Nothing is more distressing to a new parent than listening to their newborn crying. As is common in newborn care, there can be a number of reasons causing this particular behaviour. In part three of the guide to newborn care series we’ll take a look at why newborns cry and when you should be concerned.
Deciphering the Tears
When your newborn is crying they are trying to communicate with you. This particular form of communication is not always intelligible though! Unfortunately, determining what your baby really wants is one of the trickiest parts of newborn care, which leaves many parents frustrated. Here are the most common reasons why they might be complaining.
Hunger
A newborn’s primary mechanism for telling you they are hungry is to throw a tantrum! A newborn needs to eat very frequently in the first few weeks of their life (8-12 times a day), so expect a lot of shouts for food.
Feeding can also go wrong for your newborn. As they quickly gulp down the milk, they can gulp in some air, causing them to have gas. This is very painful for a little newborn so make sure you take the time to burp your baby if they look to be in pain while feeding.
Tiredness
In between those frequent feedings, your newborn will be dozing off and restlessly sleeping. When they are tired, they will yawn, rub their eyes and of course — start to cry. The second most common cause of newborn crying is tiredness.
If you are certain their tears are not about hunger and they don’t have a dirty nappy (see below), then they are probably ready for a nap. Newborns can sleep anywhere between 12 and 19 hours a day, so this is also a frequent source of tears. In their first few weeks, fight the urge to show your baby around and let them get some rest — they will be much happier.
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Read More:
First Month Survival Tips for New Dad
Guide to Handling Colicky Baby for New Moms
4 Effective Ways to Bond with Your Baby
Guide to Newborn Screening for First Time Mums
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Dirty Nappy
A dirty nappy is another common cause of newborn crying. Thankfully this one is easy to check for!
The Baby Wants to be Cuddled or Moved Around
If you have eliminated the most common causes of newborn crying, then it may be one of the less obvious causes. Your newborn might simply feel like they need to be cuddled. You should try wrapping them up in a lightweight blanket and sitting with them for a while. Just make sure they aren’t too hot while being cuddled. Keep in mind the tears might continue if they are in an uncomfortable position, so try holding them differently.
If they are still in tears after a few minutes — try the opposite and walk them around the house. Many newborns prefer to be rocked to sleep. Some parents have reported that a baby who refuses to go to sleep will do so while in a car or in a pram.
Sometimes a baby will cry because they are lonely. You will notice the tears stop almost instantly when you pick them up. This can be a great time to bond with your newborn as they are craving your attention and love.
Too Hot, Too Cold, Too Noisy
It is common for a newborn to start crying if the temperature is too cold or too warm. Alter their clothing to make adjustments. However, remember that you shouldn’t put anything in a newborn’s crib with them — including blankets.
Other aspects of the environment can also bring your newborn to tears. Loud noises, electrical appliances and places with lots of movement going on can bring them to tears. They may need to be placed in a calm and quiet environment for a while.
When to Be Concerned
You will soon learn what your baby typically sounds like when they cry for the usual reasons. Watch out for any unusual crying behaviour. For example, if they suddenly start crying very loudly like they have had a sudden pain.
Although newborn crying is very frequent, they shouldn’t be crying for long periods for many days in a row. If they spend more than 3 hours of the day crying on a regular basis, they may have colic. Colic is a sharp pain in the abdomen caused by intestinal gas or an obstruction. This condition can affect 20% of babies and often appears a few weeks after birth. If the baby is experiencing inconsolable crying and the crying is persistent, talk to your doctor.
Newborn crying can be very stressful on parents. Remember that sometimes a baby might just be angry for a while. If you find yourself becoming very stressed about their crying, ask for help from a family member or health care professional.
Sources
Medical News Today,. (2014). What is colic? What causes colic?. Retrieved 9 July 2015, from medicalnewstoday.com/articles/162806.php
Kidshealth.org,. (2015). Formula Feeding FAQs: How Much and How Often. Retrieved 9 July 2015, from kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/formulafeed/formulafeed_often.html
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