Babies cry a lot. This is a fact of life that new mothers must cope with during and after their confinement period. Babies typically cry on a daily basis, especially during their first few months of life. Since a newborn cannot speak, crying is their means of communicating with you about their basic needs. However, it can occasionally be challenging to determine what your baby is trying to tell you when they cry.
Understanding your baby’s cries and other cues takes practice, especially for first-time parents. For this reason, hiring a full time or part time confinement nanny is a great thing to consider as it can help you better understand your baby’s needs under the guidance of an experienced and knowledgeable professional.
To get things started, below are a few of the most frequent causes of sudden crying in infants.
1. They are either hungry or overfed
One of the most common causes behind a newborn’s cry is hunger. Observe your infant for signs of need, such as tilting their head toward your breast or their milk bottle, smacking or licking their lips, and forming fists. These signs indicate that it is time to feed your newborn.
Aside from being hungry, crying can also be a sign that your newborn has been overfed. A newborn may experience brief discomfort due to bloating brought on by consuming too much milk. Watch for signs that your baby is full and stop feeding them when they cover their mouths, avoid the breast or bottle, or begin to nod off. Always keep in mind that the infant has to be burped after every meal to help with digestion.
2. Their diaper needs changing
Newborns typically cry out in protest when their diapers are damp or dirty. Crying might result from the irritation and annoying sensation that a full diaper can have on their skin. If your infant starts crying due to dirty diapers, change their diapers as quickly as possible, especially if there is stool on them. Parents can typically determine whether their newborn has soiled diapers by simply smelling them.
Newborns typically need to have their diapers changed every two to three hours. Diapers could have a front indicator strip for younger newborns that turns blue when the baby urinates. This can be used by new mothers and the nanny assisting them in determining when to change a baby’s diaper.
3. They are tired and need rest
Newborns sometimes struggle to fall asleep, especially if they are exhausted. A newborn who receives much attention, especially from adoring visitors, may get overstimulated and have trouble falling asleep at night. Although newborns learn and experience new things through engagement, too much stimulation or time spent with a new sensory experience can be overwhelming and cause fussiness and screaming.
Aside from crying, the other warning signs that your newborn might be exhausted include whimpering at minor things, being more silent than usual, and spacing out. Hence, you should always pay attention to your newborn’s sleeping cues. Take your little one to a quiet room before bed to help them relax and calm down.
4. They may be feeling hot or cold
Newborns may feel uneasy and cry to express their discomfort if they feel hot or cold. This may occur if they are in a car seat with a jacket on or are snugly wrapped in a blanket. If a jacket is needed, they ought to have one that isn’t bulky, which they can wear in their car seat comfortably. Otherwise, they will begin to sweat and cry.
During nap time, ensure your newborn stays in a cool place with appropriate body covering. In essence, they should be kept in the shade when outside or dressed warmly in cold weather.
5. They do not feel well
If your newborn’s cry sounds different from usual, this may indicate that they are not feeling well or developing infections or irritants that can cause discomfort. Pain can be brought about by things like teething, diaper rash, or earaches. Other noteworthy symptoms include runny nose, coughing, fever, drowsiness, reduced activity, vomiting, diarrhoea, or constipation.
The best course of action to take if you believe your baby is in discomfort or has an illness is to visit a paediatrician immediately. If your infant is screaming nonstop, displays any sickness symptoms, or has a temperature higher than 38 degrees Celsius, seeking immediate medical help is even more crucial.
Conclusion
Overall, there are several potential causes for your newborn’s sudden crying. Knowing the most frequent reasons babies cry will help you better understand what they need and want the next time they start crying out inconsolably. You might also want to consider employing a day time confinement nanny who is knowledgeable and experienced to guide you on better recognising a baby’s cry and cues.
NannyStreet is the confinement nanny agency you can rely on for the best and most dependable confinement nannies in Singapore. We take pride in having a very innovative hiring process that allows new parents to choose the best nanny for their needs in just a few simple steps. Do not hesitate to contact us to learn more about how we can help you find the ideal nanny for you and your newborn.