Baby's cries are the first means of expression. As parents, you can quickly find yourself destabilized. The return home is not without some anxiety and little by little, you get your bearings. Getting your bearings also means getting to know your baby and understanding their cries. Let it be said, the first months are not easy!
To enlighten you, today we help you understand and calm your baby's crying ! We also feature our products to soothe your baby .
Why is baby crying?
During childbirth, we often wait for the baby's first cry like the Messiah: if the baby cries, it means the baby is well! However, once this reassuring moment has passed, the newborn's crying is no longer perceived by mothers and fathers as excessive, annoying, tiring and incomprehensible. How do you know if he's crying because he's hungry? because he is tired? Or because he needs cuddles? Or because his diaper is full or he is in pain somewhere? If this can reassure you: there is no universal rule for soothing infant crying! Of course, the best thing is to follow your instinct to try to understand his cries but sometimes, after having tried everything, you don't really know what to do anymore...
Be aware that during the first months of life, the infant's crying will increase , peaking around 4 months, then calm down. Intense, inconsolable and sometimes comparable to screams rather than tears, young parents are often without solutions to soothe their baby...
The different cries of the baby and the causes
Just like you, your baby experiences different emotions throughout the day : hunger, fear, fatigue, annoyance, etc. To express his needs, he uses the only means of communication he has: crying! Please note that it is estimated that less than 5% of babies' cries express a medical problem . It is therefore very likely that he is just trying to send you a message! Some pediatricians believe that babies' cries are different depending on their needs:
- if he is hungry, the crying will increase in intensity
- if he is bored, the crying will be short and not very intense
- if your baby is in pain (reflux, poor digestion, bad position, etc.), the crying will be intense and resemble screaming.
As young parents, you are in the best position to understand your baby's cries. Although it may seem insurmountable at first, you will eventually decode the different cries and provide him with what he needs.
Contrary to popular belief, holding him in your arms to calm and soothe him will in no way make him develop bad habits! On the contrary, when they are still babies, children have no awareness of the passage of time. 10 minutes can therefore seem like an eternity to them! Responding quickly to a crying baby gives them a feeling of confidence and avoids sobbing and panic. Also know that the baby's crying is in no way a whim or a sign of bad character .
Our products to soothe baby
When to worry about baby crying?
Obviously, sometimes crying can also signal a deeper problem. If you see that your baby is crying more than 3 hours a day and more than 3 days a week , you can go to your pediatrician. He will probably explain to you that your baby has colic (repeated crying attacks). This colic can be due to milk (too rich in lactose or simply intolerance), to the immaturity of its digestive system or even to the presence of intestinal gas. In this case, a few other signs should be taken into account:
- he seems to be in pain
- he is losing weight or gaining little
- Your baby is very constipated or has diarrhea
- he is feverish (from 38°)
- he has a rash.
If all these symptoms accumulate or you notice a few, don't wait and make an appointment with your pediatrician.
How to calm baby's cries?
There is no good technique to calm a crying baby! The right solution to soothe the child's sobbing will be the one that meets his needs at a given time. Before going into more detail, we wanted to give you a quick reminder: being exhausted after a few hours of crying is completely normal. normal! The fatigue and anxiety that a baby's repetitive crying can cause should not be neglected... It is important to know how to pass the baton to the person accompanying you in order to avoid any irreversible actions (shaken baby for example). Also note that there are support numbers for young parents (like Allo Parents Bébé ) and that you can also ask your friends and family for help! Having a crying newborn can be an intense ordeal for young parents, get help if you feel the need.
Soothe baby with simple gestures
At the start of his life, your child will eat every two to three hours! If he cries and twists his stomach, it's probably time for the next feeding or bottle. Don't hesitate to do skin-to-skin contact with your baby while breastfeeding or bottle-feeding. Once full, wait until he burps to avoid reflux, stomach aches and therefore discomfort.
Checking your baby's diaper when he cries is also one of the first things to do! And yes, when the diaper is full, the child is uncomfortable and makes it clear by crying. If you notice redness in the diaper area, don't hesitate to apply diaper cream! Diaper rashes are very common and can cause discomfort and crying.
Last thing to check when baby cries: his level of fatigue! Does he rub his eyes? Is he looking for his pacifier, his thumb or his cuddly toy? If so, they are probably tears of fatigue . Please note that it is very common for little ones to cry when it's time to sleep. These cries are discharge cries ! Your baby releases all the emotions he experienced during the day through crying so he can sleep peacefully. If he has trouble falling asleep, you can rock him in your arms. You can also rock him in a pram or stroller!
It is also possible that your baby cries in his sleep! In this case, wait to see if he wakes up. If he doesn't wake up, it's because he's between two phases of sleep!
Reassure baby to calm his crying
And yes, who says newborn does not necessarily mean calm! An angry and agitated baby is possible. Especially if he's bored or in a position that doesn't suit him. Many young children do not like being placed on a rug on the floor. They need to be able to follow the adult with their gaze and feel them close. The solution ? The baby carrier ! Pressed against you, your child will be reassured by your contact but also by your smell. Placed in the baby carrier, he follows your movements and this reminds him of his in-utero life, a peaceful moment for him!
Soothing baby's cries can also be done with music . Music listened to during pregnancy, nursery rhymes or just soft music could calm him down!
Crying can also occur when entering custody. Your baby no longer feels or sees you as much, he is anxious and may therefore cry. To help him, don't hesitate to leave him photos of you or a cuddly toy with your scent ! These little things will allow him to be reassured and feel more secure.
Obviously speaking plays an important role in calming crying! The voice of young parents is always something reassuring for a newborn. Don't forget that for nine months he heard you talk, laugh and sing. So now that he's here, talk to him! If he doesn't like changing or bathing time, explain to him in your own words what you are doing. He hears you, he listens to you and he understands you!
Massage to calm an infant's crying
Just like us, baby massage does a lot of good for the baby ! It can help with colic, if he is constipated, if he has a stomach ache, if he is tense or stressed or if he has difficulty falling asleep.
In short, massage is a great way to calm the baby's cries and offer him a moment of calm and relaxation! Not to mention the wonderful bond you will create with him.
The Multi-care Oil from Laboratoires Téane is perfect for massaging your child. Certified organic, it nourishes infants' fragile skin and protects it against dehydration! It is also ideal before bathing to protect the skin from hard water and soap. Without a greasy and non-sticky finish, you can use it to massage your baby before bedtime to help them relax their muscles and fall into Morpheus' arms!
Deciphering your baby's cries is never easy and there is no clear and precise answer to soothe them! Remember to always check that your baby is not hungry, that his diaper is clean and that he is not tired.
If the crying doesn't calm down, don't hesitate to soothe him by reassuring him with music, words, a massage or simply a good hug!
