Your baby communicates in all kinds of ways: smiles,
giggles, hand flailing. And then there's crying. Since they can't talk yet,
crying is a go-to mode of communication and can mean any number of things: your
baby's hungry, tired, scared, or even gassy.
IN THIS ARTICLE:
Rest assured you will learn to interpret your baby's
various cries in no time - and when you do, you'll be able to soothe them.
Here will discuss techniques for calming a crying baby
and answer questions like "Why is my baby crying?" “How do I help my baby
stop crying?” and “How do I cope with my baby’s crying?”
If your baby is crying at bedtime or waking during the
night upset, check out the Smart
Sleep Coach by Pampers™. This
game-changing app offers expert curated advice and science-proven guidance on
how to help your baby learn to love sleep - a very important skill that can
greatly improve their mood - and yours!
How Much Crying is Normal?
Newborns can cry for one to four hours every day. And
sometimes more. This may sound like a lot but remember that crying is used to
communicate lots of different needs or wants: hunger, dirty diaper, exhaustion.
In no time you'll learn the difference sooner than you
think. For example, your baby's "I'm hungry" cry may be a bit more
high-pitched than the "the dog got too close" cry.
Common Reasons Your Baby May Cry:
They’re hungry: Just like
adults, your baby can get cranky when hungry - and since they eat a lot, that
can happen pretty often. You'll likely learn to distinguish the "I'm
hungry" cry pretty early on, but some other signs include your baby
smacking their lips or moving their hands to their mouths.
They are wet or dirty: Dirty diapers
are another common and uncomfortable cry-worthy occurrence, especially for
newborns. As with "I'm hungry," you'll likely learn the "new
diaper" cry, as well as the rhythm with which your baby "goes."
But here too are some ways to check if a diaper needs replacing:
Check its wetness indicator: Pampers diapers have a line that changes to blue when
the diaper inside is wet.
- Sniff test: An old school favorite because it works.
- Touch test: If the inside is wet, it’s time for a change.
- Sag test: Is the diaper sagging or heavy? Time for a change!
They're Tired: Parents will
relate to this one - sometimes your baby's so tired they just have to cry.
This is often referred to as overtired, following a
developmentally appropriate schedule in tune with their biological sleep
rhythms can help here. Download, the Smart Sleep Coach by Pampers™ and get a personalized sleep plan and schedule that updates
automatically with each sleep tracked! Plus it notifies you when it is time for
a nap or bedtime, so you can always stay one step ahead of their sleep.
They’re Too Hot or Too Cold: A good rule of
thumb during the day is to dress your baby in the same number of layers you're
wearing, and +1 at night.
They Have Reflux: It's common
for babies to spit up and vomit occasionally, but if it happens very often,
they may have GERD, gastroesophageal
reflux disease. Call your
doctor if these things happen:
Frequent spitting up or vomiting. This is more than the usual spit-up.
This is consistent and regular spitting up or, more likely, vomiting.
Fussiness after feedings. Usually babies are tranquil after meals; if
your baby's not, this may indicate a problem.
Losing weight or not gaining weight. Babies gain on average 5-7 ounces a
week.If your baby's deviating from this too much, check with your pediatrician.
Tip: Wait at least two or two-and-a-half hours
between feedings to prevent overfeeding.
Food allergy? If your baby
cries or is sick after eating, they may have a food allergy. If you suspect a
food allergy, consult your pediatrician. Also, if you’re breastfeeding, you may
want to consider changing your diet to reduce caffeine, spicy foods, or dairy
products - all of which can be common irritants for babies. But, again, consult
your pediatrician on this front.
Teething: Teething typically begins around the
3- or 4-month mark. If your baby's this age and suddenly fussy or crying, that
may be the cause. Giving your little one a gum massage or teething ring can
help.
Fever: "Fever" is defined as a rectal
temperature of 100.4. This can be cause for concern, and you should call your
pediatrician if you observe the following:
Your baby's 2 months or younger and has a temperature of at least 100.4°
F
Your baby is 3-6 months, and their fever is 101° F or higher.
Your baby is older than 6 months and has a 103° F fever or higher.
Tip: Remember that it's always okay to call your
pediatrician if you're concerned. They are there to help and won't be bothered.
And, trust us, they've been asked all kinds of questions.
Overexcitement: The world is
new to your baby, so it's entirely possible they're crying because of too much
excitement. For example, house guests or a vacation could overstimulate your
baby. If you suspect this is the cause, simply take them to a quiet room until
they calm down.
Boredom: See? We told you crying is adaptable.
Just like crying can indicate overstimulation, it can also indicate boredom. If
you suspect your baby's crying from boredom, consider singing them a song or
taking them for a stroll.
Stress: A bit like being overexcited, a baby
may experience stress that causes them to cry. This is completely normal -
crying is their way of “shutting out” the world and managing their emotions. If
this happens they may be inconsolable for a little while but will likely be
calmer - and may even fall into a nap - once they’ve worked it all out.
Colic: Last and definitely least desirable cause
for crying is colic - the term for inconsolable long-term crying. It can start
around the 4-week mark and last until the 3 or 4 month mark. It's
distinguishable from other crying because:
- Colic goes on for longer
- Your baby may turn red in the face from crying so much,
- Colicky babies often draw their legs into themselves.
How to Soothe or Calm Your Crying Baby:
We encourage you to check on and engage your baby if
they’re crying during the day, and sometimes at night. While solving the
problem may be as easy as changing their diaper, here are 14 ways to soothe
your baby when they're crying:
1.
Swaddle: Wrapping your crying baby comfortably
in a lightweight cotton blanket can work wonders at soothing them. That said,
you should only
swaddle until they're
about 2 months old.
2.
Make it Dark: Sometimes bringing your baby into
a darkened room - like their room with the blackout curtains closed - can help
calm a crying baby. This is especially true if they're crying from
overstimulation, like house guests. (Also, this can be good for you, too!)
Creating an ideal sleep space is a core fundamental of better sleep, take our
free sleep assessment if your baby
is struggling with sleep right now.
3.
A Warm Bath: Warm water can help calm and relax
a crying baby.
4.
Burp Them: If your baby's crying after a meal,
they may have a bit of gas. To help them, and reduce the crying, burp them.
How to Safely Burp Your Baby:
Here are three methods to burp your baby….
- Over the
Shoulder:
Put a burp cloth over your shoulder to prevent messes.
Hold your baby to your chest with their head on your shoulder. Place one hand
under them to support their body. With the other hand, gently pat your baby's
back with your palm.
- Sitting On Your
Lap:
Place your baby on your lap sitting upright. Support your
baby's chest and head with one hand while gently patting their back with the
other.
- Laying On Your
Lap:
Lay your baby tummy down over your lap. Support your
baby's head so that it's slightly higher than their chest and gently pat their
back.
5.
Loving touches: If your baby's crying,
sometimes holding them, stroking their head or patting their cheek is all it
takes to calm them down.
6.
Sing or Talk Softly: You're likely doing this
already, but it bears saying that just the sound of your voice talking sweetly
or singing can help a crying baby relax.
7.
Take a Walk: A stroll around the block or
neighborhood can distract or pacify a crying baby. Plus, the fresh air is good
for you both.
8
. Wear Your Baby: As with the
deep breathing and holding techniques, this longer-term contact provides motion
and closeness that make your baby feel safe and secure - two antidotes to
crying.
9.
Gently Rock Your Baby: Whether manually in your
arms or with a rocking chair, the rocking motion can remind your baby of the
warm, welcoming womb, which helps calm them. If that doesn't work, try a swing
or a glider for a similar effect
10
. Go for a Car Ride: A tried and
true method for calming a crying baby is a drive in the car. The rhythmic
motion can help lull an upset baby.
11.
Deep Breathing: No, your baby
can't do deep breathing yet, but you can - simply hold your baby close to your
chest, either with clothes or skin-to-skin, and take some deep, calming
breaths. The rhythm and your calmness can help soothe a crying baby.
12.
Calming Sounds: Sound machines, white noise, or even just
a regular fan can help relax a crying baby - especially when listened to in a
dark, calm room.
13.
Calming Music: If you're over
the sound machine or want to try something new, calm music, such as classical,
soft folk or slow R&B can help bring a baby from meltdown to mellow. No
matter what genre, just keep it low tempo and low volume.
14.
Pacify Them: Not all babies
like pacifiers, but if yours does, see if a pacifier will - well, pacify them.
Learn more science-driven tips and expert curated
techniques to soothe your baby by downloading the Smart Sleep Coach by Pampers™. It is jam packed with everything
you need to help establish
healthy sleep habits for your baby,
which in turn helps the whole family rest easier.
How To Cope with a Crying Baby:
Hearing your baby cry can be upsetting, and that's
especially true if you can't get them to settle. This is completely normal.
And, yes, sometimes you won't be able to calm your baby. That too is normal.
So, what do you do if your baby's crying?
Here are 5 tips for coping with a crying baby:
1.
Take deep breaths and count to 10: This works
in other stressful situations, too.
2.
Listen to calming music: Just like calming
music can help soothe your baby, it can help soothe you, too.
3.
Call a friend. Good friends are always there
for you to vent, and there's no shame in doing so. BUT, if you don't even want
to talk about it, you can always call just to chat and have some "me
time." Your friends will probably be thrilled to hear from you - and you
them!
4.
Do some chores: This may not be as fun as
calling a friend to gab, but chores go a long way in calming one's nerves. Just
think of the phrase "busy hands, quiet mind." And, who knows, maybe
the vacuum sound will calm your baby.
5.
Take "Me Time": If your baby's crying
and you can't calm them, or yourself, it's completely acceptable to put them
safely in their crib, close the door, and take 10 minutes for yourself. It's
better to do this than keep getting frustrated, which your baby can sense, and
which can cause them to cry even more.
The Smart
Sleep Coach by Pampers™ also
includes mindfulness techniques and emotional support to help you grow and
thrive through parenthood’s ups and downs.
What is considered excessive crying?
If your baby is crying for more than four hours or their
crying gets progressively worse, shriller, or more urgent over the course of a
few hours, it may be colic or a medical condition. If you suspect something is
wrong, always reach out to your baby’s pediatrician.
Your peace of mind is important and they are there to help.
Finally, we must
mention that you should never shake a baby to “snap them out of it” or from
frustration. This can cause irreversible damage or death. If you’re struggling
to copy with your baby’s crying seek professional help.