LITTLE SHOP

What to do when your baby starts crying

One of the biggest challenges new parents face is how to deal with a crying baby. But what you must understand is that since they can't talk right away, crying is the only way babies have to communicate that they need something.

Sometimes babies cry for reasons that even the most sensitive parents cannot understand. When you have figured out that the baby is not hungry, wet, sick, hot, cold, bored, tired, or in pain, try other things to help your baby feel better. Here are some things you could try to get your little one to settle down:

. Play some soft music.

. Pat her back and let her hear your soothing voice.

. Let her listen to a repeating sound, such as a low thumping noise or an electric shaver.

. Walk with her.

. Rock her.

. Hum or sing to her.

. Fill a hot water bottle with warm (not hot!) water and lay it next to her.

. Try a pacifier, or help her find her thumb to suck on.

. Try to bring up a bubble with gentle burping.

. Change the position of the baby:
    o Cradle him, face up, in your arms at different angles.
    o Prop him upright so he looks over your shoulder.
    o Hold him in front of you with his back to your stomach.
    o Lay him on his stomach across your lap.

Taking the time to understand your baby's cries will pay off later. It will also help her to feel that her world is safe and predictable.

What to do when your baby starts teething

When a baby begins teething, there is no set pattern on when it will begin, how long it will take and how painful it will be. For one baby cutting a tooth might happen overnight without pain, while another child might have to go through a long, drawn out and painful experience. You may sometimes visibly see a rise or lump in the gum for several weeks, while sometimes there may be no visible clue at all until the tooth actually appears.

The symptoms of teething vary from child to child. While most parents usually agree that some or all of the symptoms below happened around the time of teething, it is still recommended that if your baby experiences any of these symptoms you check with your pediatrician to rule out other possible causes for the symptoms.

SYMPTOMS :

. Irritability:
As the sharp little tooth rises closer to the surface your baby's gums may become increasingly more sore and painful, leading to your baby being very fussy.

. Drooling:
From three to four months of age you may see your baby start drooling more often than normal. Teething stimulates drooling, which is often worse with some babies than others.

. Coughing:
The extra saliva can cause your baby to occasionally cough or gag. This is usually nothing to worry about as long as your baby seems fine and shows no signs of a cold or flu and does not run a high fever.

. Chin rash:
If your baby is a big drooler, the constant contact with saliva can cause the skin around the chin and mouth to become irritated. To help prevent this, gently wipe your baby's mouth and chin periodically throughout the day.

. Biting & gnawing:
A baby that is teething will gnaw and gum down on anything she or he can get their mouth around

. Cheek rubbing & ear pulling:
Pain in the gums may travel to the ears and cheeks particularly when the back molars begin coming in. This is why you may see your baby rubbing their cheeks or pulling at their ears. However, keep in mind that pulling at an ear can also be a sign of an ear infection.

. Diarrhea:
While this is a symptom that is disagreed upon by physicians, researchers and parents, most parents usually notice slightly looser bowel movements when a baby is teething.

. Low-grade fever:
You may find that your baby gets a slight fever while teething. The best thing to do is be extra safe and notify your doctor if a fever last more than two days.

. Not sleeping well:
With teething pain happening during the day and night, you may find your child wakes more often at night when the pain gets bad enough.

. Cold like symptoms (runny nose, etc.):
Some parents find that their baby will show signs of having a cold. Play it safe and always notify your doctor if symptoms such as this occur.

How to ease the pain?

There are several things that you can try to help ease the pain of teething; some work and some don't, but most parents agree they're always worth a try. Teething rings, water filled and chilled rubber teething toys; mom and dads fingers can all provide counter pressure that can sometimes bring relief. Offering your baby a cold bottle of water can also help. If sucking on the bottle bothers your child, offer a cold cup of water. The water can also help replenish your baby's fluid if they're drooling a lot or have loose bowel movements.

When nothing else helps, you can also turn to the Infant Tylenol. Before giving your child Infant Tylenol (acetaminophen) always check with your doctor first.
The teething process will come and go just like so many other things with new babies. Keep trying different things until you find what provides the best relief for your child.