symptoms in infants and children
children s health issues
Crying
Any specific disorder is treated. For example, a hair tourniquet is removed, or a corneal abrasion may be treated with antibiotic ointment. For infants who have no specific disorder, parents or caregivers should continue to look for obvious causes of crying, such as a wet diaper or clothing that is too hot, and meet those needs. They can try various other strategies. For example, an infant may be soothed by Being held, gently rocked, or patted Listening to white noise, such as the sound of rain or the electronically produced sounds made by a fan, washing machine, vacuum, or hair dryer Riding in a car Sucking on a pacifier Using nipples with a smaller hole if infants are feeding too quickly Being snugly wrapped (swaddled) Being burped Being fed (but parents should avoid overfeeding in an attempt to stop the crying) When the cause of the crying is fatigue, many of the above interventions only briefly console infants and the crying returns as soon as the stimulation or activity stops, leaving infants even more fatigued. Sometimes it is more effective to encourage self-soothing and sleep by routinely laying infants in their crib awake so they do not depend on their parents or certain motions, objects, or sounds to fall asleep. Mothers who are Breastfeeding may notice that after they eat certain foods, their infant cries after nursing. They should then avoid eating those foods. Teething eventually passes, and the crying it causes usually lessens with time. Mild pain relievers, such as When an infant cries excessively for no apparent reason, parents may feel exhausted and stressed. Sometimes they become so frustrated that Overview of Child Neglect and Abuse occurs. Emotional support from friends, family members, neighbors, and doctors can help parents cope. Parents should ask for whatever help they need (with siblings, errands, or child care) and share their feelings and fears with each other and with other support people. If parents are feeling frustrated, they should take a break from the crying infant or child and put the infant or child in a safe environment for a few minutes. Such a strategy can help parents cope and help prevent abuse. Doctors can provide information about support services to parents who feel overwhelmed. 