Self Care

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Crying in Infants

 

Crying is the only means available to communicate for a new born baby.

There are many reasons for an infant to cry :

hunger, gas, a wet diaper, or just prior to a bowel movement. Babies cry, too, when they are tired or sick.

Crying for 20 or 30 minutes a few times a day may be a typical pattern for one infant but unusual for another. The amount of crying can also vary from one day to the next for the same baby.

It is important for you to be aware of the reasons that your baby cries and what is normal for him or her. A sudden, dramatic change in a child’s crying pattern may be a sign of illness.

Colic

The difficulty in digesting breast milk or formula is defined as a colic. It is marked by a bloated stomach and long crying spells lasting up to 2 or 3 hours.

It most commonly occurs in the late afternoon or evening hours.

Caring for an infant with colic can be a frustrating and exhausting experience. Most cases of colic go away by the time the baby is 4 months old.

Self Care in Infants :

Try the obvious methods of relief first, such as picking the infant up, changing the diaper, or burping him or her. Some researches believe that holding the baby over your heart will help to stop crying.

Try offering a pacifier, walking with the baby or rocking in a chair, or taking the Infant.

If you believe all the baby’s needs are met and the Crying still doesn’t stop, it may be necessary to let the child cry until he or she get tired and falls asleep. Put the baby down in another room, close the door, and check on him or her in an hour.

Note whether the crying seems to fit into the baby’s normal pattern. If it seems unusual, the baby may be sick.

Consult the physician if the baby continues without stop for more than 4 hours .

Self Care for Colic :

Bouts of colic usually occur after feedings. If you feel confident that the child has eaten enough, avoid feeding the baby again since that may aggravate the condition.

Hold the baby upright to ease the discomfort.

If you want to lie the baby down, try placing him or her stomach-down across your lap and rub the baby’s back.

Signs and Symptoms that should be treated immediately :

Continuous crying for longer than 4 hours that is not typical for the child.

Suspicion that the baby is ill.

Sudden change in length of time baby cries.

Fussiness not typical for the child that continues for more than 3 straight days with no obvious cause.