My newborn keeps crying all through the night, resulting in my partner and I not getting any sleep at all. What can we do to get our baby to sleep throughout the night?

All babies cry and some babies do cry more than the others. On average, babies cry for about 2 hours a day. Most of the time they cry for a specific reason and parents normally know how to handle them. But sometimes their crying can be prolonged and intense despite all the attention that parents give and this can be a very anxious moment for both the parents and caregivers, just as what you have experienced.

By understanding why babies cry, we can now be more focused on finding the solution for each episode of crying without missing out the conditions that need special medical attention.

Why do babies cry?

Most of the time, the reasons why babies cry are as listed below and generally manageable and consolable.

  • Hungry or thirsty
  • Wet or dirty diapers
  • Uncomfortable environment either too hot or too cold or may be uncomfortable with their clothing
  • Tiredness especially before they fall asleep
  • Need attention and company
  • Possible reasons why babies’ crying episode becomes inconsolable and more intense.
  • Excessive wind in their tummy (colic)
  • Milk regurgitation or reflux
  • Unwell due to fever or in pain

How to deal with crying babies?

Most of the time, parents can settle their babies by identifying their needs and fulfill them. They may be crying for specific needs such as:

I need food

Offer your baby some milk such as breastfeeding. She may continue to cry for a moment during the feeding time but once her stomach is full, your baby may just settle on her own. We advise feeding your baby more frequently but with lesser amount so as to avoid regurgitation or stomach discomfort due to over feeding.

I need to be comfortable

Make sure your baby is comfortable with her clothing as not to overdress her with too many layers or tight fitting dress that may make her feel uncomfortable and therefore she may cry in protest. Soiled nappy may irritate the tender skin of your baby and changing her nappy may just solve her crying episode. Please also ensure the environment is clean and safe from dust or smoke with right temperature as well.

I need to be held to feel secure

Some babies need more physical contact than others to feel warm and secure. So, if your baby is still crying for attention after changing her nappy or feeding her, you may want to cuddle her for a short period of time before putting her to sleep. Infant massage can be a very soothing and effective way to make your baby feel secure.

I need a rest

Overstimulation by her surrounding such as toys, visitors or noise from other children can be overwhelming to your baby. This may cause her to find it difficult to settle down. Try to gradually withdraw her from the stimulation by bringing her to a quiet room and calming her down by rocking, humming with soft and soothing music. She may express her feeling by crying for a while but eventually will settle to sleep.

Abdominal colic

If you have attended to all her needs as mentioned above and your baby is still crying inconsolably especially at night at a specific timing, then your baby may experience what we term as abdominal colic. There is no definite cause for it but the pain is real, probably due to excessive wind in the stomach leading to abdominal cramps, bloatedness and discomfort. The infants seem to be in pain in which they may stretch, arch or lift their legs. The abdomen may be distended and the infants may pass a lot of wind.

There is no specific treatment for colic and sometimes whatever you try may just go in vain. However, comforting the child by holding her in an upright position to facilitate burping or by massaging the baby’s abdomen can enlighten colic pain. Make sure you don’t overfeed or underfeed your baby. Try to establish the routine feeding and sleeping time, as a baby’s response and behavior is more predictable. Good news is most babies outgrow their colic problem once they are entering their third month of age.

The important thing to note is that nobody understands your baby as well as you do. So if you think there is something wrong with your baby despite all the tips stated above, bring her for a medical examination.