{"id":435,"date":"2020-12-10T19:03:06","date_gmt":"2020-12-10T19:03:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/134.122.102.56\/SAND\/uk\/?post_type=waf&p=435"},"modified":"2022-08-05T12:34:15","modified_gmt":"2022-08-05T11:34:15","slug":"wh-your-baby-might-be-crying","status":"publish","type":"waf","link":"https:\/\/path-perinatal.eu\/uk\/waf\/wh-your-baby-might-be-crying\/","title":{"rendered":"Why your baby might be crying"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Babies cry for all sorts of reasons.

As you get to know your baby you will start to recognise their different types of cries, from the frantic \u2018feed me now\u2019 cry to the less intense \u2018I\u2019m bored\u2019 or \u2018I\u2019m tired\u2019 cry.

Crying is your baby\u2019s way of communicating with you and is a strong survival mechanism. It is designed to upset you and not be ignored. <\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Many parents do find crying hard to cope with it can have a profound effect on how you feel. It may make you worry there is something wrong with your baby.

If you are feeling low or stressed it can be much harder to bear and deal with. Never be afraid to ask for help.

We know that babies cry in the womb and being able to cry demonstrates that their brain and nervous system are working correctly.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n

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At birth a baby\u2019s brain is still developing and is not fully developed until they are 2 to 3 years old. Brain development continues throughout childhood and the brain reaches full adult development at 25 years of age.

This ongoing brain development can sometimes unsettle them when they are having leaps in their neurodevelopment. They may be more clingy, fussy and cry more and their sleep may be disturbed.

These unsettled periods coincide with them learning new skills and happen at different times. Sometimes these are referred to as \u2018wonder weeks’.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n

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Why your baby might be crying<\/strong><\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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It is often useful to have a checklist of reasons why your baby may be crying and work through these.

Your baby could be:<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

  • <\/i><\/span>

    Hungry or thirsty<\/p><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>

  • <\/i><\/span>

    In pain<\/p><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>

  • <\/i><\/span>

    In discomfort such as dirty nappy, feeling too hot or too cold or having wind<\/p><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>

  • <\/i><\/span>

    Overtired<\/p><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>

  • <\/i><\/span>

    Needing company or a cuddle<\/p><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>

  • <\/i><\/span>

    Feeling overwhelmed<\/p><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>

  • <\/i><\/span>

    Feeling insecure<\/p><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>

  • <\/i><\/span>

    Startled by a loud noise or sudden change in environment such as a bright light or a cold blast of air<\/p><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n

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    Not all crying is pain related, some of it is just their way of coping with sensory overload.

    Research has shown that babies who cry a lot are healthy and normal.

    Some babies do cry a lot and this crying can gradually increase from 2 weeks onwards, reaching a peak at about 1-2 months of age, and then starting decrease by the time they reach 3 months of age.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n

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    Period of Purple Crying<\/strong><\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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    There is a phenomenon known as the \u201cPeriod of Purple Crying<\/strong>\u201d a term coined by Dr Roland Barr a world expert on infant crying.

    The word PURPLE <\/strong>is an acronym to help parents understand the different stages of \u201cPurple Crying\u201d so they can recognise it.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    • <\/i><\/span>

      Peak\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013 your baby may cry more each week, reaching a peak at 2 months then less at 3-5 months.<\/p><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>

    • <\/i><\/span>

      Unexpected\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013 crying comes and goes and there is no explanation for it.<\/p><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>

    • <\/i><\/span>

      Resists<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 resists soothing no matter what you try.<\/p><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>

    • <\/i><\/span>

      Pain<\/strong>\u00a0like face \u2013 a crying baby may look like they are in pain even when they are not which seems counter intuitive.<\/p><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>

    • <\/i><\/span>

      Long lasting<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 the crying can last for 5 hours a day or more.<\/p><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>

    • <\/i><\/span>

      Evening<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 the baby may cry more in the late afternoon or evening.<\/p><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n

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      Watch a video about the period of purple crying on the Purple Crying website.

      In the past, babies who cried excessively in the first 3 months were often labelled as having colic, it was assumed they had abdominal pain or disturbance, but research has shown this to be untrue.

      Only 5% of babies have a physical cause for the excessive crying. In many parts of the world this period of unsoothable excessive crying is accepted as normal and they have not tried to medicalise it.
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