My baby is always crying, what can I do?
Transcript
My baby is always crying. What can I do?
In the first few months of life, your baby is still adapting to the environment outside your womb and may cry easily. Your baby mainly uses crying to express his needs, such as hunger, wet diapers, feeling too hot, too noisy, or he may feel lonely and need company. So, when your baby cries, respond promptly and try to figure out why he cries.
Will I spoil my baby by holding him too much?
There are many ways to take care of the needs of your baby. You can check if she is hungry, needs to change nappy or feeling ill. If not, you can let your baby see your face and hear your gentle voice. Try to stroke, rock or cuddle your baby gently, play some soft music, swaddle her in a soft blanket to give her comfort and security. You will soon learn the meanings behind your baby's cries and identify her needs. Remember, your baby's crying has the basic function of signaling physiological needs in the first few months, so you will not spoil your baby by holding her too much. On the contrary, when your baby is calm and alert, this is the time for you to enjoy intimate interactions with your baby. Body contact, play and talk to your baby makes her know that she will get sufficient attention even when she is calm. She may cry less and this will also increase your bonding with your baby.
Sometimes she does not stop crying, what can I do then?
Some babies are more sensitive to new experiences, or they need longer time to adapt to new environment, causing them to cry more. You may worry that your baby is feeling unwell or having an “infant colic”, which may cause your baby to cry non-stop. If you suspect your baby is unwell, you should bring her to visit a doctor. If not, you can rock her gently or walk around in a steady rhythmic motion while you are holding her. Hold her upright and close to your body and lay her over your shoulder and chest. These may ease the discomfort of “infant colic”.
You may consider giving your baby a pacifier. If you nurse your baby with breastmilk, you can try to breastfeed her. To avoid nipple confusion, only consider giving pacifier to your breastfed baby after 1 month of age.
Moreover, try to use one method at a time. If you use multiple methods at the same time, it may make your baby nervous. Be systematic, note the method you use and the duration of crying follows, gradually you will know which method is suitable for your baby. If you have further problems, you can talk to the nurse in the Maternal and Child Health Centre.