From the day that a baby is born, her cries are virtually the only way she has, to communicate her needs to you. Through cries, she lets you know whether she is hungry, she needs a new diaper, she is sleepy, she needs to be held … or she is overwhelmed by all the activity around her and needs some space and quiet!
After a little while, you’ll be able to distinguish her different cries and be able to respond to them accordingly.
From the very start of her life — and even before she is born — it is good to talk to your baby. She associates your voice with comforting and with food; your voice is soothing and pleasing to her.
Your baby may take a few days to learn to focus on your face when you hold her … or she may look right into your eyes as soon as the nurse places her in your arms soon after she’s born!
But her eyes are not the only sense she is using from the start; she will also be interested in the different sounds she hears, of which human voice will be the most interesting for her, especially yours. So, talk to your newborn often! Though she won’t understand the precise meaning of your words for some time, hearing your voice reassures her.
Being gently touched and caressed is also very comforting for your newborn. So, delicately touch her skin, play with her little hands, her feet, her hair, plant soft kisses on her cheeks.
Though some baby experts in the past used to tell parents not to spoil their babies by responding every time they cried, today’s baby doctor will tell you that it’s good to be attentive to your infant. Responding to her cries lets her know that you care about her and that you love her.
After a few weeks of life, you may see your baby’s first smile. Now, she has a new way to let you know when she’s happy and comfortable!
If occasionally, you find that you have tended to all your baby’s needs, and yet, she is still crying, don’t become too upset. She may just need to be held, talked to in a quiet, soothing voice, and reassured. Babies — even newborns — love to be sung to. If you enjoy singing, pick a soothing lullaby or other song, and sing to your baby … it may even help her go to sleep! You don’t even have to have a large repertoire — she will never tire of hearing the same song being sung to her; so, sing away!
A lot of babies will get fussy at times for no apparent reason. If your baby is healthy, yet she cries for several hours a day, several days a week, and this continues for at least three weeks, she may be suffering from colic. Colic can be caused by a tummy ache, gas, sensitivity to formula, or even sensitivity to mother’s diet, in a baby who is breastfed.
If you suspect that your baby has colic, you may want to learn how to give your little one a gentle stomach massage, pressing lightly with your fingertips around her belly in a circular clockwise motion, beginning close to the navel and working your way out. This will help relieve gas that may be trapped in baby’s stomach or intestines. You can also try rocking your baby, or walking her back and forth.
Another alternative is a safe, natural, homeopathic medicine made especially for baby colic, known as ColicCalm (sold online and at CVS Pharmacies). This remedy proves effective in more than 90 percent of babies to whom it’s given. Most babies outgrow colic at about three months.
If your newborn’s crying sounds odd, or if there is also decreased activity, or she is feeding poorly, talk to your doctor to rule out any serious medical conditions. If she cries more when she’s held or rocked, she may be sick. She may have a temperature or another source of discomfort. Check for a temperature, and if that’s ruled out, check her entire body for anything else that may be causing the discomfort, being careful to gently check even her eyes for any debris that may have gotten in.
By Jamell Andrews