Why does my baby cry?
Pediatrics Now –
Question #2, February 2006
Q:
I have a 2 week old baby boy. Until last night,
he was nursing and sleeping really well. But
last night we had a screaming child and nothing
seemed to work. We could soothe him but when
we put him down he woke up and screamed again.
Is the honeymoon just over or are there things
we can do next time this happens? I’ve
read about colic – could it be that?
AC, Medfield, MA, mother of a 2 week old infant
son
A: Dear
AC:
Those are difficult nights to get through!
You are most certainly in good company as
there is not a parent among us who hasn’t
grappled with a crying infant. Your OB likely
gave you the tip "nap when the baby naps”.
On the days your baby sleeps well, a nap may
not be what you have in mind when there are
so many other things to do around the house.
But, when the midnight oil starts to burn,
having those zzz’s stored up can really
make a difference.
T.
Berry Brazelton has a theory that babies
leap back a few steps before they jump forward
developmentally; changes in sleep are one
manifestation of this concept. Additionally,
many babies, especially newborns, have some
uneventful days then let it all out at night.
It’s not too different than when you
have trouble sleeping after a busy or hectic
day. Crying is really the only way for your
son to let off some built up steam.
But two-week old babies are also unique. They
have just adjusted to one of the biggest changes
in life, being born. By two weeks of age,
babies are in the midst of a growth spurt
and are often ravenous. So, it’s not
unusual for many babies to cry more simply
due to hunger. You may notice his schedule
changing with more cluster feedings. This
is normal as well.
Fussy moments often occur for no reason but
there are some simple things to consider that
may help easy the moment when it next occurs.
First, take a look at your diet. Did you happen
to eat any broccoli or cauliflower or a lot
of dairy?? Any new or spicy foods? These foods
are notorious for making breast fed babies
gassy and often fussy.
Sometimes babies cry because they are over
bundled. Dress your baby like you would dress
yourself – if you are not wearing 4
layers, your baby should not be either. Rocking
and swaddling help each many fussy moments.
With some trial and error, you’ll quickly
figure out how your baby likes to be held
and develop strategies of your own to keep
him calm when he’s fitfull.
If the pattern continues, your baby may have
colic, which occurs in both breast and formula-fed
babies. All babies have colicky moments from
time to time and some more than others. Colic
is repeated fussy moments similar to what
you described. It tends to be more common
in first born males and is often outgrown
by a few months of life. It’s hard to
tell which comes first the crying or the gassiness
but once the cycle start both propel each
other because the baby swallows air which
is uncomfortable.
Finally, excessive crying can sometimes mean
your baby is sick. Here’s a list of
symptoms that could mean your baby is sick
and not just having an off moment. If any
of these symptoms occur, call your pediatrician
for further advice: a rectal temperature of
100.5 or higher, lethargy, crying that won’t
stop with attempts at soothing such as
Sometimes all we can do is fall back on time
tested truths about babies. The first day
of my internship, the residency director looked
as us and proclaimed “Ladies and Gentleman,
all babies spit, sleep and cry. Those are
things you can always count on.” picking
him up, vomiting, or just not being “right”.
Parents have an amazing 6th sense for when
their infants are sick – trust that
instinct and call your pediatrician if you
are worried.
© 2005-2006 Pediatrics Now. All rights
reserved. PEDIATRICS NOW is a trademark of
Pediatrics Now.
