All babies have grizzly days when nothing seems to make them happy. Sometimes there's no obvious reason at all, but when the crying won't let up, it's usually one of three things-colic, teething or a cold.
He's got colic
He'll probably reach a yelling peak between 6 and 10 weeks, which should reduce by the time he's 4 months. Colic is usually caused by tummy aches, probably due to wind, but hunger and tiredness could also play a part. Early evening is when the screaming usually starts, and he'll often appear to be in pain. He may clench his fists, scream angrily and pull his knees towards his chest. The crying can last for hours, and nothing you do seems to help. Between bouts of crying, though, he's well and thriving. Take a deep breath and try not to feel panicked by the noise.
- Feed him if you think he's hungry-but remember that overfeeding can cause more wind and pain. If he's been feeding well, try offering cooled, boiled water instead. If you find he suffers wind pains after a feed, try giving small, frequent feeds rather than long ones.
- Wind him. Try winding halfway through the feed and again afterwards. Sit him upright or lie him across your lap face down and gently rub his back. To ease a tummy ache, lie him on a warm, covered hot water bottle.
- Go for a walk. The rhythmic movement of a bumpy pram ride or car journey will send most babies to sleep within minutes.
- Put him to bed. If you think he's over-tired, try an earlier bedtime -before the screaming usually starts. Tuck him into his cot while he's still awake, then turn
off the lights and leave him to settle for 10 minutes. If he frets, check him and talk to him, but don't get him up again. Eventually he'll learn how to go to sleep on his own and won't become frustrated by tiredness. - Try a dummy. Many babies get a lot of comfort from sucking. But bear in mind you'll have to ditch the dummy at some stage-which can be hard-going.
- Give colic drops. These are available from most chemists and can help ease wind pain. You might find that they help on some days but not others.
She's teething
Once she is past the age for colic, teething niggles start, but these tend to be less intense. Teeth first appear at around 6 months, but from about 3 months she'll start to chew on anything she can get into her mouth. She may start biting and dribbling more and her gums may look red or slightly swollen. She might become more irritable, especially if painful gums keep her awake at night. A classic sign of teething is a bright red cheek on the affected side, and you may notice her tugging at her ear. Finally, don't be surprised if her poo is a bit runny.
- Let her chew. Buy some soft plastic teething rings and store in the freezer-the cold plastic can feel soothing. If she's 6 months
or more, she may prefer hard foods such as raw carrot, bread crusts or baby biscuits, but don't give foods that break up easily, as she could choke. - Give her extra feeds and water as she will probably feel more thirsty than usual. You might find she has a slightly raised temperature when her teeth come through, which could also make her thirsty.
- Teething gels can help if she has a particularly sore patch, as they contain a mild local anaesthetic that numbs sore gums for about 20 minutes. But you shouldn't use these all the time. If the pain is stopping her sleeping, try giving children's paracetamol or ibuprofen, but don't be tempted to give this every time she's fretful.
- Protect sore skin around your tot's mouth with a thick barrier cream. She might develop a red, sore rash in this area because the skin is constantly wet.
He's got a cold
He'll catch around 10 colds before the age of 2, so you'll soon be an expert! The day before a cold appears he'll be out of sorts. You'll notice a runny nose, coughs, sneezes and sore, watery eyes.
If he's young, he'll also sound snuffly as he tries to breathe through a blocked nose. A runny nose can disturb his sleep and make feeding difficult. He may even have a slight fever and be lethargic, irritable and clingy. Colds are caused by viruses, so antibiotics won't help. Most are mild and cause few problems, but if his temperature is more than 38˚C and doesn't improve with children's paracetamol, or persists for more than a couple of days, see your GP. If symptoms last for more than three weeks, or he gets yellow eye discharge, also contact your GP. In the meantime, try these simple tricks:
- Give extra drinks. If you're still breast or bottlefeeding, offer your baby cooled, boiled water between feeds.
- Keep the air moist in his bedroom. Put damp towels on the radiator or buy a humidifier from a chemist. This will make breathing easier and is excellent for coughs. A warm, steamy bath helps tickly coughs.
- Clear his nose. You can buy saline drops from chemists to help clear the mucus. They only give brief relief, but may help him to sleep and feed.
- If he has a fever or seems ill and in pain, give children's paracetamol or ibuprofen.
Other grizzles can include nappy rash, a tummy upset or the beginning of an illness, such as an ear or throat infection. If her symptoms don't improve and you're worried, see your GP. When giving your child any medicines, always follow the instructions.
