I’m not sure if my baby is crying because he is hungry or if there is another reason. How can I know what his cries mean?
If only babies could tell us exactly what they need—motherhood would be so much easier! Of course when you think about it, even adults aren’t always great at communicating their needs effectively. You can learn to recognize what your baby’s cries are “telling” you. This will strengthen your confidence in your ability to respond to your baby and ease your concern that something is wrong with breastfeeding.
For reasons we don’t fully understand, crying seems to increase about two weeks after a baby’s due date, reaches its peak around six weeks and then gradually decreases over the next few months. We do know that this is related to babies’ brain development, as they learn to adapt to life outside the womb. The first twelve weeks after delivery is known as the fourth trimester, and is a crucial time period for your baby.
Reasons Babies Cry:
Babies cry for many reasons, not just when they are hungry. Rule out the obvious if you think your baby isn’t hungry. Does baby:
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- Have a dirty diaper?
- Feel too hot or too cold?
- Need a nap?
- Have gas or need to burp?
- Seem overstimulated by the environment (too loud or bright)
- Need to be near you?
Crying from Hunger:
If earlier hunger cues were missed, baby may:
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- Frantically chew on his hands
- Clench his fists
- Eagerly search for the breast by “rooting”
- Make sucking noises
Your baby may not breastfeed well when he is crying. Calm him first, and when he is ready, try latching again.
Tips to Calm Your Crying Baby:
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- Place him skin-to-skin with you
- Talk softly and make “shushing” noises
- Hold his hands against his chest
- Sway gently
- Dim the lights and decrease noise in the room
Pacifiers and formula supplementation may seem like an easy fix, but these can interfere with breastfeeding. You can watch for signs that your baby is getting enough to eat, and if the signs are present, avoid falling into the “formula boobie-trap” (see image below for more info).
Fussy Periods:
Some babies get fussy during certain periods of the day. This is common in the evening and may be due to overstimulation that occurred throughout the day. Some babies calm themselves by cluster feeding, which is when they group several breastfeeding sessions close together. Breastfeeding provides great nutrition, bonding, and comfort for your baby. Nurse him in a quiet room, and hold him skin-to-skin to soothe him.
Persistent Crying:
Some infants cry persistently for many hours (three or more) throughout the day, and nothing seems to calm them. Possible causes include:
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- Digestion problems
- Inability to manage over-stimulation
- Difficulty self-soothing or regulating their states
- Illness
- Injury (possibly from birth)
It’s important to communicate persistent crying with your doctor, so that potential issues can be discovered and addressed.
You will grow in confidence and learn to recognize what your baby is trying to communicate with you through his cries. Crying doesn’t mean something is wrong with breastfeeding or your baby. Since breastfeeding provides more than just nutrition, it can calm and comfort your baby in many situations.
SOURCE:
USDA WIC Breastfeeding Curriculum