All
babies cry sometimes. They have to. Even entirely
healthy newborns will cry for somewhere between one and three
hours each day. Unable to do anything for themselves,
babies rely on someone else to provide them with the food,
warmth, and comfort that they need. Crying is a baby's way
of communicating one of those needs.
Parents, even first time parents, expect their new babies
to cry sometimes. Most parents
aren't prepared for the fact that they may have to cope with a
crying baby for two or three hours a day though!
As a new parent, it can sometimes be difficult to work
out what your baby is telling you, is she hungry, cold, thirsty,
bored, looking for a cuddle? In the early days, when you
have not yet learned to work out what your baby needs, this
crying can be upsetting. However, you will gradually begin
to recognize your baby's different crying patterns and, as you
get to know her better, will be able to anticipate her needs.
Fortunately, most of that crying is not continuous.
Even when it isn't, it can still seem like your baby is crying
all of the time and that something is wrong with your baby.
As babies grow, they gradually learn other ways of
communicating with us, too. They get better at eye
contact, making noises, and even smiling, all of which reduce
the need for crying.
The causes of crying extends from simple reasons to life
threatening conditions. While it is prudent to investigate every
crying, it is also good to know that some babies cry habitually
without any real reasons, but will stop gradually.
Some common and simple reasons babies cry are listed
below:
Hunger One of the more common reasons is hunger.
A hungry baby will often cry until he gets the fed.
Discomfort
Tight clothes especially during warm weather is
intolerable for babies. Clothes can be restricting
and frustrating.
Fear
A loud noise or scary
occurrence can trigger an outburst of tears.
Stuffy
Nose or Nasal Blockage An infant may not be able to sleep when
they have a nasal blockage and will keep on crying
until the passage is clear.
Loneliness Some babies need someone near, they have
been with mom for nine months and to suddenly be
alone can be very unsettling.
Fatigue When baby is tired and unable to sleep,
he'll simply cry.
General aches & pains General body aches with restlessness is
often caused by flu, ear aches, infections, colic,
teething, and diaper rash.
Wet or
Dirty Urination and defecation cause some
discomfort and results in crying till he is cleaned
and made dry.
Hot &
Cold If he feels too hot or too cold he
becomes restless and cry. Ensure there is good
ventilation and the room temperature is just right.
Being the parent of a newborn is hard work. Being
the parent of a newborn who cries a great deal is even harder
work. Get help and support when you need it,
and remind yourself that this is a phase and it will pass
All
babies cry sometimes. They have to. Even entirely
healthy newborns will cry for somewhere between one and three
hours each day. Unable to do anything for themselves,
babies rely on someone else to provide them with the food,
warmth, and comfort that they need. Crying is a baby's way
of communicating one of those needs.
The
