Although infants lack verbal skills, they have their own effective method of communicating with people: crying. Parents must learn how to decode the message their baby tries to convey through his cries. To respond appropriately, they also must recognize when their child's crying crosses the line between a normal amount and too much.
Normal Crying
Daily, the average baby spends up to three hours crying -- a substantial amount considering many babies sleep 16 hours daily. Reasons babies cry range from hunger and thirst to boredom and tiredness. Infants cry when they feel too cold or hot; additionally, a wet diaper, the need to burp or even a certain time of the day can trigger tears and shrieks. Babies who cry a normal amount often will calm down when you address their agitation's source. Feeding a hungry infant or rocking a bored baby can soothe the child enough to end the crying spell. Excessive crying occurs when your baby cries more frequently or for longer periods than she normally does. Therefore, the definition of "excessive" varies from infant to infant.
Colic
Excessive crying's leading cause is a condition called colic, which affects approximately 10 percent of children. Babies with colic cry longer than three hours daily, several days each week for at least three weeks. Attempts to console them often do not succeed, even after great effort. Colic tends to develop in otherwise healthy children 10 to 21 days following birth and clears up after four months. Colicky infants can cry continuously for hours, generally in the afternoon or evening. Parents cannot prevent the condition, as medical professionals have not determined what causes it.
Other Causes
Physiological events and environmental stimuli can prompt excessive crying in infants. For instance, many babies experience longer or more frequent crying bouts when their first teeth appear. Teething typically occurs around age 6 months, causing tender, aching gums that can make babies feel uncomfortable and irritable enough to cry profusely. Environmental triggers, including loud noises and prolonged movement, and physiological triggers like gas and stomachaches, can have a similar effect. Some infants cry excessively precisely because something about them is no longer normal. Examples of abnormal triggers that can cause excessive crying -- requiring prompt attention -- include an infection, illness or reaction to medication.
What to Do
When an infant cries excessively for a known common reason like indigestion or thirst, attending to him will usually calm him. If the cause remains unclear, deciding how to proceed can require inspecting the baby to find sources of irritation or pain, such as an open diaper pin or a temperature indicating teething or possible illness. When the cause is not obvious or crying lasts longer than one day, contact a healthcare professional immediately.
