What to do when baby keeps crying
It signals parents to rush to their baby's side and console them.
Even so, parents being unsure of the reason their little one is crying can further upset the child, which can be frustrating for the whole household.
In addition, parents may start to doubt their parenting skills if they repeatedly fail to soothe their crying baby.
Reasons for crying
Parents cannot afford to be by their baby's side at all times to coddle them, so it is okay to let your baby call for your help on their own.
A few reasons babies might cry include:
With their rapid growth spurts and small stomach size, it is normal for your baby to demand food often.
When they do so, their cry will be low-pitched and repetitive.
Wet and soiled diapers can irritate their thin, sensitive skin.
If left for too long or if the area is not well cleaned, your baby could develop nappy rash, which causes discomfort.
Babies need up to 18 hours of sleep per day.
Being repeatedly stimulated by sound, touch and light can lead to lack of sleep, and inadequate rest can make them cranky.
Inconveniently-placed clothes or bedding tags, or the coarse threads from their own clothing, could rub on their skin constantly and cause annoyance, as could clothes that fit too tightly.
Babies often cry when they are sick, and very sick babies may have a high-pitched cry.
Look out for other signs of illness, such as fever, vomiting, rash, weakness, poor feeding, restless sleep and not being active as usual.
This term refers to excessive and inconsolable crying in a healthy and well-fed baby, which is common in the first three months of life.
Infantile colic generally resolves on its own as babies grow older.
Here's the rule of three in recognising infantile colic: the baby will cry for more than three hours a day, more than three days a week, and more than three weeks.
Soothing your baby
Once the reason for crying has been ascertained, the next step is to come to your baby's aid.
Comforting your baby will not only strengthen the bond between you and your child, but also foster a sense of trust and make your little one cry less frequently over time.
Here are five tips to practice:
Most of the time, the solutions are straightforward.
Removing the cause of their distress by feeding, changing the diaper or rocking them to sleep will easily soothe and quieten your baby. > Provide a comfortable environment
As babies spend most of their time lying down, their clothes should be made of soft and breathable material like cotton, and not fit too tightly nor too loosely.
The room they sleep in should not be too cold, too warm nor overly bright.
Holding and massaging your baby can sometimes stop the crying.
Skin-to-skin contact has been proven to help babies and parents relax.
One of the techniques to improve bonding between parent and child is Kangaroo Mother Care, which is done by holding your baby on your chest to let your skins touch.
Shushing, swaddling, swinging, sucking on a thumb or breast, and being held on their side or stomach, reminds babies of their time in the womb and provides them with a sense of calm.
When all of the above fails, parents should consult physicians immediately, especially when their baby cries for far too long and has poor feeding or other visible symptoms.
If the baby is not physically well and you are feeling overly stressed or tired by your baby's crying, you can ask someone to take over baby's care temporarily.
Having a break is important to maintain both baby's and parents' health and safety.
Parents will be more adept at handling their crying baby as their experience grows.
Knowing the various reasons why your little one might cry and applying the right techniques to calm them can save you a lot of trouble and bolster your confidence as parents.
Dr Norazlin Kamal Nor is a consultant developmental paediatrician. This article is courtesy of the Malaysian Paediatric Association's Positive Parenting programme in collaboration with expert partners. For further information, please email starhealth@thestar.com.my. The information provided is for educational and communication purposes only, and it should not be construed as personal medical advice. Information published in this article is not intended to replace, supplant or augment a consultation with a health professional regarding the reader's own medical care. The Star does not give any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to the content appearing in this column. The Star disclaims all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.
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What to do when baby keeps crying
Crying is the way babies communicate. It signals parents to rush to their baby's side and console them. Even so, parents being unsure of the reason their little one is crying can further upset the child, which can be frustrating for the whole household. In addition, parents may start to doubt their parenting skills if they repeatedly fail to soothe their crying baby. Reasons for crying Parents cannot afford to be by their baby's side at all times to coddle them, so it is okay to let your baby call for your help on their own. A few reasons babies might cry include: With their rapid growth spurts and small stomach size, it is normal for your baby to demand food often. When they do so, their cry will be low-pitched and repetitive. Wet and soiled diapers can irritate their thin, sensitive skin. If left for too long or if the area is not well cleaned, your baby could develop nappy rash, which causes discomfort. Babies need up to 18 hours of sleep per day. Being repeatedly stimulated by sound, touch and light can lead to lack of sleep, and inadequate rest can make them cranky. Inconveniently-placed clothes or bedding tags, or the coarse threads from their own clothing, could rub on their skin constantly and cause annoyance, as could clothes that fit too tightly. Babies often cry when they are sick, and very sick babies may have a high-pitched cry. Look out for other signs of illness, such as fever, vomiting, rash, weakness, poor feeding, restless sleep and not being active as usual. This term refers to excessive and inconsolable crying in a healthy and well-fed baby, which is common in the first three months of life. Infantile colic generally resolves on its own as babies grow older. Here's the rule of three in recognising infantile colic: the baby will cry for more than three hours a day, more than three days a week, and more than three weeks. Soothing your baby Once the reason for crying has been ascertained, the next step is to come to your baby's aid. Comforting your baby will not only strengthen the bond between you and your child, but also foster a sense of trust and make your little one cry less frequently over time. Here are five tips to practice: Most of the time, the solutions are straightforward. Removing the cause of their distress by feeding, changing the diaper or rocking them to sleep will easily soothe and quieten your baby. > Provide a comfortable environment As babies spend most of their time lying down, their clothes should be made of soft and breathable material like cotton, and not fit too tightly nor too loosely. The room they sleep in should not be too cold, too warm nor overly bright. Holding and massaging your baby can sometimes stop the crying. Skin-to-skin contact has been proven to help babies and parents relax. One of the techniques to improve bonding between parent and child is Kangaroo Mother Care, which is done by holding your baby on your chest to let your skins touch. Shushing, swaddling, swinging, sucking on a thumb or breast, and being held on their side or stomach, reminds babies of their time in the womb and provides them with a sense of calm. When all of the above fails, parents should consult physicians immediately, especially when their baby cries for far too long and has poor feeding or other visible symptoms. If the baby is not physically well and you are feeling overly stressed or tired by your baby's crying, you can ask someone to take over baby's care temporarily. Having a break is important to maintain both baby's and parents' health and safety. Parents will be more adept at handling their crying baby as their experience grows. Knowing the various reasons why your little one might cry and applying the right techniques to calm them can save you a lot of trouble and bolster your confidence as parents. Dr Norazlin Kamal Nor is a consultant developmental paediatrician. This article is courtesy of the Malaysian Paediatric Association's Positive Parenting programme in collaboration with expert partners. For further information, please email starhealth@ The information provided is for educational and communication purposes only, and it should not be construed as personal medical advice. Information published in this article is not intended to replace, supplant or augment a consultation with a health professional regarding the reader's own medical care. The Star does not give any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to the content appearing in this column. The Star disclaims all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.
