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Crying - excessive (0-6 months)

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Illustrations

Crying, excessive (0-6 months)
Crying, excessive (0-6 months)

Alternative Names    Return to top

Excessive crying (infants 0-6 months)

Considerations    Return to top

Infants normally cry a total of 1 - 3 hours a day. It is perfectly normal for an infant to cry in an attempt to communicate hunger, thirst, discomfort, tiredness, or loneliness. It is also normal for a baby to have a fussy period in the evening.

However, if an infant cries too often it may suggest a disorder that requires treatment.

Causes    Return to top

Home Care    Return to top

Follow the provider's treatment advice, which will depend on the cause.

If the infant seems constantly hungry despite short, frequent feedings, consult with a provider about normal growth and feeding times.

If crying is due to boredom or loneliness, it may be helpful to touch, hold, and talk to the infant more and place the infant within sight. Place baby-safe toys where the child can see them. If crying is due to sleep disturbance, wrap the baby firmly in a blanket before putting the infant to bed.

For excessive crying in infants due to cold, dress the infant warmly or adjust the temperature. Typically, if adults are cold, the baby is cold also.

Always check for possible causes of pain or discomfort in a crying baby. When cloth diapers are used, look for diaper pins that have become loose or loose threads that have become tightly wrapped around fingers or toes. Diaper rashes also can be uncomfortable.

Take your baby's temperature to check for fever. Check your baby head-to-toe for any injuries. Pay particular attention to the fingers, toes, and genitalia. It is not uncommon for a hair to get wrapped around part of your baby, creating a painful "hair tourniquet".

When to Contact a Medical Professional    Return to top

What to Expect at Your Office Visit    Return to top

The health care provider will perform a physical examination and ask questions like the following:

For bacterial infections, antibiotics may be prescribed. The provider will assess the infant's growth and development.

After seeing your provider, you may want to add a diagnosis related to excessive crying to your child's personal medical record.

Update Date: 11/23/2006

Updated by: John Goldenring, MD, MPH, JD, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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