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Cookiegobbler
My little love bugs!!
Member since 9/05 5759 total posts
Name:
Nicole
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Is it normal for newborns to cry so much?
I feel like DD is always crying lately... she's only content when she's sleeping, and for a few minutes here and there... is this normal?
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Posted 5/8/07 3:44 PM  |
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nmp070106
My girls!!
Member since 8/06 5843 total posts
Name:
Nicole
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Re: Is it normal for newborns to cry so much?
Madison had this the other day, now she only cries when she is naked or hungry, but last week she cried alot, i could not figure out why but it was gas and she farts a whole lot know, maybe the baby has some????
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| Posted 5/8/07 3:47 PM |
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Calla
My girls
Member since 7/05 4303 total posts
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Re: Is it normal for newborns to cry so much?
There are many different normals. If you are worried, check in with the pediatrician, but many babies do cry a lot. What are you doing with her? Maybe we can give some suggestions.
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| Posted 5/8/07 3:48 PM |
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Bxgell2
Perfection
Member since 5/05 16438 total posts
Name:
Beth
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Re: Is it normal for newborns to cry so much?
Yes, yes, yes.
For the first 4 months of my daughter's life, she rarely slept. When she was awake, she was crying. All day, all night. I took her to the pediatrician more times than I could count, and he kept telling me, it will pass, it's normal. And it did, eventually. BUT, you should go to your pediatrician just to make sure it isn't anything else, like reflux. 
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| Posted 5/8/07 3:50 PM |
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Bxgell2
Perfection
Member since 5/05 16438 total posts
Name:
Beth
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Re: Is it normal for newborns to cry so much?
Wanted to add, that if your baby has colic, it usually rears it's ugly head around 3 weeks, reaches its peak around 8 weeks, and starts dissipating around 10-12 weeks.
But, keep in mind, most, like 99% of the babies out there, go through a normal "witching" hour, usually from 5pm and onward, where they just get generally fussy and cry - that isn't colic, just normal newborn behavior.
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| Posted 5/8/07 3:52 PM |
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LInative
LIF Adult
Member since 11/05 1977 total posts
Name:
Cassie
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Re: Is it normal for newborns to cry so much?
For us it was. Turned out he had a milk protein allergy causing gas, diarrhea and looooooooooooooooots of crying (for both of us). Does your baby feed OK?
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| Posted 5/8/07 3:52 PM |
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Cookiegobbler
My little love bugs!!
Member since 9/05 5759 total posts
Name:
Nicole
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Re: Is it normal for newborns to cry so much?
She does seem like she's a little gassy... and sometimes she's still hungry even after I have breastfed her... so we've been giving her added formula if she's still hungry... she cries if she has the hiccups, she cries if she's pooped, she cries if she's hungry, she cries if she has gas... aye yae yae......... lol
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| Posted 5/8/07 3:59 PM |
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Bxgell2
Perfection
Member since 5/05 16438 total posts
Name:
Beth
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Re: Is it normal for newborns to cry so much?
Posted by Cookiegobbler
She does seem like she's a little gassy... and sometimes she's still hungry even after I have breastfed her... so we've been giving her added formula if she's still hungry... she cries if she has the hiccups, she cries if she's pooped, she cries if she's hungry, she cries if she has gas... aye yae yae......... lol
Yup, totally normal - keep in mind when babies are born their digestive system is still fairly immature, so they have problems with digestion, which will cause them to cry from the discomfort. My daughter was the QUEEN of gas 
Here are suggestions I've given in the past:
Hi there... my daughter had terrible colic, which I hate to admit, lasted for almost 6 months, and it was all mostly due to bad bad gas (that she inherited from daddy ). I found some posts I responded to on the topic, so I cut and paste them here. Also, try to get your hands on a copy of "the happiest baby on the block" - it talks about babies with colic and the 5 s's that help with it (they must be done ALL together or it doesn't work): swaddle, place him/her on his side, shush in his/her ear, rock/swing him/her and let him/her suck on your finger or a pacifier - here is the link:
Happiest Baby
And here are my other suggestions:
Alex had TERRIBLE gas issues in the beginning... I mean TERRIBLE (she got it from her daddy...LOL) . She was BF, not formula. I took her to the doctor so many times and there really just wasn't anything they could do for her. I thought about switching her to formula, but I thought the payoff of protecting her from illness with the Breastmilk was more important. There are some ways to handle it:
-Try to distract your baby. It's hard in the beginning because they aren't as interested in their surroundings, but try as best you can. Sometimes it's as simple as taking her into a different room or changing her surroundings.
-Lay her on her left side, and push her legs up into a fetal position and rock her body a little, or pat her back. It helps get the farts out
-Lay her on her back and pump her legs
-Put her in the superman hold (Alex LOVED this... she would immediately stop crying when DH did this for her). Put her body over your arm. Her head should be in your hand, her legs towards your elbow and she should face downwards so that her belly is resting on your forearm. The pressure alleviates the gas.
-Use a sling or the Baby Bjorn. FOr some reason, it really helps to keep a gassy baby close to your body, probably because it's comforting. On days it was REALLY bad, I would put Alex in the Baby Bjorn and walk on the treadmill on the lowest setting. It usually worked like a charm.
As she gets older and her digestive system matures, and she's more aware of her surroundings, it WILL get better. Unfortunately, this is just something most babies have to grow out of...
______________________________
Oh boy... well, all I can tell you is it WILL get better! Alex was the same way for the first 4-5 months, and I think it was mostly because of gas. She was terrible - would never nap and whenever she was awake she would fuss, strain and cry. I tried everything, and there really wasn't any miracle cure, but here are some things that may help:
1- Keep trying with the swing. The movement distracts baby from the gas pains. Alex didn't take to the swing at first, but after a few weeks it was the only place she would sleep and/or nap.
2 - baby carrier. Keep baby close to you. It helps comfort them when they are uncomfortable and helps with napping. In the beginning, the only way I could get Alex to sleep was to put her in her baby carrier and walk on the treadmill on the lowest setting.
3 - Use a bassinet. In the beginning Alex didn't nap well in the crib, I think because it was so big. We bought a small bassinet that had a vibrate option on it, and had white noise on it as well. I do remember times when I would put her in there and she would actually sleep
4 - Use Mylicon consistently. It won't work when you use it sporadically.
5 - If her gas is very bad, try to let her sleep on her side. On the left side - I read an article about how laying on your left side allows trapped gas bubbles to travel out. I would rock Alex on her side and push her legs up to a fetal position - it often helped.
6 - Pump her legs like a bicycle to get out the gas.
7 - do the superman hold. This was one of the only things that worked with Alex when she was super fussy. DH would hold her on his forearm. Her head face down in the palm of his hand, her butt towards his elbow, with her tummy laying flat against his forearm. The pressure against her tummy helped ease the gas discomfort. If he walked around the house with her in that position, she would often fall asleep.
8 - Stroller/car ride. Again, the movement helps baby become distracted from the discomfort.
That's all I can think of for now!! Good luck and it WILL get better!
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| Posted 5/8/07 4:02 PM |
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GenLCSW
Baby # 3 is here!!!
Member since 7/05 21138 total posts
Name:
Genna
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Re: Is it normal for newborns to cry so much?
Jacob was colic and cried nonstop for the first 2 months...it got less after that. We rocked him a lot and swaddled him which helped
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| Posted 5/8/07 4:05 PM |
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MelissaMac
Life is Good
Member since 6/06 2135 total posts
Name:
Melissa
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Re: Is it normal for newborns to cry so much?
She may be collicky. Do you have the book, The happiest baby on the block?
Also the swing is great! What about a pacifier? It may soothe her. Also my peditrician, suggest Gripe Water.
talk to your doctor,
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| Posted 5/8/07 4:28 PM |
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Lucky
Growing up fast!
Member since 4/07 12683 total posts
Name:
Dawn
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Re: Is it normal for newborns to cry so much?
Babies do cry and awful lot....it's one of those things that people never tell you before you have a baby. If you are are concerned that something may be wrong though, you should call the ped and have it checked out. I called my ped a ton in the beginning.
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| Posted 5/8/07 4:43 PM |
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Cookiegobbler
My little love bugs!!
Member since 9/05 5759 total posts
Name:
Nicole
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Re: Is it normal for newborns to cry so much?
Thanks everyone! We're going to the pediatrician tomorrow, so I will talk to them then!!
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| Posted 5/8/07 7:41 PM |
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Cookiegobbler
My little love bugs!!
Member since 9/05 5759 total posts
Name:
Nicole
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Re: Is it normal for newborns to cry so much?
Posted by MelissaMac
She may be collicky. Do you have the book, The happiest baby on the block?
Also the swing is great! What about a pacifier? It may soothe her. Also my peditrician, suggest Gripe Water.
talk to your doctor,
Never heard of that book... I'm gonna look into it.. thanks!
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| Posted 5/8/07 7:46 PM |
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MatteosMom
LIF Adult
Member since 8/06 1494 total posts
Name:
Carolyn
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Re: Is it normal for newborns to cry so much?
Posted by GenLCSW
Jacob was colic and cried nonstop for the first 2 months...it got less after that. We rocked him a lot and swaddled him which helped
Same here, swaddling saved us. Cookiegobbler--I felt the same way you did at the beginning. I felt like as soon as he opened his eyes, the crying began. The Happiest Baby on the Block, I have a copy if you'd like to borrow! It was a big help!
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| Posted 5/8/07 7:57 PM |
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Lucky
Growing up fast!
Member since 4/07 12683 total posts
Name:
Dawn
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Re: Is it normal for newborns to cry so much?
Posted by Cookiegobbler
Posted by MelissaMac
She may be collicky. Do you have the book, The happiest baby on the block?
Also the swing is great! What about a pacifier? It may soothe her. Also my peditrician, suggest Gripe Water.
talk to your doctor,
Never heard of that book... I'm gonna look into it.. thanks!
I used this book too. My baby had colic but even if yours doesn't it will give you some good tips on how to calm the baby.
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| Posted 5/8/07 8:13 PM |
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SpiceGirl
Dream big
Member since 1/06 2486 total posts
Name:
j
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Re: Is it normal for newborns to cry so much?
YES!
My DD was like this for the first 3 months. I thought for sure she was never happy. If she was awake, she was crying or cranky. She was also a horrible sleeper.
She's now almost 6 mos old and rarely cries....still is not a great sleeper, but I'm working on that part!
Hang in there! The first few months are SO, SO hard. I think I cried almost as much as my DD in the beginning. It's very tiring. Ask for help...you need a break!
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| Posted 5/8/07 8:20 PM |
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twicethefun
Loving life
Member since 7/06 4088 total posts
Name:
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Re: Is it normal for newborns to cry so much?
My son was very cranky for a while. His whole stomache would tighten and he would cry. Babies can cry a lot, but if there is nvever a time she is happy, in your arms, bouncy or eventually swing or car, I would ask the pediatrician. They can probably give you some ideas over the phone but you may have to visit.
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| Posted 5/8/07 8:41 PM |
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mamaA
LIF Adolescent
Member since 6/06 812 total posts
Name:
Amy
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Re: Is it normal for newborns to cry so much?
Yes, especially when they NB. My mother put it to me this way " they don't know what they want yet, and have no way of communicating, have just gone through something traumatic (birth) and have no way of getting rid of extra energy- can't move around.
DS still cries when he gets tired, I guess so he can release pent up energy before relaxing.
It passes, one day you'll just wake up and notice the baby slept a little longer and doesn't seem as cranky. I promise it gets better, the first month or two goes by SOOO quickly.
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| Posted 5/8/07 11:59 PM |
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CheeChee
HI THERE!!!!
Member since 5/05 3416 total posts
Name:
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Re: Is it normal for newborns to cry so much?
My DS cried non stop for the first like 4 months.. and NEVER slept. It was sooooooooooooo bad. It got better like I said around the 4/5 month mark. I used to count the days! Hang in there, and talk to your ped.. My DS had acid reflux which contributed to his crying. Good luck.
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| Posted 5/9/07 12:12 AM |
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