Help! My baby Is Always Crying!

All babies cry as this is their only means of communication with the outside world. While this is normal, some babies can seemingly cry NONSTOP! In this article, we would run through the reasons most babies cry and how to stop them

What Do Babies Cry And How Can I Stop It?

All babies are different and they react differently to certain conditions. However, these are the most common causes of crying in babies:

Hunger: This is the most common cause of tears. You can avoid this by looking for early markers of hunger, including lip-smacking, moving a fist to his/her mouth, or chewing their hands.

Heat or cold: The baby might be reacting to uncomfortable weather conditions. This can be taken care of by dressing your baby in the same layers of clothing you are wearing.

Illness: The baby might be ill. One of the most common indicators of illness in babies is a raised temperature. You may also notice reduced activity of the baby and rejection of feeding. If you observe any signs of illness in your baby, please visit your doctor as soon as possible.

Dirty diapers: Stool in your baby’s clothes can be a massive irritant to the baby. Not cleaning it off can cause pain and burns to the babys’ skin.

Overfeeding: Sometimes, babies cry because of bloated stomachs. As much as possible, please avoid overfeeding the baby.

Separation from the baby’s primary caregiver or adoption.

What If I Still Don’t Know Why My Baby Is Crying?

Swaddling: You can wrap your baby in a blanket so as to make the baby feel secure.

Side or stomach position: Putting babies on their side and/or stomachs soothes them. However, please ensure the baby only sleeps on their back.

Swinging/Rocking: Rocking your baby in a back-and-forth manner/ rhythmically helps to calm them down and relax. You can rock your baby in a rocker or in your arms

Sucking on a pacifier can also help to calm your baby

Colic: Babies with colic are usually inconsolable and cry for hours on end. The baby may also cry during feeding. While it is a relatively common experience in babies, there is no straightforward treatment for it. It usually occurs most often before two weeks of age and usually goes away by 3 months of age.

Observe Your Baby’s Preferences

Difference in the cries: Over time, you would be able to differentiate the “I am tired” cry from the “I am hungry” cry. There would be differences in the arch of the baby’s back, the noise level, and the pitch.

Reaction to situations and settings: Different babies react to different settings. Some cry when they sense too many people while others cry after overexposure to light.