Soothe your baby's cries with care

By Doreen Nagle
Gannett News Service

If babies could talk, they wouldn't need to cry; but until they start forming words (like "No!") they will stick to whimpers and tears to let you know what they want.

What's making baby cry?

• Different sounding cries mean different things like, "I'm hungry, thirsty, tired, frustrated, want something to suck, need a diaper change ... " You'll get to know each of your own baby's cries by carefully listening.
• Growing up. Babies cry a lot right before starting a period of physical growth because they can sense a change coming up, and it makes them uncomfortable.
• Infants might also cry during bathtime when they are totally undressed. Avoid this by keeping a diaper on baby during the bath or keep a towel wrapped around his shoulders as you bathe him.
• Nighttime release. Babies who "fuss" at bedtime are discharging energy gathered during the day. The good news here is that fussy babies usually sleep more soundly and for longer periods. Babies are in tune with how you feel. Therefore they can pick up on your stress and cry empathetically.
• Baby might need a hug. For nine months she was in the comfort of the womb. Now she's sleeping in a big hard "box" where people, lights, experiences, come and go without her approval. Sheesh. Wouldn't you want someone to hold you?

Could it be colic or worse?

• Colic crying can last hours and is described by the American Academy of Pediatrics as "severe abdominal discomfort ... " Is the crying intense? Does it start in around the same time each day? Is baby's tummy bloated? Is she pulling her legs up? P.S.: Colic is not life-threatening and usually disappears by age four months.
• Is baby running a fever? Is she whining more than usual? Does she have diarrhea, or is she throwing up? If these signs exist, the pediatrician should be consulted.
• Is today's cry different than her other usual cries — more whining or screaming, more out of breath or holding her breath? Again, it's time to call the pediatrician.

Tricks to soothe baby

• Hold baby to your shoulder. It not only comforts her but also lets her peek over to see what's going on around her.
• Have heart. Babies are soothed by music because mom's heart beats at the same rate per minute as most music does. Therefore, turn on a classical radio station. Research indicates it does double duty to aid in developing early math skills.
• Soothe with sounds. Some everyday noises can relax baby without frightening him. The vacuum, hair dryer, air conditioner or running bath water are all tried and true relaxers.
• Comfort zone. Is your baby attached to a particular blankie, toy or other comfy object? It might relax baby enough to lull him into sleep.
• Visual stimuli can induce sleep. Let baby watch fish swim in a tank, a favored mobile or a twirling lamp that hypnotically swirls lit shapes over the wall.
• Some babies are just unsoothable. As difficult as this is for a parent to face, there might not be any particular reason for the crying. Keep reminding yourself that it won't always be like this.