Why Your Baby Won’t Stop Crying

Babies cry as their primary means of communication, expressing various needs and emotions that they cannot verbalize. Understanding why a baby won't stop crying can be challenging but is often related to several common reasons. These include hunger, discomfort (such as needing a diaper change or feeling too hot or cold), tiredness, overstimulation, or simply the need for comfort and reassurance. Sometimes, babies cry without an obvious cause, which can be distressing for parents.

Common Reasons Why Babies Cry

To help soothe a crying baby, it's essential to first check for basic needs like hunger or a wet diaper. Ensuring the baby is comfortable and has a calm environment can often alleviate crying. Gentle rocking or swaddling can provide comfort, as can using a pacifier or offering soothing sounds such as white noise or gentle music. Skin-to-skin contact, often referred to as kangaroo care, can also be very comforting for newborns. Taking the baby for a walk in a stroller or a gentle ride in a car can sometimes help calm them down due to the motion and change of scenery.

Dealing with Colic

My baby was extremely colicky, which means he had prolonged episodes of crying and fussiness. His crying could not be stopped by traditional methods. He had witching hours between 5:00 PM and 8:00 PM every evening. During this time, he would cry inconsolably for hours on end. Not only would he cry during these witching hours but also throughout the day and night. I would do everything in my power to calm him, which included offering a pacifier, rocking him, taking him outside, and offering gas drops. I experienced major burnout and was extremely sleep deprived. This was such a challenging time for me and my family. It felt like this would never end, and I felt hopeless not knowing how to help my baby. The only way he wanted to sleep was cuddled up on my chest, which made me nap-trapped almost 24/7. It appears being rocked and patted was the only way my little one could get some relief. A characteristic often found in colicky babies is they miss their mother’s womb, which explains the constant need for tapping.

Strategies for Colic Relief

Often, when my baby had a hard time calming down from a colic episode, it really helped when my husband and I took turns caring for him. This way, we did not both waste our energy and efforts at the same time. Taking shifts caring for the baby allowed us to recharge and rejuvenate. We also took turns taking care of our colicky baby all night. For example, my husband would take care of our baby between the hours of 7:00 PM and 11:00 PM. During this time, I got four hours of uninterrupted sleep and was ready to tackle my shift. We also enlisted the help of other adults when we both were experiencing burnout. It is crucial to know when to ask for help.

Of course, it never hurts to cover the basics when you are not sure what else to do. Often diaper changes, swaddling, or pacifiers did not work on our colicky baby, but we tried. When we became desperate, and our baby was having a colicky episode, we would take him outside, and fresh air seemed to calm him down. If you cannot seem to calm your baby, try to take them outside during a crying episode. You would be shocked how effective it is.

Another way we would try to help our baby was by offering him gas drops. We also did tummy massages and bicycle kicks with his legs to help alleviate some gas. These techniques provided temporary relief, however not anything substantial. We tried multiple bottle and formula changes as well, which did not prove helpful. Keep in mind, although some of these techniques were not helpful for our little one, you never know what will help you. It is worth a try if you feel something could make a difference.

Seeking Professional Help

It was also important to us to keep his pediatrician involved. We would often send messages and go in for office visits, hoping for answers. Although they sometimes could not offer much help, it is important to always keep your medical team involved and updated. The most important advice I can give for this phase is to work as a team and to not stop trying everything in your power.

It's important for parents to remain calm and patient when trying to comfort a crying baby, as babies can pick up on stress and anxiety. Sometimes, despite their best efforts, babies may continue crying. In such cases, it's okay to take a break, ensuring the baby is safe in their crib and stepping away briefly to regroup. If crying persists or if parents feel overwhelmed, seeking support from a pediatrician or lactation consultant can provide reassurance and guidance tailored to the baby’s individual needs. Remembering that crying is a normal part of infant development and that babies eventually learn to self-soothe can also help parents navigate this challenging but temporary phase with confidence and patience.