Babies cry. It’s what they do. It’s their way of communicating with us. We know it’s normal, but to an exhausted mama or dad, the sound of our baby’s crying can be stressful. We want to help, but we don’t always know how. Here are some of the reasons your child might be crying, and what you can do to help.
1) He might be hungry. Newborns need to eat often: at least every two hours, sometimes more. They’re not yet accustomed to your schedule (they don’t know that daytime is for playing and eating, and nighttime is for sleep.) If your baby is crying, one thing you can do is to try feeding him.
2) He might need a fresh diaper. Babies aren’t born with bladder (or poop) control and they need to be changed often, too; at least as often as they eat!
3) He might be too hot or too cold. Check his skin color: is he pale or flushed? Check the temperature of the back of his neck. Does he feel too hot or too cold? He should be dressed appropriately for the weather. A good rule of thumb is to dress your baby in one layer more than you’ve dressed yourself.
4) He might be tired. Babies need lots of sleep, but sometimes they have a hard time getting themselves there. Some ways you can help your baby get to sleep include rocking him, taking him for a walk, or singing to him. With time, you will get to know your baby, and you’ll learn how best to help him.
5) He might be just fine. Some days you might try all of the above, and your baby could continue crying. It doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong. He is still learning, just like you.
Research shows that when a parent hears the sound of his/her own baby crying, the parent’s own blood pressure rises. (This doesn’t necessarily happen with any old baby. Only your OWN baby.) Parents, this means that we’ve been hard-wired for connection with our little ones. So when you feel stressed out by the sound of your child crying, know that what you are feeling is normal. And please know that it is ok, once you’ve made sure the baby is safe, to place him in his crib and walk away. Sit down in a comfortable chair in another room and take some deep breaths. You are in this motherhood thing for the long haul; you need to make sure you take care of you, too.
If you’re looking for more advice on how to soothe your baby, a great reference is: “The Happiest Baby on the Block” by Harvey Karp, M.D. You can find it in many libraries or bookstores.
* For any questions or concerns, such as persistent crying with no apparent cause, or for further parenting tips, please make sure to contact your baby’s doctor.
** Nursing Tips is the place for all things baby-care! Got a question? Post it in the comments below, and we’ll try to answer it next time!
