think of when you last breastfed your baby. If it has between 90 and 180 minutes (or if it has been two to four hours since it was bottle-fed on formula milk), then see if your baby tries to suckle its thumb, gets frantic, or wiggles. It is a sign that she is hungry and offer to feed her. If your child is on formula milk, she might not take much of it if the feed is under two hours since the last feed.
For babies who are on mother’s feed, and it’s been less than an hour since their last feed, ask daddy to step in and take over. Babies don’t like it when they can smell their mom’s milk and not get it.
4. If Your Baby Is Tired
Your baby reflects its tiresome through rubbing eyes as if wanting to sleep, or its eyelids are half-closed. You can look for physical signs such as puffiness or redness under your baby’s eyes. Swaddling your baby keeps it warm and nice to put him to bed. Your baby would fall asleep in no time once you swaddle it.
5. If Your Baby Is Colicky Or Is In Pain
When your baby cries inconsolably, it is either colicky or in pain. The cries could be piercing. Your baby may arch her back and bring her knees up to her chest. You can ease your baby by swaddling and hold her on her side. You might also want to have an anti-colic drop as prescribed by your doctor to be prepared for events like these. Other ways of comforting are by offering your breast or a pacifier.
6. Your Baby Must Be Overstimulated
Your baby might shriek out of boredom and begin throwing objects around. You could use patterns to keep your baby engaged and prevent the crying. Employ white noise such as the sound of a whirring fan or a Hoover. The other technique is to give a gentle lukewarm towel bath (if your baby has already had her share of bathing for the day).
7. If Your Baby Uncomfortable
If your baby is feeling too hot or too cold, if there is no ventilation, or if the clothing chokes your baby, she would cry. The cries would be accompanied by the ‘uh-UH’ sound. Look for these cues and either keep the room at optimum temperature, facilitate some aeration or ventilation and depending on how warm or cold or uncomfortable your baby’s clothes are keeping her, give her a quick dress change. Also look for any diaper rash or soiled diapers. There is medicated lotion that can help alleviate diaper rash in babies.
You may not have been aware of all of the above, but now you would know when and why your baby is crying. Try to pick hints and understand cues. You, as a mother, would know your baby best!
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