Reason Behind Infant's Crying Fit

Caring for a newborn can be a challenging yet rewarding experience. One of the most common concerns for parents is understanding why their baby cries and how to soothe them. Here are some key points to help navigate through this phase.

Understanding Newborn Cries

Newborns need to be fed every one to three hours during the first few months. Signs of hunger in a newborn include chewing on their hand, smacking their lips, and moving their head towards a touch on their cheek (rooting).

Babies cry a lot primarily because it is their main way to communicate needs such as hunger, tiredness, or discomfort. This crying is largely influenced by genetics and their still-developing ability to self-soothe. Most babies tend to cry less after about three months of age as they gradually learn to regulate their emotions and sleep patterns better.

Common Scenarios and Solutions

Feeling too hot or too cold can make a newborn uncomfortable and cause crying. Check for signs of discomfort, such as warmer skin on the chest or back of the neck, or cold nose or ears. Strategies to calm a crying baby include checking for hunger, diaper changes, warm baths, walks, pacifiers, reducing overstimulation, and skin-to-skin contact.

If your baby is still fussy after trying various strategies, perform a head-to-toe check for signs of redness, irritation, injury, or wrapped hair. A full diaper can irritate a newborn's skin and lead to crying. Changing a soiled diaper can prevent diaper rash.

Gas buildup in a newborn's tummy can cause pain, bloating, and crying. In addition to being extra fussy, gassy babies may pass gas loudly or have a distended belly. A new strategy to help with gas in babies is placing them on their back and bicycle their legs gently. Warm baths and over-the-counter simethicone gas drops can help with gas relief in babies, but their effectiveness varies.

Special Considerations

Colic is excessive crying for no apparent reason, typically occurring in the late afternoon and evening, and lasts for more than three weeks. If your baby meets the criteria of colic, it may increase the risk of shaken baby syndrome. It's crucial to stay calm when dealing with a crying newborn to avoid such risks.

Newborns sleep up to 20 hours a day and may need help falling asleep. Soothing methods include swaddling, rocking, or holding skin-to-skin.

Food intolerance symptoms in babies include bloody stools, diarrhea, gas, and poor weight gain. Cow's milk and soy are common causes of food intolerance. If you suspect a food intolerance, consult your baby's healthcare provider before making any dietary changes.

When to Seek Help

Reasons to call your healthcare provider immediately include bloody stools, excessive spitting up or vomiting, fever, not eating or drinking, and signs of food intolerance or colic. Dr. Noah Schwartz, a pediatrician, advises parents to use a checklist to identify common scenarios causing a newborn's crying. At around four months, Dr. Schwartz recommends considering sleep training to help teach a baby to self-soothe and put themselves to sleep.

Navigating the cries of a newborn can be challenging, but understanding their needs and responding appropriately can help ensure a healthy and happy start for your baby.