About babies?

Question

1. What are some baby cues you know? What does it mean when the baby pulls his ear? What does it mean when he shakes his head from side to side?
Do you know any others and what do they mean?
2. If a baby has constipation, what do you do?

i read pulling on the ear means baby is hungry. i read somewhere else that baby is sleepy.. So i was wondering which of them is the one coz i cant still put my finger on it.

Answer 1

Ear pulling can mean two things. Normally it is a sign of tiredness and is normally accompanied by eye rubbing and yawning. It can also mean an ear infection - if they're running a temperature and more grizzley than normal - ear pulling may be their way of saying 'ouch'. When my son was very young he would rub his hand against his mouth to say 'i'm hungry' - now we just have the age old screaming! I've not heard or seen the head shaking - but as long as they seem happy - all is good. Babies do have distinctive cries for hunger, enough, tired, windy etc. But, despite everyone saying you'll know which is which, I'm gonna confess - I don't have a clue sometimes!! We tend to do trial and error - and it works for us.

As for constipation - babies 'habits' can vary hugely. Anything from going after every feed to once a week can be normal. Breast fed babies go less and less as they get older - my son is breast fed with formula top ups and, @ 20wks, goes 2-3 times a week. Constipation is diagnosed if no# 2's are infrequent, cause pain on passing AND are very hard. Talk to your HV , but mine said... 'it's unlikely in breast fed babies, in bottle fed you can make up the formula slightly less concentrated or feed very very diluted prune juice' BUT PLEASE CHECK THIS WITH YOUR DOCTOR - What works for one baby may not with another

Answer 2

sometimes pulling on their ear is a sign of ear infection. My son would pull on his ear when he got tired so I never knew. If a baby is constipated there's suppositories you can use. Depending on the age you can also give diluted prune juice. Just make sure you dilute is alot or your in for a really rough time. Another thing to do is get the baby used to drinking water in between bottles. This will help with flushing his/her system and does help prevent constipation. Not to mention if you get them drinking it at a young age they won't fight later on about drinking water. Just remember that all babies are different. So what one does for something doesn't mean another will do it for the same reason.

Answer 3

All depends on the baby, for cues. Mine have always put hands to ears or pulled on ears when getting tired. Head shaking? Could be just for fun early on.

It's all just basic forms of communication. The way you react or what you do for them when they do something or cry a certain way or move in a certain way, tells them that each time they do that, you'll respond. It's a game with no directions.

For constipation, generations of my family have given a tiny bit of prune juice or smashed prune, depending on the age. Don't over do. Chronic constipation needs to be taken up with the baby's ped.

Answer 4

I"m not sure about the constipation on really small babies, but on the ear pulling, that could be a sign of an ear infection. You might want to take him to the Dr.

and they can probably prescribe some kind of stool softener for the constipation too.

Answer 5

well i would say his discovered his ears but also you have to think about he may have a ear infection my son did the same thing and he had a bad ear infection and proably why his shaking hes head could be because of the pain from his ears or head ache then sometimes there just learning how andjust playing im sure its nothing to worry about i would be sure to tell the babys doctor so he could check him well babys often learning new things they will do the on thinkable just pay attention when hes crying and see if he then pulls on his ears or shakes his head that means he could very well be in pain when they are teething they go thorgh alot of different things for instant slober alot bite down on things constantly crying that mean they are in pain thats the only way they can let us know be sure to tell the doctor about these thing katsy coma atcha ask me again and ill try to help.

Answer 6

Many health insurance companies now have 24 hour nurse lines. They save the company's money so you're not running to the doctor's unnecessarily. My babies are grown now and I wish we had something like that when they were new borns. I'd sit an agonize over things in the middle of the night. Come morning I'd call my own mother and she'd reassure me. UnitedHealthcare insurance provides it. You can call in person or do an online chat.

Also, I agree with the ear pulling is could be about an ear ache...or he/she could have just discovered his ear. Ever notice a baby start watching their fist when they discover it?

Answer 7

My baby often shakes her head from side to side when she is lying down. I asked the paeditrician about it and he said it could be an imbalance in the chambers in her sinuses. She also plays with her ears a bit and he said that it could be that there is water in them. If your child has an ear infection they will definitely let you know. My doc told me that there is no way it can go by unoticed because they will be extrememly unsettled if they had ear infection. If your baby is breast fed try drinking apple juice for the constipation and avoid bananas!!!

Answer 8

Babies do alot of weird things. Sometimes they pull their ears or drink a bottle of milk with their feet.

If in doubt go and see a doctor or nurse.

Answer 9

My daughter always pulled on her ears when she was tired....for constipation...put the baby on your lap facing you and gentley push his legs up towards his chest...try laying the baby on his left side and keep trying...also if your breastfeeding.....breastfed babies have less bowel movements than a formula fed baby

Answer 10

pulling on the ear ususally means he has some discomfort there and a possible ear infection