Saturday, February, 11, 2012

Crying in infancy

Table of Contents

Almost everyone recognizes that infants cry for many reasons and that crying is a normal part of infancy. However, the stress and anxiety that parents experience in response to frequent or constant crying can be considerable.

The sound is perceived as an alarm, and it is very frustrating not to be able to figure out what's wrong and soothe the baby. Parents, especially first-time parents, begin to question their ability to cope if the child frequently cannot be comforted.

WHY INFANTS CRY

At times, infants cry for no apparent reason. In general, though, crying is a response to something. It is sometimes difficult to figure out what is bothering the infant at the time. Some possible reasons include:

  • Hunger. Newborns want to eat day and night, often every 2 - 3 hours.
  • Pain caused by gas and or intestinal spasms after feedings. The pain develops if the baby has been fed too much or not burped enough. Foods that a breast-feeding mother eats may cause gas or pain in her child.
  • Colic. Many infants ages 3 weeks to 3 months develop a crying pattern associated with colic. Colic is a normal part of development that may be triggered by many factors. It usually occurs in the late afternoon or evening hours.
  • Discomfort, such as from a wet diaper.
  • Feeling too hot or too cold. Babies may also cry from feeling too wrapped up in their blanket, or from wanting to be bundled up tightly.
  • Too much noise, light, or activity. These can slowly or suddenly overwhelm your baby.

Crying is probably part of the normal development of the central nervous system. Many parents say they can hear a difference in tone between a cry for feeding and a cry caused by pain.

WHAT TO DO WHEN A BABY IS CRYING

When you are not sure why your baby is crying, try eliminating the sources that you can address:

  • Make sure the baby is breathing easily and the fingers, toes, and lips are pink and warm.
  • Check for swelling, redness, wetness, rashes, cold fingers and toes, twisted arms or legs, folded earlobes, or pinched fingers or toes.
  • Make sure the baby is not hungry. Do not delay for long when your baby shows signs of hunger.
  • Make sure you are feeding the child the proper amount and burping the baby correctly.
  • Check to see that your baby is not too cold or too hot.
  • Check to see whether the diaper needs to be changed.
  • Make sure there is not too much noise, light, or wind, or not enough stimulation and interaction.

Review Date: 11/02/2009
Reviewed By: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)