WHY BABIES CRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21296, 24 September 1932, Page 7 (Supplement)

WHY BABIES CRY

BY A NURSE

Young mothers frequently become overanxious when their babies cry. But it is natural for a baby to cry, and, because that is the only way in which his lungs can be strengthened and exercised, normal cries should not be too quickly stopped. A baby has as many different cries as be has wants and ailments. His " hungry " cry usually begins with disconnected whimpers that go on until his patience is exhausted. Then the cries grow louder, though still intermittent, and in the intervals he crams his small fist into his mouth. A similar cry is given when baby is thirsty, which may be at any time between' meals. Boiled water given between meals is extremely good for all babies, but it should be cool, never cold. A baby will natjually cry if he is uncomfortable. Perhaps he has been lying too long in one position. If so, and he is turned over at the first sound, he will probably go quietly to sleep again. A voung child will sometimes cry simply to be taken up from bis cot and nursed. This " temper" cry often goes 011 for hours. The best way to meet this problem, if you want to prevent endless future battles, is to put the baby safely" in a quiet room by himself and let him cry it out. He will learn, in a day or two at most, the futility of such yells and go peacefully to sleep. . Apart from the normal cries of a baby, there are others that are caused by pain or illness. A sick baby should never be allowed to cry unheeded. When teeth, are coming, and the gums are swollen and painful, a baby generally has a whining, irritable cry. llion a few spoonfuls of cool (boiled) water, given frequently, will ease his tender gums better (than anything else. Babies may suffer from earache and when this happens the cry is shrill, and the child usually beats the air with his arm on the same side as the affected car. A warm flannel or a. warm (not hot) rubber water-bottle will give relief But as earache is only a symptom, and not a disease, it. is well to obtain advice at once in order to prevent bad aftereffects. . ... Pain after meals is often caused if the child's binder has been too tightly fastened. Then babv will .wriggle a greaf deal and give a miserable little cry, which should never be neglected.