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Home › Articles › Crying Issues › Baby Tantrums

Baby Tantrums

Crying Episodes Are Not Just for Toddlers

By Shannon McKelden

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Temper Tantrum on Aisle Five

Aside from the above-mentioned reasons for crying, there are babies who tend to cry excessively in public situations. Over-stimulation can set off a tantrum that can be disruptive and, frankly, embarrassing when it occurs in church or in a busy checkout line.

"When children are exposed to a lot of outside stimulus from the environment, they may have trouble filtering that stimuli, which can trigger more crying," Dr. Buchalter says. "For example, a trip to the supermarket with bright overhead lights and a loudspeaker can be quite distressing to a baby. Babies are also creatures of habit and routine. New environments and unfamiliar surroundings can trigger a crying spell in babies."

This is the case for Kara Gray, a mom from Dallas, W.V., who says her 8-month-old daughter, Sydney, is a tantrum thrower. "For about the first six months, we couldn't take her anywhere," Gray says. "She would cry at my parents' house, cry in the grocery store, in restaurants, you name it!"

Andrea McCann found herself in the same situation. "My daughter cried for at least 10 minutes every time we went somewhere," says the Norfolk, Neb., resident. "I would put her in the baby carrier and walk her around in a quiet place in the store. She would usually cry herself to sleep, and then I could shop."

Dr. Linda Gilkerson is the director of the Fussy Baby Network (www.fussybabynetwork.org) in Chicago, Ill., a free service that offers support for parents concerned about their baby's crying and fussiness. "Even young babies notice and react to differences in their surroundings, but each baby responds differently," Dr. Gilkerson says.

Some babies enjoy being out in public and go with the flow. Others may shut down and go to sleep if they feel over-stimulated. "Others respond by crying or fussing," Dr. Gilkerson says. "Most babies are comforted by the routines and pace of home, and when they are in public, this familiar comfort zone is disrupted."


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