The Cranky Baby-General Advice

Babies have many reasons to be cranky in the first few months of life. They have very sensitive nervous systems. As a result the littlest things such as people talking, a small breeze, or an unusual texture may irritate them, and they may express their discomfort with long bouts of crying. When this occurs we call this colic. However it is important to differentiate between colic and more serious conditions.

If your baby is crying incessantly always take her/his temperature. A rectal temperature is the most accurate. Newer thermometers have a small tip that is easily inserted in to the rectum with a small amount of petroleum jelly. A fever is considered a rectal temperature of 100.5 or higher. If your baby has a fever please call us right away. In addition if your baby is looking pale, vomiting, not eating well, having difficulty breathing or not looking right to you please call us immediately.

Sometimes a hair or thread tourniquet around a finger or toe or scratch to the eye can cause chronic pain or crying. Always look for these problems if your child continues to cry. (Eye scratches can be avoided by filing (not cutting) the nails or using mitts on your child’s hands). If it is established that your child is colicky certain maneuvers can help soothe your child:

  • Rocking the baby in your arms
  • Putting your child in the car seat and placing, the seat on the dryer and let the rumble of the dryer soothe your baby
  • Placing your baby in a bouncy seat or swing
  • Obtain a white noise machine or even put on the vacuum cleaner. These hums are also very soothing.

Again if these techniques are not working please call us.