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Home › Articles › Crying Issues › Baby Tantrums

Baby Tantrums

Crying Episodes Are Not Just for Toddlers

By Shannon McKelden

Pages:  1  2  3  4  

Dealing with Disapproval

Some parents find themselves the target of disapproving glares when they have a fussy baby. Dr. Gilkerson acknowledges that it's easy to feel criticized and out of control. "You can try and find a place that is shielded from the hubbub and more calming for both of you," she says. "If this is not possible, you might talk to the people around you and say: 'I know my baby is crying; he'll settle down but it may take a little time.'"

Gray has found that people don't react negatively to her crying child. "Most everyone has 'been there, done that' and I've even had people in the next booth, two pews back in church, etc., make faces and otherwise try to distract/entertain her," she says.

On the bright side of all the tears, remember this too will pass. "Happily, around 6 months of age, when my daughter was able to crawl, she calmed down," McMann says. "She could do more for herself than just sit around and scream. I think the independence crawling gave her made all the difference."

Dr. Gilkerson encourages parents to remember that the first few months with their infant is for getting to know one another. "It's a process for all parents and it takes time," she says. "When babies cry a lot and are hard to soothe, this process is more stressful. That needs to be acknowledged. Parents sometimes think that they have done something wrong, or that their baby is mad at them."

Parents may find that just having someone to talk to is helpful in relieving the stress. "Parents are better able to cope with crying when they feel that someone understands what their experience is and can help them to settle and soothe," Dr. Gilkerson says.

Is It Colic?

When is crying caused by colic?

Dr. Linda Gilkerson says that pediatricians use the "Rule of Three's" to identify babies with colic. "This means that the baby cries more than three hours a day for three days a week for at least three weeks," she says.

While no one knows the cause of colic, it is identified as "excessive crying without an identifiable cause in an otherwise healthy infant between the ages of 2 weeks and 4 months."

"Cries of babies with colic may have a higher pitch, which can be more stressful to hear," Dr. Gilkerson says. "These babies also can go very quickly to their most distressed cry. Their cries can seem to come out of nowhere with no predictable trigger and can vary day by day."

Here are some indications your baby might have colic:

  • Baby may look like he is in pain with a flushed face, clenched fists and possibly may have gas.
  • Colicky babies may have more times when their crying is unsoothable.
  • Babies who are colicky may cry more later in the day.

Thankfully, colic crying typically disappears by 3 to 4 months. "For most babies and families, colic resolves without any longer-term problems for the baby or family," Dr. Gilkerson says. "Families can even be strengthened by helping their baby through this hard time and feel a special bond: 'We learned to be more patient' or 'I feel close to her, given all that we have been through.'"


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