List of Things to Check for when an Infant Cries
Experienced Parents Use a Mental Check-List to Guess What's Wrong
Jan 6, 2009
It’s actually a toss-up in the initial days as to who is more helpless, the newborn infant or the first-time parent. To help tide over that initial period, from those first days to the first couple of months, here’s a list of the most common reasons why a baby cries. Figure out the cause, and the remedy is usually straightforward, though not always easy.
Hunger
Especially in the initial days, this is the most obvious and frequent reason for a baby’s crying. The remedy is simple; either breast-feeding or the bottle according to your preference. Feed-on-demand is recommended by many doctors today, so you might want to consider this option.
Stomach Discomfort or Indigestion
Equally, a baby will cry if his or her tummy is over-full, or not at ease.
- A big cause of sudden wailing and whimpering could be discomfort due to fullness, in which case the baby would need to be burped. It often happens that a baby stops crying the minute you pick him up; the act of putting him across your shoulder itself often puts pressure on the baby’s stomach and burps him.
- One cause of chronic crying, especially in the early months, could be due to colic. Colic-induced crying tends to occur at the same time of day or night every day. Pacing with the child helps, and a drive in a car often stops the crying dramatically.
- Another condition that causes recurrent crying is constipation, since the child will have discomfort and pain. Increased hydration would be the remedy.
Soiling
If it is not feed time or the child has just been fed, check the nappy. Some infants are extremely sensitive to even the slightest moisture, and will not tolerate even a little wetting. Watch out for redness and nappy rash, which could cause additional irritation.
Insect Bite
If you’ve checked all of the above and the child is still crying, examine him or her for signs of insect bite – redness, rash, swelling, etc. Given the presence of food and moisture around the baby, it would be prudent to check for an ant or a mosquito! If you do spot any redness, dab on some soothing cream or powder that has your pediatrician’s approval.
Thirst
This is not common in very young infants, as all their fluid needs are met through milk or formula. In older children who have moved on to solid foods, thirst is an often-overlooked reason for crying, especially in hot weather. Often, a few sips of water or fruit juice will calm the child.
Chill, Fever or Illness
The crying is very different when a child is unwell, and he or she usually conveys distress very eloquently, with a constant whimpering or whining. Do call the doctor immediately in such a situation. Extreme, unusual quietness can also indicate illness in rare cases.
Just for Laughs – or Boredom?
These are the basic survival reasons for which an infant normally cries. But babies are also social animals, and will cry to be picked up, or to have someone spin the mobile again and again, or to fetch the soft toy that she has just thrown over the side for the umpteenth time. Before you decide to indulge or to discipline, make sure you have run through the check-list - and the answer is negative to all of the above.
