Fussy Baby

Your baby's cry is his way of communicating with the world around
him. He will cry to tell you:

• He needs comforting, he's lonely, or bored.
• He is wet, hungry, too cold or warm, needs a burp, or is uncomfortable.
• It's his way of expressing himself when he is awake.
• He's trying to get himself under control when he is overstimulated.
• He needs to have a crying episode prior to getting back to a calm or sleepful state. (Some babies need to fuss for 5 - 10 minutes before drifting off to sleep, even if they have just nursed.)

Most babies have a fussy period in the evening. After a day of taking in the sights, sounds and physical handling he may dissolve into a good cry. As unnerving as this may seem, a certain amount of crying is NORMAL! Because it makes us so uncomfortable, an hour or two of crying may seem like an eternity. In addition, evening time is typically a time when breast milk production is at its lowest in the 24 hour day (compared to night or early morning feedings when you are rested and caught up with your fluids). Your baby may fuss more in the evening because he is hungry sooner after a feeding.

It's important to know these crying episodes don't last forever. They decrease dramatically around 3 months of age when a baby is more able to entertain himself. By this time he is beginning to verbalize, and can communicate to us in a variety of delightful coos, noises and chirps. You may wonder if your baby's crying is "colic." Colicky babies cry for more than 2 hours a day and seem to wind up and escalate their crying. They truly seem to be experiencing a lot of discomfort, become very rigid and are generally inconsolable. They can really get into some marathon screaming that can last 8 - 12 hours. This is truly an ordeal for new parents.

Your baby is unique! Try to assess why he's crying. See if your efforts calm him or further serve to upset him. Babies will make extraordinary efforts on their own to get back into a state of organization. Sometimes well meaning efforts, tension, and attempts at several different calming ideas further stimulate and intensify the crying.

Recommendation

1. You can certainly put your baby back to the breast. The 8 to 10 breast feedings a newborn needs in 24 hours are rarely evenly spaced in 2 to 3 hour intervals. Instead babies have a "stocking up" period of 3 to 4 feedings close together usually in the late afternoon or evening which gets your baby ready for a longer stretch of sleep.
2. Your baby's fussiness may signal a growth spurt around 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 4 to 6 months of age. Just nurse more often for a couple of days. Be patient. It takes a couple of days to increase milk production in response to your baby's increased sucking.
3. Swaddling or snugly wrapping your baby has a calming effect as he is used to feeling curled up in your belly. It helps to settle him down, and decreases the startle reflex.
4. Burping may dislodge an uncomfortable air bubble.
5. A small blanket roll or warm water bottle may be placed under his tummy.
6. Rocking. (Try side to side as well as back and forth.)
7. Motion combined with upright positioning of your baby and background noise. Examples:
   • Walking or gentle bouncing motion with baby over your shoulder while vacuum is on.
   • Walking with baby in infant carrier with T.V. noise on.
   • Car ride in infant car seat.
   • Baby in infant seat on top of turned on clothes dryer.
   • Baby in swing with radio noise or hair dryer on in background. You get the idea!
   • Finally, you may want to examine your diet. Even though mothers around the world who eat strong spicy foods successfully nurse their babies, you might find there is a food that particularly offends your baby. So if your baby seems fussy from something you may have eaten, first think back to your last meal and then a full 24 hours to see what may have offended him. Some of the frequent offenders include gassy vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, corn, onions, beans, and legumes like peanuts); citrus (tomatoes, strawberries, oranges, orange juice, lemons, limes, prunes, etc.); chocolate; strong spices (garlic, mustard, and peppers); caffeine (coffee, regular and herbal teas and soft drinks); medications (Vitamin C, iron tablets and infant fluoride); and milk. If you think your baby is being affected by the foods you eat, eliminate the most common offenders such as gassy vegetables, citrus and chocolate. In a couple of days add them back, one at a time, in small amounts to see how your baby reacts. As the weeks go by and his digestive system matures he will be able to tolerate a more varied diet. If this doesn't alleviate the problem you may want to go to a fairly bland diet for a week, and then gradually reintroduce the different offenders.
8. Because a fussy baby can wear out even the most composed Mom, it is vitally important to get some time away for yourself. You'll have a lot more to offer you baby if you've taken some time away to refresh yourself mentally and physically!

We hope these recommendations help in calming your fussy baby.

A last thought on crying... You'll want to reassure yourself that the crying your baby is experiencing is not a sudden bout of crying that may be a sign of illness. If you suspect your baby may be crying because he is sick, check for a fever or other signs that he is not feeling well, and call his pediatrician.

© COPYRIGHT 1995, Bosom Buddies, Inc. Denver, CO 80218