When your baby cries
It is very upsetting when your baby cries and you don't know how you can help him, when nothing seems to work. Below I'm giving you some ideas that may help your baby and may help you cope with your crying baby.
Why is your baby crying?
Most of the time it will be because he is hungry but your baby may sometimes cry for other reasons as well.He may be too cold, too warm, he may feel uncomfortable because he needs to pass stool or needs to be burped.
Maybe he is over tired or over exited if, for example, there were too many visitors or too much noise.
Maybe he feels lonely and wants to be with you, to smell you, to touch you, to feel you and to be cuddled in your arms.
Babies need lots of physical contact.
Being close to their mother is very reassuring for a baby.
The rhythm of her breathing and her heartbeat are familiar to him and they soothe him.
Many times all that is needed to calm down a crying baby is to put him on your breast.A baby's cries should never be ignored. Crying is a survival mechanism to express some unmet need. It is your baby's only way of communication, of letting you know that he needs you. The sooner his needs are attended to, the greater will be the relaxation and enjoyment of both you and your baby. Don't be afraid of "spoiling"your baby, you can't spoil a baby by giving him loving attention and care.
Some ways to soothe a crying baby
* Hold baby against your shoulder and walk him up and down, gently patting his back.
* Put him in a baby sling and go for a walk. In a baby sling your baby is in a comfortable and natural position while leaving your hands free.
* Sit in a dark room with him and rock him or lie down to nurse him on the bed.
* Give him a nice warm bath.
* Put on some soft music and sing or talk to your baby.
* Give him a massage.In some cultures it is customary that babies are held and carried a lot. In these cultures it is unusual to hear a baby cry.
Studies have shown that babies who are held a lot (in arms or a baby sling) cry less.Some babies have a fussy period every day, many times in late afternoon. This fussiness is different from a baby who cries because of colics.
A baby with colics has a piercing cry, sharp gas pains and often draws his legs up to his abdomen or goes rigid and arches his back.
Continued crying causes the baby to develop gas and further aggravates the discomfort. Colics usually occur at about the same time every day in late afternoon or evening and can last for hours.
The mother of a colicky baby may experience feelings of frustration, rejection by her crying baby and physical exhaustion from constantly trying to soothe and comfort him.
The cause of colics has not been pinpointed. Colic is more prevalent in bottle fed babies, yet it is not unknown in the totally breastfed baby.
Some theories relate it to stress and tension in the mother and child; others blame an immature digestive and intestinal system or allergies.In addition to the above ways of soothing a crying baby you can also try carrying him in the colic hold (Lie baby across your fore arm, tummy down, with your hand supporting his chest).
More frequent, shorter feedings may also be helpful since an overfull stomach can be painful to a colicky baby. A gentle stomach massage while keeping the baby warm with blankets or even hot water bottles will help him to release tension and thereby encourage passing of gas. Folding his legs up to his stomach will also help him eliminate gas.One theory connects colic with allergies. Removal of possible allergy sources may provide relief to the colicky baby. It is best to feed your baby nothing but breastmilk and at the same time monitor your own diet since most of what you consume will pass through your milk to your baby. Foods as milk, eggs, chocolate, nuts and food coloring are potential sources of discomfort to the allergic baby. You may want to eliminate these products one by one from your diet and see if the condition of your baby improves.
A crying baby is very distressing for the mother, especially when she has tried everything and nothing seems to help she may begin to feel helpless and desperate, she will need a lot of support from those around her.
It is important to remember that by simply holding your baby you are doing something very important: you are letting him know that you love him and that you are there for him.
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Breastfeeding - Advantages for Mother and Baby
How the breast works and prenatal nipple care.
Positioning of the baby on the breast.
How often and how long should I breastfeed my baby.
Is my Baby getting enough milk?
Night feeding
When your baby cries
Engorgement, plugged ducts, breast infection and sore nipples
Breastfeeding and working.
Storing breastmilk.
Family planning while breastfeeding