Parenting Tips for Crying Babies

Just when you thank the stars that your newborn is healthy — your baby launches into colic. It’s as if you got a little gift in a healthy baby and then this problem to remind you that god has a sense of humor. Some laugh, right?

A baby’s crying can be one of the biggest sources of stress in the family. It can cause new (sleep deprived) parents to fight, be anxious and get even less sleep than they already have. They will resort to measures they never dreamed that they’d resort to just to get the baby to stop crying, and the poor baby isn’t very comfortable either.

Here are some tips to keeping your baby happy — and your relationship with your husband happy even though your baby is fussy — or car-alarm decibel loud.

* Babies cry. Accept it. If you have a crier — either a baby with colic, or a baby who is expressive (yes, finger painting is not the only way to get a point across when you’re that small) — you have a child who is trying to communicate something to you. This does not mean that there is something wrong with your baby — although that is the first thing you need to check — is your baby crying because it’s sick? — your baby may be trying to tell you it wants to be fed, ;icked up, rocked, held or just turned over.

* Learn the different cries your baby has. There will inevitably a different sound, duration, tone, etc. to the cry for hunger than the cry for pain.

*Look for other clues. A crying baby who is also drooling is probably teething. A crying baby with a runny nose and a warm forehead may be sick. A crying baby with outstretched arms may want to be picked up. Is the pacifier on the floor? Maybe your crying baby just dropped it’s pacifier and can’t pick it up.

*Try the myriad colic cures that doctor endorsed and old wives tales. From gripe water to taking the baby for a ride in the car seat in the car, to turning on a hair dryer (white noise), to letting the baby fall asleep to music, etc. You have to be methodical. It isn’t easy.