Comforting – and Coping with - a Crying Bub

It’s one of the torments of being a new parent: just not knowing why your baby is crying and how to comfort them. It can be especially difficult in those first couple of months when everything is new and your baby is experiencing lots of firsts: first fever, first heatwave, first cough and splutter. There is no definite recipe for recognising what’s wrong, and it can take a little while to work out just what to do.

Needless to say, your first reaction with a crying bub will no doubt be a cuddle and kiss. When that doesn’t soothe them you will need to look at the possible reasons for the crying. Everyone has a theory, but it does seem for many parents, that crying for a healthy baby often comes down to four things: wind, hunger, tiredness and teething. As teething is still a way off for the brand new parent that leaves the other three. If your baby is suddenly crying, first consider if they may be hungry. You can look at how long it’s been since their last feed, but for very young babies who feed on demand, it’s just as easy to offer them a feed. If they don’t take to it, they may not be hungry and/or may have wind.

It’s quite easy for babies to take in air while breast or bottle feeding, which can give a feeling of fullness and an ache in the belly. At this age they have no idea why, but they just know it doesn’t feel nice. There are various positions you can use to burp your baby. The most common include draping them over your shoulder, using your hands to support their chin and back while you sit them up, or laying them face down over your lap. Then try gently rubbing and patting their back. When you hear a burp, you have success.

If you’re baby is crying uncontrollably it may be that they are tired. And sometimes you can tell by looking for other tired signs. These vary from age to age but may include rubbing at eyes, pulling ears, staring straight ahead or yawning. Sometimes babies can seem to get overtired, in which case you’ll need to try a variety of techniques to get them to sleep. For newborns, rocking a cradle, pushing them in a pram, or even putting them in a carrier and going for a walk can sometimes work. A bath can also be effective in soothing a crying child, and then you may be able to feed them and put them down for a nap.

When trying to sooth a crying baby, always check for any signs of illness. If they feel hot to touch, check they don’t have a temperature and if you suspect something significant is wrong, don’t hesitate to contact a doctor. When it comes to babies, it’s always best to err on the side of caution. As much as it feels otherwise sometimes, babies won’t cry forever. Be patient.

While the greatest effort has been invested to ensure the validity of this information, the advice therein is set as a ‘general’ guide only, and your individual needs may require a different method to the one shown. Little Innoscents would like to encourage you to see your regular healthcare professional, should you be concerned for you or your baby’s wellbeing.