Crying Babies: A Sign of Growth

Is your little one particularly fussy and you don't know why? Before you chalk it up to your baby being an unhappy child or figure it is just colic, read this article. Your baby might just be trying to tell you that he is ready to move on to the next stage of his life.

Babies tend to grow in spurts, we all know that. However, did you realize that their brains grow this way as well? In fact, babies tend to go through several of these mental growth spurts in their first year and will continue to have them during the childhood years.

These mental growth spurts are often indicated by a period of fussiness. It can be scary to suddenly have your entire perception of the world change, which is basically what happens to an infant when she grows mentally. For example, babies hit a point when they suddenly realize that they are individuals, not a part of their mother. This can be a frightening concept. They realize that it is possible for their mother to actually separate from them and go away.

During periods of mental growth, your baby will probably cry a lot more than usual and will want to be held more. This is normal, you are the person they trust to keep them safe in this frightening new world! You will probably notice that your little one is doing new things, too, during or immediately after the fussy period.

The good news is that these crying jags tend to only last a few days, a week at most. The bad news is that they are pretty frequent during the first year of life when your baby is constantly learning new things and discovering new rules for the world.

You can help your baby weather these little storms by giving her a bit more comfort. Wearing your baby during this time can be very reassuring to the infant and it will save you a lot of aching arm muscles! You will have a few sleepless nights, too, but remember that at the end of it, you will have a new baby, one who is cheerful and eager to learn new things. You will see plenty of new skills emerging, too.

So the next time your normally happy baby turns into a screaming fiend, keep in mind that it could be a growth spurt, of the mental kind! Watch for those new skills and interests and you'll know for sure.