Cry baby?

Find out why your baby might be upset?

Babies will cry - it is a fact of life.

Knowing exactly why your baby's crying is invaluable information for any first-time parent.

Crying doesn't mean your are a bad parent.

People expect mothers to know the cause, assuming that maternal instincts can tell you. But it isn't that straight forward.

Many of us need time to get to know and understand our babies before we learn to pinpoint quickly what is troubling them.

Jo's checklist

• Is the baby hungry?
  
  
• When did he last sleep, is he tired?
  
  
• Is he kicking his legs? He may have wind
  
  
• Is there a silence followed by a large scream? He may have colic
  
  
• If he is straining, he may have constipation?
  
  
• Nappy may need changing?
  
  
• May be bored and need a change of scenery?
  
  
• Check temperature may be too hot or too cold? (A baby needs one more layer of clothing/bedding than an adult, so putting them to bed in just a nappy and then trying to feed them when they cry isn't going to help - they are cold!)