Crying is your baby’s language. At first, it is pretty much the only way an infant can communicate his needs and express feelings like discomfort, hunger, exhaustion and loneliness. It is also the only way he can release pent up stress. As your baby grows he will learn other ways to communicate—through facial expressions, body language and, eventually, by telling you how he feels and what he needs.
For now, though, here are some tips to help you soothe the sobs:
Learn your baby’s language: by learning your baby’s pre-cry signals – wriggling, anxious facial expressions, little grimaces, flailing arms, ‘rooting’ at the breast, changes in breathing, and little noises that say” I am working up to a cry”, you will be able to see when she is bored, frightened, hungry, tired or overwhelmed, and by responding accordingly, you may be able to avert full-blown crying.
Respond quickly: You can’t spoil a little baby, but if you leave her to cry, she will become more upset as her crying picks up momentum. Soon she won’t even know why she was crying in the first place –she will just be crying because she can’t stop and will be much harder to settle. If you are breastfeeding, it is particularly important to respond quickly to early hunger cues: a baby who is left to work up to a full-blown cry will have a more disorganised suck and may have difficulty latching on correctly (when babies cry, their tongues are raised towards the roof of their mouths. Or your upset baby may only suck for a short time before she falls asleep with exhaustion.
Feed her: Tiny tummies don’t hold enough food to go long between feeds – day or night. Babies can have appetite increases to match growth spurts and developmental leaps (when baby needs more ‘brain food’). They may also ‘cluster feed’ especially in the evening.
Remember, the more milk your baby removes from your breasts, the more milk you will produce. He needs to be latching and sucking effectively and allowed to suck long enough to get the more satisfying hind-milk, which is higher in calories. The best way to do this is to watch your baby, not the clock, and allow your baby to decide when he is finished the first breast, before you switch sides.
Snuggle skin to skin: Ease the transition from womb to room by snuggling your newborn against your bare skin and heartbeat – carrying your baby in a wrap or carrier next to your body is a perfect way to help him feel secure and snug, just as he was in your womb.
Wear your baby:Studies show that carrying your baby may prevent crying – 'wearing' her in a wrap against your own warm body will reduce your baby’s stress levels and help relieve symptoms of colic and reflux. It is also reputed to help babies adapt more quickly to a day/ night sleep cycle. Best of all, you will have two hands free!
Bore your baby: In the early weeks, avoid overstimulation and protect your little one’s senses by avoiding sudden movements, changes in temperature, loud noises, bright lights and lots of handling by ‘strangers’. If you suspect your baby is experiencing ‘sensory overload’ , retreat to your bedroom, dim the lights, snuggle skin to skin and rest together.
Try a ‘colic carry’: Lie baby face-down across your arm, her cheek at your elbow, or carry her across your front, facing outwards so she is positioned as though she is lying on her left side as you carry her - this will relieve some stress on baby's tummy and help with release of wind (burps). Another suggestion to try is carrying baby with her backbone against you, holding her knees in a 'squat' position (this can help with lower wind (farts!). Alternatively, lie baby tummy-down across your knees, perhaps with a warm (not hot) wheat pack on your lap. If baby is restless, don’t hold him in a cradle (feeding) position as this will be frustrating, if you aren't offering a feed. Instead, try holding him up against your shoulder and walking or gently rocking backwards and forwards.
Give him your finger: Sucking is comforting to babies and helps them relax. However the different sucking action between breast and dummy could influence your baby’s effectiveness at breastfeeding in the first few weeks, so you could try offering a clean finger to suck on if baby isn’t hungry so won't feed, but seems to want to suck. Always offer the breast first though no matter how long it is since he last had a feed, a good motto is, 'if in doubt, whip it out (your breast, that is)!' And please remember, you can't over feed a breastfed baby.
All wrapped up: Primitive survival reflexes, such as the startle reflex, which produces spontaneous, jerky movements, even in sleep, can be disturbing (literally). Provide a sense of security by swaddling your baby – wrapping him snugly in a gauze or muslin wrap. Take care though, to keep wraps loose around baby’s hips so movements aren't restricted ,as tight wrapping that immobilises baby’s hips is associated with hip dysplasia.
You will also need to watch for hunger signals such as rooting and making sucking noises, if baby's hands are covered by the wrap so he can't use his hands (to mouth) as a hunger cue.
Soak away the sobs: A bath will often soothe a tense, crying baby. Try a deep, warm relaxation bath (in an adult bath tub). If you have a helper, you can bathe with your baby and feed him in the bath too.
Food intolerance: If you are breastfeeding and crying spells seem to be related to your diet, write down baby’s crying times and what you have eaten. If there appears to be a link, eliminate the suspect food for at least a week. Common culprits are, caffeine, dairy produce (milk, cheese, yoghurt), citrus, chocolate and peanuts. Some babies may also react to food additives (in soft drinks or processed foods) or chemicals such as salicylates which are present in a range of otherwise healthy foods such as grapes, citrus, berries and tomatoes - see more here
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A gentle touch:With warm hands and warm oil, massage baby when he is calm at first, so he associates your gentle touch with relaxation. Tummy massage can move wind, encourage digestion and help ease constipation: massage in a clockwise direction –the direction the food will travel. If you alternately massage your baby’s tummy and bend his knees, you may release trapped wind (see Pinky’s baby massage video for detailed instructions on how to massage gently, safely and respectfully. This is available as a digital download) .
Beat the blues: If baby has a regular crying time or suffers from ‘colic’, try to pre-empt the wails with a combination of massage and/or a relaxation bath and offer a feed about an hour before his usual crying time. Soothing sounds:Sing a lullaby, including your baby’s name (humming will help calm you as well as baby), or play gentle classical music –try the baby ‘b’s –Bach, Beethoven, Brahms or Baroque music. You may find it helpful to hum as you gently bounce on a fit ball.
Kick Butt: Studies show that the risk of colic is increased whichever parent smokes. As well as increasing the risk of SIDS, (again, whichever parents smokes) smoking also affects levels of prolactin, the hormone that aids milk production. Discuss strategies for quitting with your GP or pharmacist and please don’t expose your baby to cigarette smoke.
Take care of yourself: Eat well, especially at breakfast, to maintain energy levels, exercise to stimulate endorphins (‘feel good’ hormones). If it’s possible, snuggle up with your baby during the afternoon – a siesta can have a marked effect on your milk supply as well as your stamina, and may help ease your baby’s (and your own) stress levels, especially during late afternoon or evening.
If you have other children, try and implement a ‘quiet time’ in the afternoon for everyone – even if they don’t sleep, a video or quiet activity may mean you get some guilt free down time. And, don’t forget a nourishing afternoon tea snack – ‘three-thirty-itis’ is a prime time to reach for junk food or chocolate. Try a nutritious snack that will sustain you without upsetting your baby as chemicals pass into your evening milk.
