As a new parent, taking care of your newborn baby can be an uphill battle with many challenges. One of which is crying. Hearing your baby cry can be distressing and overwhelming. While it’s normal for babies to cry to communicate their needs, excessive crying can leave parents wondering, “Why is my baby crying so much?” The truth is, there are many reasons why a baby may cry, and it’s important to consider the various possibilities to help both you and your baby feel more at ease.

Causes of excessive crying in babies include:

Baby is hungery

Babies have small stomachs and need to feed or eat frequently. When your baby is crying, he could just be saying that he is hungry and needs to be fed.

Offer them your breast or just a bottle. If your baby tries to nurse or feed very eagerly, it is very likely that he was hungry and crying because of that. Feed on demand, especially during growth spurts when babies tend to need more frequent feedings. 

Diaper Change

Babies are very sensitive about wet or full diapers. Who thought babies could care than much about cleanliness, am I right?

Sometimes, the smell alone would be more than enough of a clue. But you can also check the diaper just to make sure. If the diaper is full, change it right away, and that should take care of it. If the diaper is dry, then the problem might be something else. Check the baby’s buttock and genital area for any signs of redness or soreness, which might indicate a diaper rash.

Diaper rash can be seen in some babies due sometimes to infrequent diaper changes, where a wet diaper can promote fungal growth. It’s treatable with topical anti-fungal creams. If you suspect your baby is having a diaper rash, we recommend consulting a general practitioner or pediatrician.

Sleepy Baby

Babies sleep a lot! So, when they are short on sleep and there’s something preventing them from falling asleep, they might cry in order to say that they have to go to sleep.

Keep an eye out for the first signs of tiredness, such as your baby getting their eyes rubbed, yawning, or throwing a tantrum. It may be easier to get your baby to sleep in a dark and quiet environment.

Colic

Colic is defined as excessive crying in a healthy baby, usually occurring in the late afternoon or evening. Why it happens?! The cause is largely unknown but according to some researchers, it can happen due to an immature nervous system, which is the case with most of the babies, or due to some digestive issues. It usually starts around 2-4 weeks of age but it is brief in average and most of the babies who are said to be colicky will outgrow it by the time they reach 3-4 months of age. A colicky baby may tend to show some consistent periods of excessive crying, causing discomfort to the family. However, there’s no reason to worry as it is a fairly common problem.

Regardless of how common it might be, parents seem to read online for pretty much the same answers. Try warm baths, swaddling, or rocking these methods tend to soothe the baby. Others find an upright position after feeding works too.

Gas or Digestive Discomfort

During breastfeeding, as well as during bottle or formula feeding, babies swallow air. This gas will build up and lead to abdominal discomfort. Hence, the severe crying spells, which may occur frequently as their digestive tract is not yet well developed.

After breastfeeding, it is best to gently burp to help release the trapped air that’s might make your baby uncomfortable. If this doesn’t work, try a different breastfeeding positions as it may help your baby ingest less air. Also, try switching the type of formula you use if you’re a bottle feeding parent; this might help. If all else fails, consult your pediatrician.

They’re too Hot, OR too cold

Babies are more sensitive to temperature changes than children and adults. If a baby feels too warm or too cold, they are likely to start crying.

Using the back of your hand, not the palm, feel the back of the neck or the tummy of your baby to gauge whether they’re cold or hot.

Being Overly Stimulated

Newborns can struggle with processing excessive input coming from their surrounding environment- like too many sounds, visual stimuli, intense activity..etc, which can be distressing to your baby.

If, for example, you are having a party or family dinner and things get a little out of hand, and you notice your baby is starting to not like it, try stepping outside of the house and into a quiet, dimly lit space with your infant. It is helpful to gently sway them from side to side or swaddle them to enhance their sense of safety and comfort.

Maybe They’re Sick

If your baby is intolerably crying and showing signs of illness at the same time ( things like fever, decreased appetite, vomiting), then your baby’s crying is just their way of telling you that something isn’t right. We recommend it’s time to call the pediatrician or consult your family doctor.

If teething is the cause, teething rings or a small dose of infant acetaminophen (with your doctor’s approval) may provide some relief.

A Crying Baby Wants To Be Held

Because infants and babies are naturally attached to their mothers and dads, sometimes they cry in hopes of grabbing their attention or simply because they want to be held and comforted.

Pick up your child, cradle them, and talk to them in a soft voice or gently rock or swaddle them. Some babies might find comfort in sucking on a pacifier as well.

Acid Reflux

Reflux or, in medical terms, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is characterized by the regurgitation of stomach contents into the esophagus, along with discomfort and increased pain, particularly post feeding.

What to do? If refluxing is suspected, try to keep your infant in a vertical position for about 20-30 minutes after feeds, and don’t overfeed them. If the problem persists, consult a pediatrician.

In conclusion, While it can be unsettling to hear your baby cry, just know that most crying episodes have a clear reason – as we talked about abovep- and can be addressed with patience and care. By identifying the underlying cause, you can help soothe your baby and reduce both their distress and your own.

Finally, remember, crying is a phase, and with time, your baby will grow out of it as they develop better ways of communicating. If you’re tried all of the above tips but your baby is still inconsolable, reach out to your pediatrician for guidance and reassurance or enlist the of one of our baby care nurses.