MemorialCare - Your Guide to Postpartum and Newborn Care

SCAN + PLAY

Infant Crying

All babies will get fussy and spend time crying . Crying is how your baby lets you know they need something. Crying also helps babies release tension and shut out any sights, sounds, or sensations they find overwhelming. Crying is normal, healthy, and doesn’t mean parents are doing anything wrong. Some babies can become fussy and exhausted in response to overstimulation . Other babies may cry for hours due to colic . When an infant is upset and crying, parents may become sleep-deprived and exhausted, experience high levels of stress, and find themselves at increased risk for developing postpartum depression. That’s why it’s vital for you to learn how to recognize why your baby is crying, take action to meet your baby’s needs, and know how to calm and comfort them. Why babies cry • Hungry • Uncomfortable (hot, cold, dirty diaper) • Gas

OVERSTIMULATION Overstimulation is when babies are overwhelmed by more experiences, sensations, sounds, or activities than they can cope with. If your newborn becomes fussy and exhausted by everything going on around them, they will need some quiet time in a familiar, peaceful environment to calm down. Signs of overstimulation • Skin color becomes red or pale • Experiences irregular breathing or hiccupping • Has jerky arm and leg movements or tremors • Moves from alert to very drowsy • Looks away from you, won’t meet your gaze • Gets upset, cries, or goes to sleep to escape stimulation COLIC Babies with colic have periods of frequent, long, intense crying or fussiness, even if they are well-fed and otherwise healthy. Experts don’t know exactly what causes colic. But colicky episodes usually peak when babies are about 6 weeks old, then start to taper off when they’re 3 to 4 months old. Colic can be very frustrating and stressful for parents, especially when there’s no obvious reason for their baby to be so upset. No amount of soothing seems to help. Even worse, episodes of colic often happen in the evening or at night when parents are tired and really need to sleep.

• Need attention • Overstimulation • Colic • lllness • Boredom • Frustration

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Your Guide to Postpartum and Newborn Care