There are a lot of different explanations for why your baby won’t stop crying. One crucial fact to remember is that because newborns can’t speak just yet, crying is one of the primary ways they may communicate with their caregivers.
This is only one of the numerous ways they communicate with you to let you know whether they feel unwell, exhausted, gassy, frightened, unhappy, damp, lonely, hungry, or unclean. Your infant is not screaming out of an attempt to irritate, manipulate, or frustrate you; instead, she needs something and is expressing that need via crying.
Crying is an indication of anguish that requires urgent care and should not be ignored in the same way as sucking on fingers or fists is a sign of hunger that should not be overlooked.
Let’s speak about why newborns cry and what may be done to comfort them when they do. Let’s also talk about how to recognize situations in which your infant’s cries aren’t typical and what you should do in response to these situations.
It’s Not Just You
When your baby won’t stop crying, it’s natural for you to feel sad and helpless. You could think your baby is in pain or discomfort since most individuals call when they are wounded or disturbed. You might also think you are failing as a parent because you cannot stop your baby from crying. When you’re sleep-deprived, feeling down in the dumps, or irritated, it might be challenging to soothe a fussy infant.
However, if you cannot soothe your child during a bout of sobbing, it does not mean you are a terrible parent. There are occasions when your baby won’t stop crying even though the parents have exhausted every possible method of calming them.
It is essential to remember that a baby may cry for various reasons, including the fact that they are just unhappy or overstimulated. If you can learn to think of your baby’s screams as a technique of communicating sentiments rather than just a display of suffering, you could find it a little easier to deal with the situation.
What Could be Causing Your Baby to Cry?
Let’s have a look at some of the reasons why your baby won’t stop crying, starting with the most frequent and least concerning ones:
● A burp is required
Burping is not a must. However, if your infant cries after being fed, a healthy burp can be all they need to calm down. When infants breastfeed or take a drink from a bottle, they inhale air, which, if not expelled, maybe a source of pain for the infant. When newborns have a lot of air in their stomachs, it may cause them discomfort, while some babies don’t appear to burp or need to be burped very often.
● Empty stomach
Babies, mainly when they are just a few months old, have an intense urge to consume food regularly. Newborns who are exclusively breastfed often need to breastfeed every two to three hours. However, babies who are given formula may frequently go longer between feedings. It is essential to make an effort to feed your baby before they get hungry since this may assist reduce the amount of crying they do.
● Too warm or too chilly for comfort
Some infants have a high degree of temperature sensitivity. They like not to be overdressed, but at the same time, they do not enjoy being chilly and do not like it when it is cold outside. If your baby is fussing, one easy thing you may do is adjust the number of clothes they are wearing. You also can change the temperature in your house.
● Ache is caused by teething
When a child is teething, each new tooth may be excruciatingly painful as it forces its way through the fragile gums of a young child. Although some infants experience teething discomfort more severely than others, it is normal for all newborns to experience irritability and even tears throughout the process.
Try running your finger down your baby’s gums if they seem uncomfortable and you are unsure what the cause may be. You could be taken aback if you find out that an erupting baby tooth already has a rough nub. (The eruption of the first tooth typically occurs between the ages of 4 and 7 months, although it may occur sooner.)
● Diaper change is required
Sometimes infants may have an adverse reaction to having a damp or dirty diaper. Because newborns are more likely to feel the moisture when cloth diapers are used, this is particularly true in situations when cloth diapers are used. Your baby won’t stop crying if they suffer discomfort, such as a diaper rash that irritates them.
● Desires to be held
Many infants yearn for the company of humans more than others. Therefore, if you notice that your infant cries every time you put them down, lifting them can be the solution. Don’t worry; kids will outgrow this desire in due time.
● Warning signals
Most long weeping won’t hurt your child and won’t indicate that anything concerning is going on if you pay attention to it. However, there are some circumstances in which your infant’s screams may indicate a disease that needs immediate medical treatment.
● Stomach ache
It is very natural for your infant to have stomach aches and discomfort. It’s typical for infants to have a lot of gas. In some cases, your baby won’t stop crying. Some infants will develop a condition known as reflux, which may or not be accompanied by spitting.
● Overwhelmed
When your infant has been engaged in several exciting activities during the day, you may find that they cry more often. Sometimes they are simply overwhelmed with stimuli, which may cause them to fuss and cry for an extended time. This may be their method of digesting all that they have taken in (and informing you about it), but other times it may just be that they are communicating with you.
● Infection
Infections such as earaches, bladder infections, ulcers of the mouth or penis, and other similar conditions might cause your infant to scream out in agony. If you see any form of swelling or redness on a region of your baby’s body and they are weeping uncontrollably, you should bring them to the doctor to be assessed as soon as possible. Babies experiencing discomfort may cry out in a high-pitched tone, and their screams may suddenly start.
● Weary
In addition, infants need a significant amount of sleep. Most infants have several napping needs during the day and require at least 12 hours of sleep every night. Babies that are overtired are more likely to scream and whine. If they are exhausted, they will likely start crying so intensely that it will be difficult to calm them down and put them to sleep.
● Allergies or intolerance
Sometimes infants develop sensitivities or allergies to the baby food they consume, the formula they are given, or something that their mothers ingest that gets into their breastmilk. A newborn may be allergic to dairy milk, the most frequent allergen or intolerance, but a baby might be allergic or intolerant to any allergen. In addition to crying, your infant may be experiencing heartburn, frequent spitting up, or severe gas.
● Minor injuries
There’s a chance that your infant was scratched, and you were unaware of it. Another option is to wrap a piece of thread from their sock around one of their toes. There are times when infants have injuries that are far more severe than we first thought, but we are unaware of them. Because of this, you should take your child to the doctor if they are weeping a lot, and you don’t know why mainly if their cries are high-pitched or if something in your gut tells you they could be wounded.
● Care of Colic
A baby is considered colic if they cry for more than three hours a day, at least three times a week, and are three months or younger. Colic is relatively prevalent, and, most of the time, there isn’t an apparent reason why it occurs, which may aggravate the condition. The good news is that in many cases, simple methods of infant care, such as rocking, hushing, and feeding your baby, may be helpful. In most cases, colic symptoms go away on their own between three and four months.
● Illness
Your infant may have a sickness or virus at some point, which will cause them to scream for extended periods. If your infant develops a fever, you should make an appointment with their pediatrician as soon as possible. Fevers in newborns under three months should be regarded very seriously and reported to your child’s doctor immediately. A baby who is behaving abnormally fussy, refuses to feed, is extremely sleepy, or is vomiting are all additional symptoms that may indicate that the infant is sick.
● Bored
You wouldn’t believe it, but even infants may experience boredom sometimes! The primary purpose of their existence is to observe and gain knowledge about the world around them. Therefore, if they are just gazing at the same wall or not having a particularly engaging experience, they may show you that they are annoyed by this by weeping. This may also be the case if they do not have a fascinating encounter.
How to Deal If Your Baby Won’t Stop Crying?
These suggestions can help you deal with your baby’s crying until they are mature enough to communicate their needs to you directly. Some of these pointers help weep at any time of the day, while others are more helpful for sobbing during the period just before bed. You may need to try a variety of things at a variety of times – simply experiment to determine what works best for you and your kid.
Moving your infant
You may soothe your baby by gently rocking them or carrying them in a baby carrier or sling if your baby won’t stop crying. Movement and physical proximity to a parent may sometimes help to calm a demanding infant.
If you aren’t too worn out, I recommend going for a stroll or taking a drive. Even if your baby won’t stop crying, you may find it easier to deal with the situation if you are moving about. It is essential to keep in mind that it is not suggested that you let your kid sleep alone in a stroller.
Baby calming and relaxation
Another way to deal when your baby won’t stop crying is to give them a calming massage. Give your child a warm bath or massage. This may help you relax and improve your link with your child. Your child and family health nurse should be able to instruct you on how to massage your kid correctly.
- Getting your baby to sleep and comforting him
- Make an effort to create a routine about feeding and settling.
- Cover your infant. Your infant may feel more at ease as a result of this.
- Place your child in the crib on their side and gently stroke their back in a repetitive motion. If the baby falls asleep, carefully flip them over onto their back.
- You may either give them a dummy or the breast. Sometimes your infant won’t be hungry but will still want or need a suckling session. If the baby is at least three to four months old or older, you may also assist them with locating their fingers or thumbs to suck on.
- Sing to your baby, speak gently to your infant, or play gentle music for your baby. For some newborns, white noise provides a calming alternative.
- Dimming the lights is an effective way to lessen stimulation and bring about an atmosphere of calm.
Calm yourself down
The first step in learning to soothe your fussy infant is to admit to yourself that you are everything from calm to the moment. Take a minute to identify the emotions that you are now experiencing. After taking that crucial initial step, the following are some more tactics that can be of assistance to you:
- Put your child in a secure location (like a crib), and then take some time yourself. Start giving yourself the gift of a few minutes to settle down and focus on your own needs instead of worrying about everyone else.
- Make sure you give yourself time during the day to eat, drink enough water, take a shower, get some exercise, and talk to a friend on the phone.
- Practicing this kind of self-care can assist you in maintaining your composure and ability to self-regulate. It is easier for you to help your child when you are in a more relaxed frame of mind.
You may find it helpful to take long, slow breaths. Because stress causes people to take shorter, shallower breaths, adjusting how you breathe may make you feel less anxious. You may convey the word to your nervous system that you are safe by breathing in a slow and even manner. This will assist your body in the beginning to regulate itself.
Take a breath in via your nose, and then let it out of your mouth. If you want to be sure that you are taking deep breaths, try counting to 10 or placing your palm on your tummy as you breathe.
It should be no surprise that parents who report having a kid who cries a lot also tend to report being worn out by the experience. Most of the time, a single restful night of sleep is not enough to alleviate this weariness.
If you feel overwhelmed, unhappy, depressed, or unable to care for your infant, you must discuss these emotions with a health care practitioner, either the one who cares for your baby or the one who cares for you. Help for new parents is both needed and deserved.
Conclusion
Remember that your infant loves you but is going through a challenging moment. There are instances when we have no idea why your baby won’t stop crying. This fussiness, however, is not an indication of how your baby feels about you at all!
Your infant loves you and is providing the highest level of care she can at this time. Therefore, it is essential that you take breaks when you can, that you ask for assistance when you need it, and that you talk with your healthcare professional if you are concerned about your baby’s fussiness.
