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10 reasons your baby may be crying.
Our little humans are just like us, the only difference is that as adults when we are uncomfortable, we can speak up and/or comfort ourselves. Here are 10 reasons your baby may be crying, sometimes comforting your baby is a process of elimination.
Baby is hungry
Babies need to be fed every two to three hours. At this point, you’re probably thinking, ‘Oh, I’m still a baby then’ while also recalling your recent trip to the kitchen or refrigerator. Babies usually cry when they are VERY hungry, these cries might be accompanied by sucking motions or gulping. Imagine how your mood changes when you are hungry, baby feels this way too. A quick tip might be to create specific feeding times to avoid overfeeding and to create routines. Also, not every cry means ‘I’m hungry,’ even if your grandma tells you to give him a bottle or breast every time he screams.
Baby needs to burp
Remember that we mentioned that babies usually cry when they’re quite hungry? Imagine the way we eat when we’re hungry, STUFFING. In their rush to drink milk, they sometimes gulp down mouthfuls of air. This air when trapped in their tummies become a tad uncomfortable. I know you’ve all had those gas problems, if you haven’t, you will with your busy mum schedule making you sometimes miss meals. When your baby feels this discomfort, they’ll cry after feeding. Some mums find it helpful to help their babies burp during feeding or by simply feeding little one in a more upright position.
Diaper needs changing
Mami, your underwear is wet, your butt begins to itch, there is also this peanut-buttery feeling between your butt cheeks, are you utterly grossed out yet? Your baby is too. Most babies feel some discomfort when their nappies are damp or dirty. So, what do they do? The only thing they can to communicate it, you got it, cry. It feels a bit cold and heavy. Little one’s wails might indicate that a diaper change is needed. Remember, he’s new to this world and his skin is very sensitive so to avoid rashes or discomfort, change diapers as soon as possible after heavy-duty jobs or after some lighter ones. For the first five months, babies sometimes go through 8-10 nappies daily. If it seems like a lot, remember that there are reusable options too.
Baby is sleepy
Babies are little humans just trying to find their feet (quite literally, as many of you mummas will notice their tendency to find their feet and promptly eat them). Your baby may cry simply because he is trying to get used to a new routine, his body and systems are getting used to a sleep cycle which is a strange to get used to in the first few months. They may also crave social contact with their parents as many babies detect that sleep time means being away from their parents. Babies may also cry when they want to sleep but there are too many things happening around them so they ‘fight off’ this fatigue and this results in a cranky, crying baby. Just think of when someone wakes you from the precious 2-hour nap between feedings.
Is baby hot or cold
Your little one is sensitive to changing temperatures so this can affect how they feel. Aren’t you sometimes tired or even grumpy when it’s too hot or when you feel sticky? It’s the same for babies. Inside might be cool or sometimes with AC, too cold, they’ll cry because they want warmth. Outside might be too hot and they feel stifled while swaddled in a cloth. We’re in the Caribbean, many of us hate wearing clothes as it stands, imagine being in a onesie, swaddled and with a cap too, JAH. Be aware of these little changes as this can be a cause for crying for your little one.
Is a tag scratching baby
So, you just couldn’t resist buying that onesie saying ‘Ladies man’ or the adorable t-shirt with caption ‘New heartbreaker on the block.’ However, little one is not impressed and is wailing at full lung capacity. You washed it, you checked the size, everything seems okay. A minor detail that we sometimes forget is that irritable tag. Remember how uncomfortable the tag on that new underwear felt, it’s probably worse for the baby’s new skin. Sometimes this can cause itching and discomfort and be a source of crying.
Are clothes too tight or not properly buckled.
The screaming fit. When clothes are too tight or now properly attached, your baby may cry. Remember that babies have fragile bodies so tight clothes might mean that their stomachs or other organs might be facing too much pressure. The same goes for poorly adjusted clothes where the strap is attached to the wrong button and causes a strain. Simple and practical styles should help in this area. Your little one is growing quickly and by 5 months, they usually double their birth weight so buying a size bigger can help, pants can be rolled up and sleeves detached. Always double check clothing after dressing them if you detect crying. Also, just think of how it feels when we push ourselves into those pants that we know will stifle the family treasures because they’re a size TOO small. Voilà, your baby’s sentiments.
Is baby sick
So, you’ve ruled out that little one isn’t uncomfortable, gassy, having wardrobe malfunctions or sleepy. You’ve also checked out whether it could be teething fussing or not. Ok, so now it’s a little bit more serious, you have to consider the likelihood that your baby may have some flu symptoms, a seasonal bug or something a little more than discomfort. You may see symptoms like a runny nose, feverish temperature, diarrhea, vomiting, and a lot of fussing. Babies can also cry if they have infections. This is more serious than your clothing tag issue and if it persists you should contact your pediatrician. Remember, crying is their main communication tool so try to rule out possibilities and pay attention to your baby’s cries because sometimes it’s more than just fussing.
Does baby have colic
Colic is natural phase for babies and most experience it so don’t worry, your baby is fine. Colic spells become routine crying periods for babies. These cries are normally high-pitched, loud and it seems like you can’t really comfort them. They sometimes clench their fists, wiggle around or stiffen up while screaming. I know it hurts to see them like this, but it is a normal part of the process as they get used to the world. It may be a reaction to formula, new digestive patterns and sounds. This is frequent in babies starting around 3 weeks to 3 months old, the worse period is 6 to 8 weeks. You can try to comfort them by walking, singing, talking or simply being there. Ensure that all other bases are covered (food, clothing etc.) so that you can be a bit more certain that it’s colic. You’re doing great mom!
Is baby constipated
We all know how uncomfortable constipation is, clogged, unhappy, painful. Imagine tiny dealing with it. Sometimes formula changes or insufficient fluid intake may cause constipation. In older babies, they might associate passing stools with pain and so they delay their potty. Breastfed babies tend to have more runny stools whereas formula produces a firmer stool. Your baby may cry because of the discomfort caused by constipation. You can check whether he’s constipated by the smell his stool produces, changes in his toileting patterns, a hardened tummy, or when appetite decreases. Please contact your pediatrician if your baby doesn’t produce stools in 2 to 3 days. Remember, just like a poop a day, keeps the doctor away for us, poop is a sign of a working digestive system for them.
Sites consulted:
ttps://www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/week-10/decoding-cries.aspx
https://www.parents.com/baby/care/newborn/10-things-to-know-about-newborns/
https://parenting.firstcry.com/articles/3-reasons-why-do-baby-cry-before-sleeping/
https://www.todaysparent.com/baby/baby-health/is-my-baby-crying-because-shes-sick/
