Baby Fussiness

The average baby cries their most at 6 weeks. Typically, the crying is its worst in the evening. The typical story for the stay at home mother and the father with a day job goes like this: The mother has the day she dreamt about where her infant child reaches up touches her face and smiles for the first time. About an hour before the father arrives home the baby begins to cry. When the new father walks in the door the baby is crying, the mother is crying, dinner is burning in the oven, and the phone is ringing(it’s his mother calling to check on the baby). He then says “ why did we ever have this baby” and the mother cries more because she really had a great day.

Things to try when your baby is fussy: bounce, change diaper, burp, feed, change clothes, pacifier, swaddle

GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)/Spitting up

All babies spit up, but few need treatment. When adults or older children eat, a muscle at the top of the stomach called the lower esophageal sphincter tightens and prohibits the stomach contents from going into the (... more on GERD /spitting up)

Colic

Little is known about colic. Colic is frequent unexplained crying in a healthy growing child. Infants with colic typically draw up their legs when crying. It is named “colic” as the pain is thought to come from the colon. It usually begins around 3 to 4 weeks and resolves at 3 to 4 months. (... more on Colic)

Written November, 2010 by
Dr. Gordon, Orlando Pediatrician