Indisputably, babies tend to throw tantrums from time to time. It could be because they are hungry or sleepy. Regardless of the case, always attend to your child whenever they start being fussy. Even so, children sometimes cry for no good reason. So, should a baby be picked up every time they cry?
The majority of parents believe that babies should be picked up every time they cry. But is this true? Well, partly. According to a recent study conducted by the University of Notre Dame, cuddling and holding a child does not spoil them.
Babies who receive a lot of affection while young grow more empathetic, loving, and healthier. Therefore, pediatric experts advise picking up your child when they cry, especially if they are less than six months old.
Once you respond to your child positively when they cry, they are likely to feel more loved and secure. Remember, children love attention, and it would be best if they receive it when they are young.
Additionally, picking up your child when they cry makes them feel more valued and appreciated. Subsequently, they grow up into confident adults who know their worth.
Needless to say, these findings do not agree with several sleep training techniques. Some sleep training techniques recommend leaving your baby to cry until they fall asleep. But doing this is not good, especially if your baby is 0 to 6 months old.
If you don’t attend to your child when they cry, they may grow up with mental problems. Generally, they won’t feel loved and appreciated. As a result, they are more likely to fall into depression. Ultimately, the best thing to do is usually responding to your baby’s cry.
Nevertheless, at the end of the day, you have the final say. As the child’s parent, you have the right to raise your child however you choose to. But it is important to note that it is impossible to spoil a child below six months.
When you hear your child cry, respond positively. With time, you’ll be able to distinguish between genuine cries and other noises coming from your child. This way, you’ll know when and how to pick them up.
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Most children are noisy sleepers, and they might cry when they are uncomfortable during their sleep. In such scenarios, you don’t have to pick up your child because they’ll keep quiet on their own eventually.
However, if your baby cries aggressively or loudly, pick them up. It means that they need something from you. They are probably hungry. So, nurse or feed them to calm them.
At times, babies cry more than usual. In such instances, it would be best to seek professional medical help. If your baby cries too much, there could be something disturbing them. Consult a pediatric expert; they’ll identify whether your baby has any other problem.
At the end of the day, it is important to remember that children require love and affection at all times. So, please pick up your child when they cry. You never know what they need. Even as your child grows older, never stop giving them love and attention.
The different types of baby cries
Normally, babies cry for approximately two to three hours a day. Babies can’t express themselves through speech. So, if they need to say something, they’ll cry. When babies cry, they often need something. More often than not, it could be because they are tired, hungry, or sleepy. Let’s take a look at the different types of baby cries.
Hunger cry:
Every baby cries when they are hungry. Newborn babies need to feed after every three hours. So, when they cry, it could indicate they are hungry. Usually, hunger cries are low-pitched and short. This is because they have less energy needed to cry.
Colic pain cries:
A good percentage of newborns tend to experience colic pain during the first month. When babies experience colic pain, they cry for a consecutive period of three hours. Colic pain cries take longer than usual and are very loud. Also, your baby is likely to become red-faced due to the discomfort they experience.
Colic pain leads to bloating and bunched-up legs. This is because of the discomfort caused by heartburn and gaseous distension. The most common cause of colic pain is feeding your baby using bottled milk. If your child experiences colic pain, take them to see a pediatric expert. They may be able to recommend other food options suitable for your newborn.
Sleep cry:
Babies who are younger than six months find it challenging to sleep on their own. So, they are likely to cry when they feel sleepy. If you notice your child is crying and has sleepy eyes, hold them in your arms and rock them to sleep.
On the other hand, children who are more than six months need someone by their side as they try to sleep.
What is a normal baby cry?
Child experts report that babies cry for approximately 2 to three hours a day. If your child cries for more than four hours a day, seek medical help. It could indicate an underlying health issue.
Is too much crying bad for a baby?
Most parents get concerned when their baby cries longer than usual. At times, babies can cry for several hours non-stop. Although this can indicate a problem with your baby, it is not always the case. Babies can cry longer when they are just fussy.
If your child does not have an underlying medical condition, it is normal to cry too much sometimes. Eventually, they’ll stop crying by themselves because they will slightly get gassy due to swallowed air.
Try holding and swinging them to help them calm down. Also, remember you are not a bad parent if you leave your child to cry by themselves when it gets too much. But you have to make sure the child does not have any health problem or urgent need.
On the other hand, you may have to seek medical help from a pediatric expert sometimes. In case your baby is crying excessively using a high-pitched tone, they could be injured or sick. If your crying baby has a fever or diarrhea, take them to a pediatrician. Also, if the child’s cry seems genuine, check for any possible injuries on the child’s body.
Moreover, if your baby is still crying excessively yet everything seems okay, get them checked. A health professional is in a better position to provide possible solutions and remedies for your baby’s inconsolable crying.
A few things to note about your baby’s cry
Below are some of the things to expect regarding your baby’s cry.
- More often than not, a baby’s cry gets worse when they are almost two months. In particular, your baby cries most at six to eight weeks due to developmental changes. After that, the crying becomes less.
- Your baby should cry for a maximum of three hours a day. Even so, some babies usually cry for longer, say approximately four hours. If your child cries longer, check to see whether everything is okay.
- Parents may notice that their babies get fussy in the late afternoon or the evening. Nevertheless, this depends on your baby.
- As your baby gets older, they won’t cry as often. This is because they find better ways to express themselves. So, be patient with your newborn; they’ll soon grow up!
- As a first-time mum, be patient with yourself. With time, you’ll get to understand the meaning of your baby’s cry.
In summary
Pediatric experts often advise picking up your child every time they cry. Children cry for different reasons; therefore, take time to understand what your child needs. Nonetheless, if your baby cries longer than usual, consider getting them checked by a health professional.