How can I console my crying baby?

Question

My ten day old baby likes to be fussy from 11-1am. She had a biospy 4 days ago on her leg and I think that might be the reason. Or she could just be fussy. What can I do to stop the crying after I have given her tylenol, fed her, burped her, and changed her? I am going insane!

Answer 1

After 4 days, I would think that your baby is probably starting to heal, so I wouldn't think the biopsy would be bugging her that much.

However, around 10 days or so, babies can start to get fussy.... for no reason really. Unfortunately, there's no medical reason why babies start to get fussy around this time... they just do.

Here are some tips which can help:
1. Swaddling. This is the biggest tip I can give you. Get a really big SQUARE receiving blanket, or *anything*.... even a sheet works. But to properly swaddle, it needs to be big - at least 25 - 30" on a side. Then, follow the instructions in the link below. Remember that the swaddle needs to be tight, and no, it won't hurt or make it hard for the baby to breathe.

2. Carry your baby around. When in the womb, babies become used to the constant jostling and swaying of you walking around. Lying still is very hard for them, they're not used to it. Do you have a sling? Pop baby in the sling and go for a walk around the neighborhood.

3. Try the swing or bouncy chair.... becuase there's only so long you can carry your baby around before you get tired and/or go insane. ;-)

4. Does your baby spit up alot? If so, check with the Dr, she may possibly have reflux which can be painful for her. Try holding her in an upright position, or putting her in her carseat to sleep for a bit. The semi upright/upright position can help relieve the reflux.

5. Try a soother/binky. Some babies have a very strong suck-for-comfort reflex, and want to suck even though they aren't hungry. If you've already fed her until she's full, try giving her a soother and swaddle her, and put her in the swing, etc etc. :-)

6. Turn on the tap in the kitchen full blast. Weird, I know! However, most children respond to the white noise of the tap running full bore. In the womb, babies are constantly hearing your blood roaring through your veins, your tummy gurgling, and your voice as you talk. Outside the womb, the world is comparatively silent for them, they're not used to it! My daughter, now 16 months old, was extremely fussy (I would almost say colicy) and one way to calm her down was the sound of the faucet running in the kitchen. Eventually I found a white noise that I burned to CD and played for her to calm her down, but you can always use a ghettoblaster to tape the faucet if that works.

Try checking out the book "Happiest Baby on the Block" for lots of great advice on calming your baby. It looks like a long book, but it's in large print and is actually a quick read. Your library may have a copy, or can be found online for pretty cheap. A family member may be able to buy you a copy if you are financially strapped. There is also a happiest baby DVD which I have heard is great for demonstrating the techniques discussed in the book (plus, it's easy to watch when you're sleep deprived. :-) )

You may need to try all of these suggestions, over and over, in a different way each time. Just when you think you have it figured, the baby changes it's mind. :-) I remember hearing that babies get over colic around 12 weeks... and I broke down in tears becuase it seemed so far away. Honestly, the time WILL pass quicker than you think it will, and soon your baby will be happy and giggly and this will all be behind you!

Answer 2

She will stop don't worry.The biopsy is most likely the reason.My son had his 2nd heart surgery 6 weeks ago when he was 3 months old and he cried 4 two weeks and there was't much I could do.Your doing everything right by the sounds of it.She is probably very uncomforatable.Swaddle her in a blanket and hold her when you can,she needs to feel the warmth and comfort of the sound of your heartbeat.Remember thats what she heard for 10 months.When you are busy try a swing they are a life saver!!Good luck.

Answer 3

The nurses at the hospital swore by skin-to-skin contact when my daughter was born/treated for jaundice. They told me to take off her clothes (not her diaper), and hold her directly against my chest while rocking or singing or cuddling. I now prefer to wear my warm robe and be able to hold her against me with the robe wrapped tightly around her for warmth. We slept like that in the recliner for the first week she was home from the hospital. My husband also has great success with swaddling her in two lightweight cotton receiving blankets so that she's well swaddled but not too hot. The book "Happiest Baby on the Block" by Dr. Harvey Karp also suggests some things that I have found helpful-- This excerpt is from my local newspaper, the Wichita Eagle:

"1. Swaddling -- Wrap the baby very tightly, like a little burrito, using a large square blanket. This prevents her from hitting herself in the face and waking up or getting upset.

2. Side- or stomach-lying -- Babies generally are more calm and comfortable on their sides, Karp says. After swaddling, shift the baby to her side or slightly toward her stomach, with her face looking away from you.

3. Shushing -- Shush loudly into the baby's ear. This simulates in-utero sounds, which Karp says are about the volume of a vacuum cleaner.

4. Swinging -- Holding the baby's head in the palm of your hand, gently swing or jiggle your arm from side to side until her head wobbles like Jell-O. This simulates the motion babies feel in the womb. (It should not be confused with severe back-and-forth movements, which can cause shaken baby syndrome.)

5. Sucking -- Offer the breast, bottle, pacifier or even your finger. Sucking is one of a baby's primary needs."

Answer 4

Don't forget that little babies can become overstimulated. Everything in this world is new to them. My son used to be fairly happy all day then scream between 7 & midnight. Although my family all tried to help, they were trying to play with him and distract him which made the problem worse. I soon learnt that a feed, warm bath, swaddling him and either putting him a sling or having a quiet cuddle in a quiet dimly lit room helped him to settle. He also started to learn this as routine and knew bed time was coming.

A clinic nurse also gave me the great advice of 'good sleep breeds good sleep'. Meaning if babies sleep well during the day they'll sleep better at night. My family tried to keep my son awake all day believing he'd sleep better at night. He didn't! Once i started making sure he had a few good sleeps during the day he not only settled better but slept better at night.

I wish you good luck and lots of sleep!

Answer 5

Do you have a swing or a vibrating bouncy chair? RUN TO THE STORE RIGHT NOW AND BUY THEM if you don't. It will change your life, for the better. Also, you need to swaddle her VERY tightly. It makes them feel like they are back in the womb. There is very little that beats the combination of having a full tummy, being swaddled tightly, and being put in a gentle swing.

Answer 6

Aww poor baby. It could be the biopsy. It could be something else. Here comes a story. When my bro was 6 month he started crying and he never stopped for like 6 hours. We took him to the doc he did nothing. We took him to the walk-in-clinic he told us to go to the hospital because it was serioud. He had a chest cold or something and that is why he was weeping.

Answer 7

She would desire to ok have acid reflex. This befell to quite a few teenagers that I babysit for and that all of them had reflex. try preserving her upright as much as conceivable and he or she would additionally be extra gentle drowsing in her motor vehicle seat. maximum docs want to place them on acid reducers mutually with prilosec or zantac, yet those are extremely stressful on little ones and would reason holes of their abdomen and esophogus. If she is likewise spitting up plenty it extremely is yet another sign of reflex. a thank you to help her with out drugs is to locate a kineseology chiropractor. What reasons their discomfort is a hiatal hernia and the chiropractor can instruct you a thank you to tug the hernia down and relieve her discomfort. in case you reside everywhere close to southern California I surely have a great individual who could have the skill to help particularly. stable success!

Answer 8

Try a sling. They swaddling and swinging action mimic the womb and tends to sooth new babies.

Good luck and congrats on the new baby

Answer 9

Like you, we went out of our minds... my hubby would sleep propped up on pillows with the baby on his chest so he could hear the heart beat in his chest. Seemed to help quite considerably... also we used a womb sounds cd, blow dryer or tv with no station (for white noice), and the dryer was also a nice touch... just put her in the car seat on it. congrats on the new addition... it does get easier.

Answer 10

She may have Colic. With colic babies it helps when you bring them outside. They sort of calm down somehow.
Other things that might help:
Turn the vacuum on. Seems to stimulate memories of being in the womb and quiets them down.
Swings with loud motors. same reason and motion
Vibrating baby chairs.: Odd but works great!
Mammogram: A steady hum seems to quiet babies down. Especially if you put your lips on their chest by their heart or on their hand. Sometimes on their head but usually on their chest, hand or foot. The MMMMMMmmmmmmmmmm Seems to calm them down and the lips in them seems to be comforting.
I really hope this helps! Good luck and if you need to talk you can IM me on yahoo or e mail me! Bye!