Why do babies have fussy periods?
What's making my baby cry?
How can I comfort my baby?
What if my baby won't stop crying?
What is a colicky baby?
One way babies tell you what they want is to cry. They cry when they're tired, hungry or wet. By paying close attention to your baby's different cries, you'll be able to tell the difference between a cry for help and a little sleepy cry.
Most babies cry a lot. Studies show babies cry for an average of one hour and 45 minutes a day when they're 2 weeks old, and three hours a day when they're 6 weeks old.
Why do babies have fussy periods?
From the time they're 3 weeks old until they are about 12 weeks old, babies have their fussy times - even if they aren't wet or tired. Very often this fussy crying happens just before dinnertime. Doctors believe babies have these crying periods because their senses get overloaded from all the stimulation of the day. Typically, when these crying sessions end, the baby is tired enough to fall into a deep sleep.
What's making my baby cry?
To determine why your baby is crying, run down this checklist on possible causes:
- Tired?
- Hungry?
- Uncomfortable (example: wet or soiled diaper, too hot, too cold)?
- Bored?
- Sick?
A hungry cry is usually short and low-pitched, and it rises and falls. An angry cry tends to sound angry - more forceful and upset. A cry of pain or distress typically comes on suddenly and loudly with a long, high-pitched shriek followed by a long pause and then a flat wail.
How can I comfort my baby?
The best way to handle crying is to respond quickly to your baby when he cries during his first few months. You cannot spoil a young baby by giving him attention.
First things first. If you're baby is wet and hungry, change her diaper first, and then feed her. If her cry sounds panicky, consider whether a diaper pin is open, or the sticky tab to a disposable diaper may be sticking to her. If she's dry and well fed, but still crying, try the following techniques for comforting techniques:
- Rock baby, either in a rocking chair or in your arms as you sway from side to side
- Pat baby's back or chest or gently stroke her head
- Walk with baby in your arms or in a stroller
- Sing to the baby
- Take the baby for a ride in the car
- Swaddling (wrap baby snugly in a receiving blanket)
- Rhythmic noises (example: a fan or playing soft music)
- Burping baby to relieve any trapped gas bubbles
Sometimes, you may just have to simply leave the baby alone. Many babies fall asleep crying and will go to sleep more quickly if left to cry for a while. The crying shouldn't last long if the baby is truly tired, though.
What if my baby won't stop crying?
If no matter what you do, your baby continues to cry and the cries sound peculiar, she may be sick. Check her temperature. If it is over 100.4 degrees F (rectally) or higher, she could have an infection. If the baby is heavily bundled, you may want to first unbundle the baby and recheck the temperature in about 20 minutes. If the temperature remains elevated, contact your pediatrician immediately.
The more relaxed you try to be, the easier it will be to calm your baby. It's excruciating to listen to a wailing newborn, but getting angry will only intensify your baby's screams. If you start to feel you can't handle the crying, get help from another family member or a friend.
Whatever you do, do not shake a baby or handle her roughly. Shaking an infant hard can cause blindness, brain damage or even death.
What is a colicky baby?
Colicky babies cry more than most babies, and their crying is different from regular crying. Their cries tend to be more intense and sound similar to a scream. When they cry, they may draw their arms and legs toward their bodies and may seem like they're in pain. Sometimes they stretch out their arms and legs and stiffen, then draw up again. They may even turn bright red from crying.
No one is sure what causes colic. It may be caused by stomach pain. Colic usually starts between the second and sixth week after birth, and usually goes away by the age of 4 to 6 months.
It's not your fault if your baby is colicky. You can try to soothe your baby by changing the way you feed her. The American Association of Family Physicians offers these tips:
- Try feeding your baby if more than two hours have passed since the last feeding. Try feeding your baby more often but less at a time.
- If you feed your baby formula, your family doctor might suggest trying a different one. Sometimes switching to a hydrolyzed protein formula can help stop colic or at least make it better. Warming the formula to body temperature before a feeding may also help.
- Try using a nipple with a smaller hole on the bottle if a bottle-feeding takes less than 20 minutes and your baby seems to like sucking.
This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
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