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When a baby is born the first activity being expressed is crying. This is an innate nature and although these crying newborn babies can be pretty disturbing, it is considered a true blessing for it is a manifestation that the babies’ lung has expanded and is breathing normally. Newborn babies cry because their breathing is healthy without obstruction. Most importantly, newborn babies cry not only to facilitate breathing but also to express their form of language or communication into their new world.
Newborn babies do cry a lot and even healthy newborns tend to cry in an average of one and three hours each day. Since babies are still too young to tend for themselves, they rely on someone else to provide them their needs such as food, warmth, and comfort. In the process of conveying a message, newborn babies cry as a way of communicating one of those needs. New parents experience a difficult time on understanding what their babies are trying to tell them. Most of the time, when these parents can’t figure out what their baby needs, the repetitive newborn crying can be very upsetting and distressing. However as the mother bonds and spends more time with the baby, she gradually understands the baby’s different crying patterns and was able to anticipate her baby’s needs. Understanding the various causes of crying in newborn babies is an integral part of parenthood in order to meet the newborn baby’s needs in order to survive and live healthy.
The following may be considered causes or reasons why a newborn baby cries. As parents it is your job to figure out why your baby is crying and what is he thinking in order for you to address your baby’s concerns appropriately.
Hunger
Most newborns eat very often and they get hungry every few hours round-the-clock. A hungry baby cries to convey the message that he is hungry and needs to be fed. In fact the main reason why parents develop sleepless nights is due to feeding pattern of newborns as they are needed to be fed every 3 to 4 hours at night. A feeding schedule is usually initiated in order to address this problem. In most cases a feeding plan of every 2 to 3 hours throughout the day and every 3 to 4 hours during the night is implemented. For breast feeding mothers who have insufficient supply of breast milk, bottle feeding is additionally given to supplement the baby’s hunger. Some babies cry even after feeding which is an indication of insufficient milk supply and in response, parents should increase the amount of milk to help soothe a baby’s stomach as it fills up. If the baby started to gulp during the feeding, it is time to take a break and stop. When the baby continues to cry after being fed abundantly then perhaps the baby is conveying on another form of need other than hunger.
Thirst
Babies may develop thirst due to a strong formula mix or a high salt content in breast milk. It must be noted that only when the mother is dehydrated or when there is poor drainage of breast milk from the tissues, are the cases wherein breast milk may contain high salt content leading to baby’s thirst. In order to express the baby’s thirst, he may cry incessantly even after being fed and failure to meet this need may cause neonatal hypernatremia.
Wet or Soiled Diaper
Babies do feel uncomfortable on a wet or soiled diaper which may trigger tears. But to some babies, a wet or soiled diaper do not cause crying and in this manner, it is important to check the baby’s diaper often to make sure it is clean or dry. If diapers are left soiled and wet this could develop into a nappy rash which may become dry and itchy and then may contribute to more incessant baby crying.
Lonely Baby
There are babies who need a great deal of cuddling and reassurance. When they are left alone they may start to cry and seek attention. Babies do need physical contact for comfort and sometimes just simply seeing you, hearing your voice or being cuddled can stop their tears. Cohesive bonding with the baby by gently massaging or lightly patting the back may soothe a crying baby.
Gas Bloating
During feeding, babies may swallow air and may cause bloating leading to intestinal cramps, abdominal distention and pain. This will definitely elicit episodes of crying among newborn babies. It is important to take time during and after feeding to allow the baby to burp and relieve the bloatedness causing pain. A condition called lactose intolerance may also cause gas bloating and gastrointestinal symptoms.
Colic
Although the cause of colic symptom is unknown it is believed to be related to gastrointestinal conditions which may trigger prolonged crying on babies. Colic can also be associated with gas bloating. Continuous severe crying despite attempts to relieve the baby’s discomfort may need a physicians consult and therefore should not be ignored. This condition may lighten down after three months of age.
Baby’s temperature – too hot or cold
Some parents tend to wrap their babies with very warm clothing or blankets which may cause discomfort. The same goes when a baby feels too cold. Parents or care givers should remove or add layers of clothing when needed.
Baby clothing
When parents do not dress their babies appropriately, they tend to make their babies uncomfortable. Some clothing materials may cause skin itching, irritation and discomfort and this may include tight elastic bands, wool, and synthetic textiles. Such discomfort may elicit crying and therefore, parents should consider their baby’s comfort first before anything else.
Tired baby
Sometimes during a busy day, especially when relatives or visitors are around, babies receive a lot of attention and may become overstimulated and get tired. Newborns have difficulty coping with too much stimulation form the environment which may include lights, noise, being cuddled and hugged by visitors and relatives. Some babies do cry a lot when there are many visitors inside the house. In this manner babies cry in order to convey that they are tired and want some sleep. Please note that babies sleep longer hours compared to adults and they may need up to 16 hours of sleep each day.
Change position or move
Babies do like to move in different positions and they tend to cry to communicate they want to move and change position. You can soothe the baby by rocking, walk through the house, or simply changing in position as needed.
Mother’s diet
A mother’s diet may influence the taste of breast milk causing babies to cry when they detect the change of taste in breast milk. For this fact, mothers are advised to avoid caffeine, alcohol, and spicy foods in their diet.
Infections/Illness
When babies encounter infections such as in the upper respiratory tract consisting of ear, nose, and throat areas, they tend to cry incessantly and become irritable. Other illnesses which cause inconsolable crying among babies are chickenpox, allergies, asthma, hay fever and eczema. A consult with a pediatrician is needed to manage these disease conditions properly.
Other causes of newborn baby crying are influenced by environmental, physical, mental, and emotional factors. These other causes are the following:
- Stressed or emotional mothers and mothers who have postpartum depression
- Separation anxiety, usually separation from mother
- Uncomfortable bed and inadequate baby facilities
- Traveling or change of place
- Gastrointestinal symptoms
- Breathing problems
- Insect bites
- Skin rash (miliaria)
- Infant constipation
- Urinary tract infections among babies
Rare causes of crying among newborns include the following:
- Intestinal obstruction
- Meningitis
- Injury caused by accident, fall, or abuse
- Testicular torsion
- Septicemia
- Urine retention
- Neonatal teeth causes discomfort in feeding, biting tongue accidentally, or biting hands and thumb
- Dental eruptions
REFERENCES:
ttp://www.babycentre.co.uk/baby/newborn/babycrying/
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/healthy-baby/PR00037
