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After the initial euphoria of bringing home a baby has worn off, you will find that raising a child is not easy. In fact, it is one of the hardest tasks in life. Taking care of the child becomes the most important part of your life, and you will find yourself drained both emotionally and physically at the end of the day, while your baby relentlessly asks for more.
The fact that babies cannot communicate makes it even more difficult, as the causes of their discomfort are hard to find out. You might start to understand the behavioural patterns of the child as he grows up. Most children cry when they are hungry or in discomfort, but sometimes, they refuse to stop crying no matter what you do- this usually happens around the 1-year mark. So in this article, let us take a look at the common causes of whining in babies and how to deal with them when they are crying.
What is Baby Whining?
Infant whining is the term used to refer to children crying incessantly, for no obvious reason. This can make it harder for parents to discern the reasons behind why they are crying, so it makes it that even more difficult to stop them. Children usually whine because they are frustrated with themselves, and their inability to complete an action or a task. They might also start crying if the outcome of the task is not what they wanted, or are in pain. Other common causes of children crying out are hunger, discomfort or even tiredness.
The probable reasons of why the child is crying are directly dependent on her age. Babies start crying at the age of 4 months, and the common reason is hunger, pain or discomfort. They will also cry if they want to sleep, but cannot. As they grow up to around a year of age, the crying happens because they are unable to assert themselves as individuals. Babies might want to be independent and carry out their tasks by themselves, but they are obviously unable to at that age- this leads to a lot of crying and whining, which can be hard to placate.
Therefore, baby whines because he wants to communicate to you what exactly he wants. The whining is a result of him trying to make you understand what he wants to be done, so the parents are supposed to try to understand that so as to help him calm down.
What Causes Whining in Babies?
If your 1 year-old is constantly crying and whining, there can be many reasons as to why he does it. Some of these can be simple and easy to carry out, while the others may be manifestations of health issues and will require a visit to the doctor to sort out. The common reasons why children cry is:
1. Communication Gap
At such young ages, your child will not be able to communicate effectively with you. You might notice that the babbling skills of the baby develop greatly as he grows up, but there is also a limit to that kind of communication- he cannot be specific by babbling to you. When he wants to share complex emotions but is unable to, your baby may start to whine to try to make you understand.
Another common reason why children cry, hunger is also something that babies try to make you understand by whining. When the baby cries at young ages, try feeding him- he might just be hungry.
If you travel a lot with the baby, you might notice a pattern in the whining of your child. Children get tired quickly during long journeys, and they might start to cry in order to make you understand that he wants to go to sleep. This crying will also be accompanied by irritability and a general disinterest in things.
4. Diaper Change
A soiled diaper can make your baby extremely uncomfortable and might be the reason why your child is crying. So if you notice him crying for a long time and the crying does not subside, you should promptly check his diaper and see if he needs a change.
5. Temperature Changes
If you notice that your child cries as he comes in contact with the hot water for his bath, he is probably trying to tell you that the water is too warm for him. The skin of children is extremely sensitive, so they feel temperature more intensely. This can also occur if you take him to a place where the temperature is cold, and have not covered him with enough layers of clothing.
6. Rashes and Discomfort
Sometimes, the child may cry to make you understand that he is feeling uneasy with something. This might be a painful rash, itching feeling or the onset of a fever. This holds true especially after your baby has started to crawl– the ability to move comes with a few bruises here and there, so he might be trying to tell you that his bruises hurt.
7. Air Bubbles
If you see your child crying immediately after a feeding session, try patting him gently on the back- sometimes, he might stop crying quickly. Air bubbles in the windpipe are a cause of discomfort for the child, and he might find it difficult to burp it out himself. So make sure to pat his back, so that the bubble is released through a burp.
More often than not, your baby might cry simply because he wants the attention of his parents. If you have been away from him for a long time, you might observe that he starts to cry out more frequently. This happens because he wants your attention, and simply wants the safety and security of a cuddle. This is a great way to bond with your child, too.
9. Language Development Issues
In some cases, the child may cry as a result of some greater problem he is unable to convey. If your baby is autistic, he will be unable to learn new words and verbal development remains hampered. Such children cry out because they are unable to appropriately convey their thoughts. Autistic babies will also be unable to digest proteins which are found in barley and wheat. So as these food items make their way into the stomach, they trigger an allergic reaction which has symptoms like chronic whining, aggression and stomach ache.
The digestive system of the baby is still developing, so acid refluxes are common at a young age. This is because the sphincter which is supposed to prevent backflow from the stomach is still only developing, so there is nothing to stop the digested contents from coming back up the mouth. When such refluxes occur, the result is pain and irritation, which manifests as whining in young children.
Tips to Deal with a Whiny Baby
Your baby might whine suddenly and with no apparent reason- baby whining in sleep is also quite common. However, you have to handle the whining well, for the benefit of your child. Here are a few tips to help you calm your child down:
1. Be Calm
Parenting is not easy, and it is only human to have a burst of anger come out every now and then. However, you have to remember that your child is not being malevolent when he cries- he simply has a problem that he cannot take care of on his own. So, it is important that you do not get angry at your child, and always be patient when he cries.
At young ages, the children cry when they are hungry- this is the most common reason. Even if this might not be the reason, you should try breastfeeding him to calm him down, as skin-to-skin contact is sure to help. With the baby getting close to you and feeling your heartbeat, he is sure to feel more secure and calm down quicker.
3. Teach Him Communication
You have to try to make your baby convey what he wants, even if he is too young to speak. For example, show him the bottle when he cries- he might reach out for it, and you will understand that he is simply hungry. Slowly, your baby will start to point out to the bottle whenever he gets hungry and will stop whining.
Elimination works well to help you determine why your child is crying. There may be various stimuli which causes the onset of whining, so try and observe him understand why he does it. You can effectively mitigate crying with this measure.
A tried-and-tested formula, babies find comfort in simple, repetitive motions. Hold him close to your shoulder, and try to rock him to sleep to stop him from whining.
When he starts to cry, you can try to distract him from his discomfort by playing some catchy, peppy music while you try to figure out what the reasons might be.
If the cause of his whining is temperature changes, swaddling the child can help mitigate the crying. By creating a safe, stable temperature, he can now easily go to sleep in the warmth.
You have to change the clothes and the diaper of the child periodically, even though he might not have soiled the diaper. Whining is commonly the manifestation of discomfort with his attire.
Infants love skin-to-skin contact with their parents, so you can try massaging the baby to see if his crying subsides. Place him either on his tummy or his back and massage him gently in rhythmic circular motions.
10. Bathe Him
Hot water is sure to soothe the baby, just like it soothes adults. You can try and give your child a nice, warm bath, and check if his whining subsides after.
If you observe the baby crying right after he has been fed the cause is probably the air bubbles trapped in his windpipe. You can help him burp out these bubbles by laying him on your shoulder and patting his back gently.
If your baby has the habit of feeding on a bottle, pacifiers can work wonders in helping them calm down when they are whining. Children love having something to suck on- therefore, you can give him a pacifier and see if he calms down then.
In many cases, your child might cry simply because he is bored. He might need a change of surroundings, after being cooped up in the house for so long. So you can try to calm him down by taking him out for a walk and showing him interesting things around him to get his attention. Make sure to change his clothes, and have enough layers on him, though.
When to Consult a Pediatrician?
Sometimes, the reasons why your baby is crying may not be something cute and manageable- it might be the indication of a more serious, sever problem. Therefore, if you see that your baby does not stop crying and you have already tried everything possible, you should pay the doctor a visit as quick as possible. Your doctor will be able to see past his whining and lay a hand on what the cause is.
Also, do not panic and get frustrated over his medical condition. You have to keep a calm head and discuss how to proceed further with the doctor, for the benefit of your baby. There is nothing wrong with taking a second opinion, too.
Children may whine for a lot of reasons, and most of those can be managed at home by the parents itself. However, if you observe your child crying for prolonged periods of time and all your efforts to calm him down are going in vain, then it would be best to consult a doctor.