A crying baby can drive parents to despair. Parents often feel helpless and overwhelmed. There are various reasons why babies cry, and some can be sorted out quickly. It always takes a lot of patience, inner calm and resilience. Try not to get flustered – it’s fine for a baby to cry. Perhaps they’re simply hungry!
Hunger or a full nappy
Most often, babies cry because they are hungry. So don’t hesitate to offer your baby a feed. If they are hungry, they will settle down by suckling at the breast or, if you are not breastfeeding, from a bottle. Make sure you burp your baby well after a feed or even in between feeds.
Some babies become uncomfortable when their nappy is full. This can be quickly remedied by putting a fresh nappy on your baby. Make sure you change your baby’s nappy in a comfortably warm room and only undress them as much as necessary. Babies get cold quickly.
Physical contact
It’s also quite possible that the baby is no longer comfortable in their current position. Newborns cannot yet turn themselves over. They rely on your help. Try laying the baby down in a different position or holding them for a while.
Babies also cry when they’re bored or want to be picked up. Don’t be afraid to carry your child around. Little ones need physical contact to feel safe and secure.
New experiences and stimuli
Babies often cry after a busy day. Did you have lots of visitors? Were you out and about for a long time? Was it noisy? These and other stimuli can upset and overwhelm a baby. That doesn’t mean you have to stay at home all the time. However, after a hectic day, try to be more patient and understanding towards your baby. Carry them around with you or try to create a calm and relaxed atmosphere. This will help your baby to gradually settle down.
Show understanding
If your baby won’t settle, hold them close in your arms. Do this even if they seem to resist at first. It’s okay for a baby to cry now and then. Let’s compare it to us adults: we too have days when we’re in a bad mood or have got up on the "wrong side of the bed". Babies probably have days like that too. Show some understanding here; take your child in your arms or carry them around in a sling. They need to feel that you’re there for them. Try playing some gentle music that you listened to during your pregnancy.
At first, babies cry very often. Crying tends to peak at around 6 weeks of age. After that, the crying should start to ease off again. Try out different methods and techniques that suit you personally. Accept the well-meaning advice from relatives and friends with gratitude. However, you should decide for yourself what is right for your child – and for you – at this stage. Perhaps the advice might prove very useful at a later date. There are as many different reasons why children cry as there are children. And just as many ways to comfort and soothe a child.
Cry babies
There are babies who cry excessively and persistently over a long period of time and cannot be comforted by anything. These children are colloquially referred to as ‘cry babies’. The following criteria can serve as a rough definition of a cry baby: The baby
cries…
• for more than 3 hours a day
• on more than 3 days a week
• for more than 3 consecutive weeks
The stress caused by a baby who is constantly crying, screaming or fussing should not be underestimated – even if the baby cries less than described above. It affects the physical and emotional well-being of everyone involved. In this case, make use of available support services such as:
• Consulting your paediatrician
• Visiting a parents’ advice centre
• Contacting a breastfeeding support service
• Websites such as www.schreibaby.ch or www.schreibabyhilfe.ch
