Crying in infants needs to be clearly distinguished from colic. Incessant crying and irritability can be due to colic, but otherwise infants can cry due to a variety of reasons. For a baby who hasn’t yet mastered the art of communication, crying is the only way in which it can convey a feeling of distress. The reasons for crying can be very mundane such as a newborn who feels overwhelmed by the ability to move his arms and legs without any restrictions that were present in the congested environment in utero. It can also be caused by more serious problems such as stomach pain or an ear infection. Sometimes there is no clear reason why a baby cries. However if the crying is continuous and lasts for a long time and is very frequent then the cause needs to be investigated. Crying usually reduces after the baby reaches about six months of age and if it does not then it can be due to physical trauma or stress in the family environment of the baby.
Evaluation of Crying
Evaluation of an infant’s crying is done by taking the history and by physical examination. Sometimes if other illnesses are suspected then tests may be prescribed as well.
History of crying includes the duration of crying as well as the timing. Any other obvious signs of illness is also evaluated. If fever or upper respiratory infection is present it could be due to ear infection. Vomiting or diarrhea can be due to GI problems and if parental stress is noticed then it could be because of family tensions which the baby would easily perceive.
Physical examination would check for growth patterns as well as any signs of other causes. For example abdominal distention can be a sign of gasto intestinal infection which maybe causing pain to the baby. Fever accompanied by crying while passing urine can signal urinary tract infection.
Treatment for Crying
The physician should explain various ways in which the parents can try to calm a crying baby. The strategies would vary with the suspected cause as well as the age of the child. Small infants are often comforted by gentle rocking, swaddling or white noise. Sometimes a car ride can calm a crying baby. Sometimes allowing the baby to cry for a small time (less than five minutes) before trying to calm him would help both the baby as well as the parents.