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There can be many different reasons for babies crying. It could be because it’s time to change the diaper, or maybe they just need to be fed. These are cases that can be resolved quite easily. But then, as parents of infants, we also have to face many such instances where it seems nearly impossible to know how to comfort and soothe our kids. And so, while it can feel a little frustrating, it is nothing out of the ordinary for mothers to have one of those phases where they are struggling to console their little one. Our suggestion would be: keep trying. You could read up a bit more on the many reasons why your child may be crying and learn how to fix it.
What Could Be The Things Upsetting Your Child?
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So when a baby is fussy, the reasons could be as diverse as them wanting their diaper changed, wanting to be fed, or something that could be of greater concern.
It’s okay to not be sure of whether your little one is crying because they’re hungry or because they might be sick. But the important thing is to visit your pediatrician if your child just can’t be consoled. Some reasons why you may have a fussy baby include:
Baby Colic: Infantile colic or baby colic is usually diagnosed when a baby has episodes where they may be crying for more than 3 hours in a day (1). Sometimes infantile colic may resolve on its own. But some people believe that it could also be a sign of some milk allergy, which could lead to a long-lasting stomach ache.
Oral Thrush: Oral thrush arises in the case of a yeast infection that may be present in the mouth of your child (2). This occurs when the infection spreads across the mouth and leads to trouble with feeding your baby. It may also interfere with different day-to-day routines. Thankfully, oral thrush is something that can be dealt with by visiting a doctor. Some common signs of oral thrush are:
- Discomfort and problems while feeding
- White spots within the mouth
- Skin-cracks near the mouth
Diaper Rash: One of the reasons why you could be struggling with soothing your baby is a diaper rash (3). With a diaper rash, your infant’s skin becomes inflamed because of long periods of wearing the same diaper, which causes friction between the diaper and the soft, sensitive skin of a newborn. If you happen to see reddened skin on your baby’s bottom, they may be having a diaper rash. Even though diaper rashes can cause a lot of discomfort to infants, it can be treated. What can help is a cream for diaper rashes and increasing the frequency of changing your child’s diaper.
When it comes to babies who might have a diaper rash even though their diaper is being changed regularly and on time, a solution is to check whether they may be allergic to the diaper materials and then look for alternatives to that material.
Stomach Pain: If your child is crying more than what is considered normal, they could be having pain in their stomach (4). The reasons why babies experience stomach discomfort are very many, and they should certainly not be overlooked. A suggestion would be to consult a doctor to ascertain the cause of this pain, which could just as easily be a result of gas or sensitivity to food, or even acid reflux.
Teething Pain: When your baby gets their first tooth, it is natural for the parents to be filled with joy. But that’s not how your child might be feeling about the whole situation. For the initial stages of every newborn’s life, teething could be an extremely painful experience (5). Even though teething pain does not lead to any health complications, there are ways in which you can help your child feel a little better. These include massaging their gums using your finger, getting them teething toys, and providing a cold fruit for them to latch their mouth on.
How To Comfort A Fussy Baby
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If you feel like you are done with all the things that you could come up with to soothe your crying child, try out these:
1. Swaddle Them
The reasoning behind swaddling your baby is that it replicates the feeling of being inside a womb and so a lot of infants feel comforted when they are wrapped tightly inside a cloth. Do you feel like you don’t know the right way to swaddle your baby? Consult a doctor, and they can help you out with some tips on how to wrap your child in a swaddle safely and adequately.
2. Try Using A Sound Machine
Sound machines can be of great help when it comes to soothing a fussy baby. The reason behind this is again the same as that of swaddling your baby. The noise of a sound machine can help your child feel like they’re inside a womb. And so, making a slow humming sound is another way to comfort your baby. In case you don’t have a sound machine, other ways to create the same effect include downloading or buying apps for the same.
3. Hold Your Baby Close
Babies feel secure when they have contact, and that is why we use the words contact comfort to refer to this feeling of being safe and protected that infants experience. So holding your child close to you in whichever way possible or even just rocking them to sleep can be of great help when it comes to soothing a fussy child.
4. Give Them A Nice, Warm Bath
If you are one of those parents whose baby enjoys taking baths, then consider giving them a warm bath in case nothing else seems to be working. Massaging your child while running a bath can make them feel more relaxed and at ease.
5. Consult A Pediatrician
The most important thing to remember is that you should reach out to a doctor if you cannot comfort your child despite doing everything. The tips mentioned above can help in soothing babies; however, some situations might require the help and expertise of a doctor. This is essential because being constantly fussy and crying incessantly may also be the sign of some illness experienced by your infant. And so, if that is the case, it is better to seek medical help.
Looking after infants can be stressful at times. There will be days when you feel like you just don’t know what to do or how to make your child feel better, but all you need to keep in mind is: we’ve all been there. Being the mother of a newborn is not easy, but all parents go through this gradual process of trying to find their footing when it comes to taking care of an infant. So relax and don’t give up on yourself just yet.
