Coping with crying – nine reasons a baby cries

1 – Hunger or thirst: Even if a baby has been fed recently, it may still want more. Or it may be thirsty. If the weather is hot or your house is warm try cool, boiled water.

2 – Heat or cold: Are the baby’s clothes right for the weather?

3 – Wet nappy: Check to see if it’s time for a change.

4 – Tiredness: Put the baby to bed or rock it to sleep in your arms.

5 – In need of comfort: Try breastfeeding or talking with eye contact.

6 – Irritable mood: Sing to your baby and rock it gently in your arms. Take it for a ride in the car, or out in the pram or baby sling. If it’s still fractious, try a gentle massage with baby lotion, or turn on a vacuum cleaner, radio or hairdryer; background noise can be soothing and can send a baby to sleep with minutes. Swaddling the baby in a shawl may also help.

7 – Colic: Regular evening crying could be a sign of colic, which is sometimes caused by wind. Burp the baby by placing it stomach down in your knee which stroking up the back towards the head. Give warm, boiled water in a bottle to help bring up wind. Keep a record of your diet if you are breastfeeding, or of food given to the baby if not. It may be that a particular ingredient is causing the trouble. If problems persist, see your doctor or health visitor. Colic nearly always disappears by the time the baby is three months old.

8 – Boredom: Play with your baby and give it plenty of stimulation; even tiny babies love simple games such as peek-a-boo.

9 – Teething: Buy a water filled teething ring and cool it down in the fridge before giving it to the baby to chew. Rubbing the baby’s gums with a clean finger may also be soothing, or giving chewable foods such as rusks. If the baby is still in pain, try applying a teething gel.