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Learning Baby's CriesLearn When to let Baby Cry and When to Intervene
Gary Ezzo and Dr. Bucknam explain normal and abnormal crying periods common to infants and how to learn what each cry means.
One controversial concept discussed in Gary Ezzo and Dr. Robert Bucknam’s On Becoming BabyWise [Charleston Publishing Group Inc., 2006] is that of deciding when to answer your baby’s cries and when to allow her to cry. Instead of feeding on demand every time your baby begins to cry, Mr. Ezzo and Dr. Bucknam urge parents to stop and listen first. Some cries will indicate a problem, and some do not. Abnormal CryingWhen baby cries while she is eating, it should be considered abnormal. The reason for this cry typically means baby is not getting enough food fast enough. This might be from an improper latch, or simply a poor milk letdown. Baby might also need to be burped. If baby cries shortly after eating, and you know that she is not tired, she may have gas and need to be burped, be reacting to something in your milk (from something you ate), or may be hungry again due to a poor quality of milk. If baby wakes early out of a sound nap crying hard, this could be thanks to a couple of problems. Baby might have trapped gas, she might be reacting to something that was in your milk, or she could simply be hungry again. Mr. Ezzo and Dr. Bucknam warn parents about what they call the “45 minute intruder” (p. 144). This is basically a need to eat earlier than usual because of a growth spurt. Normal CryingBaby might cry before a feeding simply because she is hungry. Make sure that if baby is consistently showing signs of hunger before feeding times, that you take a look at your routine and make sure that you are meeting your baby’s needs appropriately. Crying at naptime is also considered normal. Baby may need to cry herself to sleep, according to both the authors of Babywise and the American Academy of Pediatrics. The word of advice given is to allow baby to cry for 15-20 minutes providing there is nothing wrong (baby has a dry diaper, does not need to be burped, has not spit up on herself, is not hungry or in pain). Fussing in the middle of naptime can also be simply baby going through a light sleep stage, and on the verge of falling into a deeper sleep. Read about naptime strategies to help problem solve other naptime problems. Another time when crying is considered normal is during the evening. Many babies have a fussy time in the evening, where little will console them. Some babies will suffer from colic episodes during this time as well. True colic will show up within the first two weeks and is often resolved by 12 weeks old. What Should Mom Do When Baby CriesParental assessment is the common theme that Mr. Ezzo and Dr. Bucknam emphasize in Babywise. When baby cries, mom needs to listen and decide on the correct response. Decoding baby’s cries is important, because food might not be the best solution. If baby needs a clean diaper, or needs to be burped, feeding baby will not solve the problem causing the tears. When learning your baby’s cries, pay attention to the time and situation surrounding the crying. If the crying occurs during a normal period such as naptime, timing the crying may help you realize that what seems like an eternity may in fact be only 10 minutes. Mr. Ezzo and Dr. Buckman urge parents to remember the importance of learning your babies cries instead of simply blocking that cry with a feeding.
The copyright of the article Learning Baby's Cries in Infants & Toddlers is owned by Jennifer Wagaman. Permission to republish Learning Baby's Cries in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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