The baby is crying - what's going on?
Many parents, especially young parents, keep asking us: Why does our child cry so often / so long / so loud? Of course, there is no single answer to this question. But there are a few important things to think about.
First of all, you have to realise this: In the first few months of life, a child really only has one means of expressing itself and that is its voice or crying. So it cries when it is hungry, when it is tired, when its nappy is full, when it is in pain, etc. There are countless reasons.
The important message is that parents should give themselves time and learn to categorise the crying, to distinguish between the subtle nuances of crying and thus gradually find out what the reason is.
A second important point: if parents feel very unsure about the issue or if a child - and this is difficult to define - cries a conspicuous amount, then we paediatricians are of course there to clarify the situation.
The most important point, however, is that many babies cry simply because they are unable to regulate themselves and find inner peace. And the younger a baby is, the more normal this state is.
That's why the most important piece of advice is: in the vast majority of cases, a crying, screaming baby simply needs so-called co-regulation, i.e. support from outside. Someone who is there and signals to the baby "everything is fine, the world is safe, I'll look after you". Someone who provides closeness and speaks in a calm voice.
The aim doesn't have to be for the baby to stop crying - it can cry for a while - it just needs to not be left alone. Parents should try to give the child as much closeness and calm as possible. And this is not so easy in everyday life.
Normal crying or "cry baby"? Find out more here.
Further interesting tips
U-examinations
They are fixed points for all parents: the famous U-examinations, which, at least in the early years, are documented in the equally famous yellow booklet.
Stool examinations
One issue of increasing importance is unnecessary and often expensive faecal examinations. Very few very useful tests can be carried out with a stool sample. But it can also be used to do a whole lot of - to stay on topic - crap.
Hand in mouth
When a baby puts its hand in its mouth, parents almost always have one reflex: there's definitely a tooth coming. If I wanted to live from hand to mouth (not in the original sense, of course), I would have realised my brilliant idea long ago - and invented the so-called dentiometer for the U4 examination.