10 ways to calm your baby when crying

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was consulted with - Doctor Le Thu Phuong - Pediatrician - Neonatologist - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.
A fussy baby can be a source of anxiety for you, especially if it's your first time as a parent. However, you should understand that crying is a baby's first means of communication. The cry of a baby has many different meanings, if deciphering the meanings of the cry will help parents take better care of the child. Here are 10 of the most common reasons why babies cry and how to calm them down when crying effectively.

1. Child is hungry

Hunger is one of the most common reasons why babies cry. Because a baby's stomach is so small that it can't hold much milk, he or she may be hungry even if it's only been a short while since the last feed. Therefore, if the baby is fussy, try to breastfeed the baby, especially when the baby has some accompanying signs such as sucking, mouth tip, rubbing face against mother's chest,...

2. Children are tired, want to go to sleep

Sleep plays a very important role in the health and intellectual development of children. Newborns spend most of the day sleeping. When the child is sleepy but parents do not recognize the signs of the child, leaving the child awake for too long will make the child fussy and tired. To avoid this situation, the mother needs to find out the number of waking hours of the child by month of age, know what time the child needs to go to sleep, and at the same time recognize the signs of sleepiness in order to put the child to sleep in time.

3. Baby needs a diaper change

Wet or dirty diapers will upset your baby and make him cry. Mothers should regularly check and keep the baby's diapers dry and clean. Always use diaper rash cream when changing diapers and try to give your baby a diaper-free period to allow time for their skin to breathe.

4. Babies want to be cuddled

Newborn babies are still very unfamiliar with the outside world, because they need a lot of cuddling and reassurance. When the baby cries a lot, try holding the baby in her arms, patting and singing lullabies. Do not let your baby cry for a long time as this can increase the stress hormone levels in the child's body, inhibit brain development and weaken the child's immune system.

5. Babies need to burp

If your baby cries a lot during or shortly after feeding, he or she may have gas. Gas is simply the air in the stomach that a baby swallows while feeding or crying. The child will be uncomfortable until the air is expelled. Therefore, after each feeding, the mother should pay attention to burp the baby. There are many ways to burp the mother can apply such as:
Hold the baby upright, chin rests on the shoulder, then gently pat the baby's back. Let the baby lie face down on the mother's arm, pay attention to the baby's head higher than the chest, then use the palm of your hand to rub in a circle on the baby's back. Let the baby sit against the mother, the baby's head rests on the shoulder, the body is pressed against the mother's chest. A mother holds the baby's head and chest with one hand, one hand is clasped and patted from the bottom up.

6. The child is too hot

Babies crying a lot can be caused by overheating. Mothers should not let children wear too many layers of clothes or wrap towels too tight. In addition to making children uncomfortable and uncomfortable, often wearing many layers of clothes also makes children more susceptible to heat rash and it is difficult for mothers to detect diseases that change the child's skin color. Mothers should remember that children only need to wear one layer of clothes more than adults to feel warm, wearing many layers of clothes is not necessary and will make them uncomfortable.

7. Children feel too cold

Babies may cry because they are not used to the feeling of cold air in the environment. Mothers should pay attention to the weather outside to keep the baby warm.

8. Children are not well

If the baby is unwell, the baby's cry will have a different tone than the normal cry. The baby cries faintly or may cry more weakly, more urgently, continuously, or more loudly. When feeling signs of instability in the child, parents should soon take the child to a medical facility for examination and treatment.

9. The child is too tired or excited

If your baby receives too much stimulation from external factors such as loud sounds and lights or too much attention and cuddles from visitors, the baby may be fussy due to excessive stress. Take your baby somewhere quiet and coax him to settle down.

10. Babies cry for no reason

Colic in infants, also known as Colic syndrome, is a condition in which a baby cries for more than 3 hours a day, occurs more than 3 days a week, and lasts for at least 3 weeks. This syndrome usually occurs in children under 5 months of age, often crying in the afternoon and evening. Although many studies have been carried out, until now, the exact cause of this phenomenon is still unknown. Although colic in babies is very common (appears in 20% of babies) and does not affect the health of the baby, it is very stressful for a baby to cry for a long time. for parents.
Even a baby without colic may cry without the mother being able to find a reason. In any case, try to comfort and cuddle the baby as much as possible. Try hugging, rocking, walking back and forth, taking the child out for a walk, letting the child listen to music or sing a lullaby,...
For a child to be healthy and develop well, a nutritious diet is required. quantity and quality balance. If children are not provided with adequate and balanced nutrients, it will lead to diseases of excess or lack of nutrients, which adversely affect the comprehensive development of children in terms of physical, mental and motor skills. Parents should supplement their children with supporting products containing lysine, essential micro-minerals and vitamins such as zinc, chromium, selenium, and B vitamins to help fully meet the nutritional needs of children. At the same time, these essential vitamins also support digestion, enhance nutrient absorption, help improve anorexia, and help children eat well.
Parents can learn more:
Signs of zinc deficiency in children
Micronutrient deficiency and failure to gain weight in children
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Reference source: babycenter.com