Is Your Baby's Cry Serious? How to Tell

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

07 Jun 2009 02:25 PM

There is an instinctual heart-wrenching for most parents when a baby cries, especially when the baby belongs to you. While colic is a real issues, it is the sudden bouts of crying for seemingly no reason that concerns most parents, especially if the baby is generally not prone to crying jags. Here are some ways to tell if the crying is serious and requires medical attention. Of course, if you are ever in doubt, seek medical attention right away. Doctors would rather be bothered when something isn't serious than have care put off for a serious issue.

The Baby Book by Dr and Martha Sears lists some ways to tell if your baby's crying warrants medical attention.

Evaluate your baby to see if the crying is linked to an emergency medical issue. If there is continued vomiting and or your baby is pale (most babies are red when they cry) then seek help right away. Also check your baby's abdomen to see if it is swollen, tense or tender on one side.

Next take a look to see if you baby might have been physically injured from a recent fall. Sometimes, injures can get worse from what might have seemed like a harmless event. Check to make sure that your baby's arms and legs are moving well and that there are no lumps or swelling.

Swelling can also occur in the groin area, if you baby has developed a hernia. While most hernias can be relatively harmless, they can also cause an intestinal blockage. This can be severe and require medical attention.

A severe diaper rash can cause a lot of pain, especially if the skin is so angry that it looks like it has been burned. Treat the diaper rash at home, but call the doctor for a prescription cream if the rash doesn't get better.

Check back for the next post for more ways to tell if your baby's crying is serious.

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Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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