Crying and Colicky Babies

Crying is your baby’s only way of communicating with you. At first, it can be difficult and distressing for you, especially if you are a new parent but remember a large part of parenting is trial and error and you will soon learn to anticipate and interpret his needs. It is important to remember that no baby has ever cried himself to death. You need to know how to interpret what each cry means and you will know this very quickly if you spend time with him.

Reasons why babies cry

1.        I am hungry

2.        I am wet or dirty

3.        I am too cold/ too hot

4.        I am not comfortable

5.        I want to be cuddled

6.        I don’t feel good

7.        I can’t take it anymore

8.        Where is everybody?

9.        None of the above 

If your little one is wailing, just work your way down the list and you should find the cure.

Hungry cry

When you touch the sides of his mouth, he will turn towards your fingers searching for food. The crying usually stops once food is in the mouth but some babies will continue complaining so keep on feeding. Sometimes baby will cry instead of closing the mouth so you may have to help him by gently pushing the lower jaw up to close the mouth.

Wet or dirty

Some babies are particular and do not like very wet or soiled nappies and will cry to let you know when the nappy is full and need changing. Once you have changed the nappy they are all smiles again. Others are not bothered until you smell it or when you pick them up.

Too cold or too hot

All babies dislike being naked and they cannot sleep if they are cold especially when they have cold feet. Sometimes swaddling or just putting a cloth over the feet will stop them crying. Sometimes a pacifier may help.Most babies are less likely to complain about being too hot so you will only recognize this when you see that his face is flushed or that he is sweaty.

Not comfortable

This is usually due to position or something that is irritating him. As the baby grows bigger, he can push himself until he is wedged against the cot and needs to be repositioned.

Need to be cuddled

Babies need a lot of cuddling and they vary a lot in how much they want to be held. There is no such thing as spoiling your baby by cuddling her. They grow up so fast and before you know it, they are too big to carry and cuddle. Some babies just want to be by your side without being held.

Do not feel good

The cry of a sick baby is very distinct from the cry of hunger or frustration and you will recognize when your baby does not sound right and needs to be taken to the doctor.

Can’t take anymore

Babies can become over stimulated from the noise and being passed from hand to hand and crying is the only way to say “I have enough.” Some babies may even have nightmares during the night from over stimulation.

Too silent

Babies do not live in a silent world in the womb. Many new parents try to make it so silent that they whisper and tiptoe when baby is asleep then they wonder why baby wakes up crying. They sleep better when there is soothing sounds so keep the radio on and let the DJ bore him to sleep.

None of the above

Many newborns have periods of fussiness when it is difficult to soothe them and you just cannot figure out what to do. This has happened to me a couple of times and my last resort was to take Marie to her doctor. The moment we walked through the door she smiled and cooed at the doctor who looked at me as if I was an idiot; and, I had to pay him RM75.00 to be told that there was nothing wrong with her especially when I am a so-called ‘expert’ on baby care.

What is colic?                                               

Colic is a label for a pattern of crying in a healthy, well-fed infant under 3 months of age that has no explanation. Colicky babies cry a lot more than others and can be difficult or impossible to soothe. The baby's crying usually intensifies between 6 and 8 weeks of age, and then diminishes when he is 3 months old. Colic means that even though your baby is healthy, your life for the next couple of weeks is going to be tough. It is often associated with too much wind in the tummy.

Some signs that tell you that your baby has colic:

• The outbursts occur on a regular basis.
  




• It happens at the same time every day and lasts from between 15 minutes to 4 hours.
  




• He draws his knees up to the body.
  




• He has flushed cheeks.
  




• He has clenched fists
  




• Eyes are squeezed shut in apparent pain.
  




• He has a lot of wind.

What can you do?

The best way to deal with colic is to stay calm and be patient. Although it can be very distressing to hear your baby crying for hours on end every day, it will pass eventually.
Parental anxiety does not cause colic. On the other hand, colic can stress parents out, and an anxious parent will find it hard to soothe a fussy baby.

Some steps that you may want to try.

• Burp more often even if he is breastfed.
  




• Check your diet if you are breastfeeding Citrus fruits and juices, strawberries and tomatoes are high in acidity and may irritate the infant. Dairy products in mother’s diet can also lead to “intolerances” in baby. The problem is usually due to the milk protein found in milk, cheese, butter, yogurt, ice cream, etc. Soy and peanut intolerance in babies often accompanies dairy intolerance
  




• Check your feeding technique and equipment if you are bottle-feeding.
  




• If bottle-fed, consider changing the formula to lactose free or specially formulated formulas for windy baby. Check with baby’s paediatrician or health care provider first.
  




• Some babies love being swaddled because it gives them a sense of security.
  




• There are baby massage techniques that may be effective in helping baby to release gas. Simply applying light pressure on the tummy can soothe and help. Daily massage with calming oil may help reduce the episodes of colic.
  




• Chinese windy oils, usually applied to the tummy after a bath helps the baby to burp and reduces wind in the tummy.
  




• Your baby may calm down if he sucks on a pacifier or his fingers.
  




• Rhythmic rocking in a swing cradle or bouncinette may soothe the baby. If using these items, do not leave your baby unattended as baby may fall out if he is too active.
  




• Swing cradles – eastern types called sarongs. Although used for decades, I do not recommend this as the curvature of the sarong may make it difficult for some babies to breathe. A very active baby may fall out if left alone.
  




• Herbal remedies such as weak teas brewed from fennel, chamomile or anise.
  




• Antispasmodics medications such as Infacol only work for 50% of babies. You can give him Gripe water but only after baby is one month old.
  




• Aromatherapy with soothing scents like lavender, anise and chamomile may help some babies.
  




• When your nerves are frayed and you have exhausted all efforts then there is no harm in a little prayer. This has helped me many times whenever Marie or any of the babies at my centre were fractious.
  




• Old wives tales - Bathing baby with 7 pomelo leaves. This actually works most of the time. I find that the baby is less fussy a couple of days after the bath. How does this work? I do not know.

Look after yourself too   

A colicky baby can leave you feeling drained and exhausted which only adds to the problem. Once you know when the crying will start, you can try to plan your day around the time your baby starts crying. It is a good idea to eat your meal earlier so that you have plenty of energy to get through the difficult period. Relax yourself mentally and physically, as your baby will know if you are stressed and this makes it harder for him to settle down. Give yourself a break from time to time by asking someone else to take over. Knowing that you are not alone can be a great help.

Good luck!