Did you know there are many reasons why babies cry? It’s perfectly normal and to be expected. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t break our heart! Below is a list of common reasons for baby fussiness and how parents can help soothe their babies for sleep, or in my case, a photo shoot! Sometimes a little fussiness cannot be avoided, this is a normal part of baby life, but I’m here to give some guidance in case you’d like to try some techniques I’ve learned over the years.
Gas is an often experienced sensation by little babies. Newborns can get gassy tummies for many reasons, usually it has something to do with what they eat (just like adults!). And like adults, certain foods affect different babies in different ways. It’s hard to know exactly how foods will affect your baby but with newborns that are nursing, one suggestion is to avoid gas producing foods such as broccoli as these food components can be passed on through milk and could affect baby the same way they can effect you. Sometimes babies do get gas for unknown reasons, to help ease discomfort in this case, you can try bicycling their legs! Belly poses and gentle pressure can also help relax this discomfort.
Everything is new to a brand new baby! Everything they see and hear is different than it was inside the womb and all that stimulation can have some less than happy effects. At home, parents can ease this overstimulation by giving babies breaks from loud noise and light. In the studio, I utilize white noise at a low level to drown out other potentially jarring noises. I also use only diffused light which is a soft compared to direct light which is harsh. My swaddling also eases any physical stimulation and prevents the startle reflex from causing agitation. You can also swaddle at home, and I’ll even tech you how!
Just as babies can be overstimulated, they can get overtired. Watching for the first sleep queues is essential to preventing an overtired baby. Some sleep queues include yawns, rubbing eyes, becoming less social or moving more slowly. Of course some fussiness and cries can come with any of this too. The crankiness is usually later on towards and overtired state. To help with this fussy trigger, recognizing those early on sleep queues is the key. Paying attention to the duration you baby has been awake can also be important. This can be a signal to you (or myself) to start looking for those early queues at a specific time interval, then work to soothe before the fussiness begins.
Obviously the number one reason babies fuss is being hungry. As with sleep, catching on to those queues for hunger is helpful in preventing an overly upset and hungry baby. It is also easier to feed a baby when they are first showing those signs rather than after they are angry. This is one reason why I watch for signs baby is ready to eat during newborn sessions, and take a break to allow for a full feed. The best thing you can do as a parent in this situation is not to rush the feeding process. It may take some time, but after that, we often have a happy sleepy baby ready for more photos!
Of course, there are more reasons for baby fussiness, too. Some are simple fixes, such as changing a soiled diaper, or repositioning baby to be more comfortable. Some cries can be avoided with practice, others come out of nowhere. The most important thing is to recognize that all babies cry, and just because yours does doesn’t mean you are doing anything wrong. You’re an awesome parent just reading this to learn!
According to WebMd, Colic is defined by crying that is for no reason and lasts longer than typical for babies. It is not often diagnosed prior to a newborn photoshoot purely because one factor is the length of time that the crying lasts (a matter of weeks). If I ever suspect that colic could be the culprit for crying, I will let parents know. Typically when babies can be soothed with one of my techniques, colic isn’t a main concern. That said, use your parental intuition and contact a doctor if you are concerned!
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