Crying baby or child

Crying is a child's first way of communicating. Along with crying, a child may not act normally when something is wrong. Infection, illness, injury, pain, or a medical problem may cause a child to cry and not act normally.

If your baby has colic, you may be concerned that a health condition is causing your baby to cry a lot. In most cases, a baby with colic isn't crying because of pain or physical discomfort. But it's important to be aware that health problems or injuries can cause a baby to cry a lot. And it's important to watch for related signs.

Here are a some signs of abnormal behavior in a baby that may be a sign of a health problem.

Along with crying, your baby may:

• Look or act different. You may notice a change in balance or coordination.
• Seem confused or not interact with people or objects in their environment. Look for a change in the level of consciousness.
• Sleep more or seem to have no energy.
• Cry more than usual or cry during sleep.
• Refuse two feedings in a row or vomit.
• Have a different type of cry than usual. You may notice this if your baby is older than 1 month.
• Cry and be fussy after 24 hours of home treatment.
• Have swelling over a body part and cry (pain cry) when the area is touched or moved.
• Refuse to use an arm or leg or refuse to walk or stand. (This is for children who are old enough to walk. Children usually start to walk when they are 9 to 15 months of age.)

It's often hard to tell the difference between colic and normal crying. Both types of crying increase over time, peaking at about 6 to 8 weeks of age. Most crying episodes occur in the late afternoon and evening hours, but the timing may vary. How long and how hard the baby cries may change from one day to the next.

The difference between colic and normal crying behavior is related to how often, how long, and how intensely your baby cries. Babies with colic:

• Typically cry for more than 3 hours a day more than 3 days a week for at least 3 weeks in a row.
• Cry very loudly, sometimes piercingly, and often continuously.
• May clench their fists and stiffen their stomach and legs during a colic episode. Some babies arch their backs. Others pull up their legs to their stomachs.

Most babies with typical crying behavior are soothed and will cry less when they are held, fed, and given attention. But babies with colic aren't easily soothed after they start crying. And their episodes typically last longer than expected.

Colic is usually worst when babies are around 6 to 8 weeks of age. It tends to go away on its own between 8 and 14 weeks of age.

A child's crying can be very upsetting, especially when you are trying to figure out what the cause is. If you can't find a cause for the crying, such as an injury, try comforting techniques. These include using a pacifier and rocking your baby gently. If your child is still crying after you've tried home treatment, place your child in a safe, quiet place and leave them alone for 10 to 15 minutes. Sometimes children can relax and soothe themselves. Be sure to stay close by.

Crying is a normal part of your child's life. Stay as calm as you can during crying episodes. There are many different ways to approach your child's crying. Over time you will understand your child's needs and will know how to care for your child.