We all as adults use vocal language,body language and expressions as a way of communication and to convey our needs. But just give a thought as to how a baby who has not developed language can communicate and express his needs to parents or any caretaker? Yes,you are right. Crying is the only communication way the baby knows. So to express his/her daily needs and emotions of hunger, thirst, urination, defecation, feeling of wetness and need to change diaper, itching, pain
, he/she use crying as a language.
1. Hunger
As adults, we don't need assistance to eat when we are hungry. But your baby is dependent on you or caretaker for feeding. Remember that babies are not patient when it comes on fulfilling their natural needs. They will cry and increase volume of crying till they get feed and get's satisfied. This is beneficial for their survival.
There are some clues baby will show you when he/she is hungry. You observe baby well and you will get to know that baby is hungry as he/she is showing hunger clues. Some of the hunger clues are :
- Making sucking movements
- Sucking fingers and hand vigorously
- Turning head towards things touching cheeks and side of mouth
- Becoming alert and active
- Cry is the last sign of hunger and you should not wait till this long to feed as feeding becomes difficult when baby starts crying.
When you get these signs feed baby immediately, this is called as demand feeding. Ensure that you give a good burping time to baby for 15-20 minutes.This will decrease chances of colic and gas in baby.
2. Pain
Pain is actually a protective natural response in a human being. Pain can occur due to trauma, colic, abdominal pain, earache, strain over any body part during massaging, uncomfortable prolonged posture like long tummy time or even a thin thread or hair pulling on fingers can bother a baby.
Vigilant parents can make out trauma or injury site by local swelling, redness and pain while touching that body part. Other causes of internal pain can not be made out from mere observation. However mother or caretaker can take some measures to sooth the baby which will be effective on all types of internal pain.
Some of the soothing measures are :
- Feeding the baby
- Cuddling the baby : Baby loves cuddling and it gives baby a sense of safety and helps to make baby sleep faster.
- Rocking the baby slowly. Make sure that you don't shake baby vigorously in an effort to make him calm otherwise there is danger of developing shaken baby syndrome.
- Playing low volume soothing music or white noise music
3. Illness
Illness in a baby being it to be an viral infection, constipation, urine infection or infection in brain can cause discomfort in baby. In illness sometimes baby can cry excessively and mother can make out the difference between usual cry and cry due to illness as it will be of different intensity and speed. But sometimes, baby can become lethargic during illness due to energy loss in controlling infection.
Some of the clues you will get if baby is ill are as follows :
- Baby will be having fever. Take temperature of baby either oral or axillary. If axillary temperature is more than 99.6 degree fahrenheit or oral temperature is more than 100.4 degree fahrenheit then it is considered as fever.You can give Paracetamol in a dose of 15 mg per kg body weight to the baby and can do tepid sponging after 45 minutes if temperature doesn't come down. But as a word of caution don't treat baby at home and immediately consult pediatrician as fever in any baby below 6 months is an alarming sign.
- Lethargy or sometimes high pitched cry in a baby is a sign of illness.
- Crying before and during passage of urine is a normal phenomena in a baby. But if child is passing less urine and cloudy urine and crying excessively while urinating,it can be a sign of urinary tract infection.
- Watery stools and vomiting
4. Colic
Their stomach may feel tight and tender to the touch. They may draw their legs up with each painful cramp,clench fists tightly, their face and body becomes red while crying, they can make arching position while crying. The whole picture and episode of such crying can quiet be scary for parents.
''Rule of 3'' of colic :
- Baby cries for at least 3 days a week for 3 Hours and this occurs for 3 consecutive weeks.
What are the remedies for colic? :- Give a good burping to baby after each feed
- Give baby tummy time daily
- Give a gentle abdominal massage
- You can give a warm bath to baby
- Gently rock the baby and play soothing music
- You can try giving Colicaid drops after consulting pediatrician
5. Room Temperature
Far from ideal temperatures could also be why babies cry so much. This could be a reason as to why your baby is crying. Extremes of temperature can cause discomfort in baby. The ideal room temperature for baby differs according to age of baby. Consult your pediatrician and discuss about it with them.
6. Overtired
In the beginning, most newborns sleep an average of 18 hours a day; however, the time is divided into constant sleep-awake segments. For the first three to four months of your baby’s life, they probably will sleep for only two to four hours at a time. How do you know when they are sleepy?
After they are fed, diapered, and awake for a while, they will become fussy as sleep is near. Some infants are overstimulated and may “fight” sleep. Why is my baby crying? Baby is crying because they are sleeping, yet they still want to stay awake to play and cuddle with you.
Tips to make baby sleep faster are as follows :
- Lower the noise level in sleeping room
- Don't overstimulate baby by showing videos, loud music or playing with them
- Dim the lights in the room
- Your baby may take a while to make himself/herself comfortable in bed.
7. Soiled Diaper
Wet and soiled diaper can be a reason for crying in most of the cases. It makes baby uncomfortable due to wetness, heaviness of diaper.
Sometimes baby cries more during diaper changing time due to following reasons :
- Local wetness can cause a feeling of cold due to air flow and causes more discomfort
- If baby is having diaper rash, movements and touching to the affected area can lead to pain
Making Diaper Changes Easier
If you’re having trouble with quick diaper changes, there are some things you can do to make sure that the baby stays distracted during the process:
- Sing a song
- Make “baby noises” and baby faces
- Give them a toy to play with with bright color and some sound
8. Teething
Although infants are usually born without teeth, their tiny tooth buds are waiting to break through the skin. Teething is a major developmental stage that is marked by painful, swollen gums, and constant crying. If you cannot calm your baby’s cries, and they are about six to ten months old, they may be teething.
The gums may be tender and swollen, and the baby may fight to take a bottle. Many infants run a low-grade fever too. Soothe the discomfort with a cold teething ring. Your child may also get relief by chewing on a biscuit. Many parents swear by herbal or over-the-counter remedies that are rubbed on the gums. Why is my baby crying? Baby is crying because teething is one of the most significant forms of pain they experience.
9. Anxiety
Newborns are completely helpless in their new environment, and the baby is crying because they are scared of new things. They depend on their parents to satisfy their needs and to keep them safe. If your infant feels threatened in any way, they will try to get your attention. Specially after 9-10 months baby develops stranger anxiety. Stranger anxiety comes early in nuclear families than joint families.
10. Boredom
Babies are very curious in nature and always try to explore new things. They gets easily bored with same things. Hence offer them toys in which they have to apply their skills and knowledge to get different results, take them out home in a new environment, engage them in a structured play.
11. Lack of Sleep
Often babies become restless and irritable if they don't get enough sleep and rest. Rubbing of eyes, Decreased playfulness, yawning are some early clues that your baby is sleepy. Take them immediately for sleep. Follow sleep hygiene mentioned above for sound sleep.
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