The Cry Baby

Place a crying baby in a room full of mothers and everyone’s heart will lurch with that maternal instinct to soothe and nurture.

Crying is normal for babies, and why not? They can’t speak to communicate their needs, so they do what they can do. Crying often elicits a response from the parent and serves to alleviate whatever’s ailing the baby.

Usually, parents become familiar with their own baby’s crying. They recognize a serious wailing that means the baby is uncomfortable or in distress, and they can differentiate this crying from the sound of a bored baby, or a baby who is in need of attention, and they respond accordingly.

Babies cry for many reasons. Your baby may cry because he’s lonely and maybe he just needs a cuddle or would like to be carried. Crying might indicate that the baby has a wet or soiled diaper, causing discomfort. A diaper change will relieve this issue and the baby will also enjoy the attention and change of scene.

Some babies get tired of laying in one position, but are unable to shift by themselves, so what do they do? They cry. Crying might be indicative of hunger or thirst, or a gas bubble. Maybe she’s too hot. Maybe she’s too cold. Babies can’t adjust to sudden temperature changes in the same way that adults do.

Soon you will get to know your baby’s cry and will be able to interpret what it means. In the meantime, it may be a guessing game. Try one solution, and if the crying persists, try another. For example, if picking up the baby doesn’t affect the crying, check the diaper. If he’s still upset, feel the baby’s temperature and assess whether he’s responding to cold or heat. Nursing or feeding may also be worth a try.



All babies are different

For infants, my grandmother always said swaddling in a blanket may be helpful and soothing, and she was right. Wrapping the baby firmly in a soft blanket offers a sense of security to young babies. The old rocking chair is another method that our grandmothers used, and often the combination of holding, swaddling and rocking will do the trick.

All babies are different, as every parent knows, and what worked for one baby may not work for your next. A soother could calm my youngest consistently. My middle child liked to rock. The superswing was never far away.

And there was nothing like a nice long car ride to soothe my first-born. Find out what works for your individual baby and use it.

Parents who have babies with colic put up with a great deal of loud and relentless crying, often caused by intestinal pains. Baby’s face will get red, she may draw up her arms and legs, her tummy may feel hard, and the crying is likely to be persistent.

Colic often stops after three or four months and these babies thrive very well, so take solace from the fact that it’s not a long-term challenge. Make sure you relieve your own anxiety and irritation by getting a break and seeking support.

Whoever coined the expression, “sleeping like a baby�? obviously never had children. It’s not uncommon for babies to wake up every few hours, leaving parents bleary-eyed and tired. The rule of thumb here is to sleep when the baby sleeps, even if the dishes pile up in the kitchen and the dust bunnies multiply under the couch.

The early months pass all too quickly so savour the moments and enjoy, with love. Even the crying.



Lila Hope-Simpson is the Director of the Home and Heart Nursery School in

Wolfville