FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!

As a paediatric nurse I’m often surprised to see how many parents don’t know babies communicate by crying. Their cries shouldn’t be ignored (by parents, doctors or nurses) until all possibilities have been excluded.

Over time a parent will be able to accurately guess the reason for the crying by its tone. Babies basically cry to communicate a need. Sometimes it’s a physical need: for a change in position, pain, fever, hunger or a wet nappy. Sometimes it’s emotional: anxiety or fear.

Once the diagnosis has been made the interventions are fairly simple. There are times when the baby is just really tired and wants to be left alone. And sometimes babies get into a bad mood and just cry to vent.

Maybe if parents understood that babies cry for a reason and what to do about it, there would be less child abuse. SISTER HUTCHINGS, EMAIL