- Most babies experience some degree of reflux because the muscular valve at the end of the food pipe, which keeps food in the stomach, is still developing. Reflux may cause your baby to bring up milk after a feed, and can also give him/her hiccups. As long as your baby is growing normally and is not showing any marked signs of distress, there is no need to worry.
- More severe reflux can cause your baby to cry and be sick, often after feeding. The long name for severe reflux is gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). This means that when your baby's tummy is full, food and stomach acid flow back up their food pipe causing discomfort and pain.
- If you have tried the measures described above and seen no improvement, see your Health Visitor. They will review your child’s symptoms and ask you about the formula you have used, and may possibly prescribe an antacid designed for babies.
- Click here to watch a video on reflux by Best Beginnings.
My baby is crying all the time
Babies cry for many reasons – most commonly because they are hungry or need a nappy change. You can try these simple comfort methods to see if the crying stops. Sometimes babies cry because they are uncomfortable or are unwell. This may be due to colic, reflux, constipation or infection amongst other things (see below). Sometimes the crying can feel like it’s become too much, and if this is the case, click here for more information about local services and here for advice on what you can do.
Below are some things to look out for if your baby is crying that may suggest they are unwell.
When should you worry?
If your child has any of the following:
- Becomes pale, mottled or abnormally cold to touch
- Becomes stiff for a prolonged period or has rhythmic, jerky movements of arms or legs that does not stop when you touch it (a fit/seizure)
- Becomes extremely agitated (crying inconsolably despite distraction)
- Becomes floppy or very lethargic (difficult to wake)
- Is going blue around the lips or has difficulty breathing
- Is under 1 month of age with a temperature of 38°C / 100.4°F or above
- A rash that does not disappear with pressure (see the "Glass Test")
You need urgent help.
Go to the nearest Hospital Emergency (A&E) Department or phone 999
If your child has any of the following:
- Is 1-3 months of age with a temperature of 38°C / 100.4°F or above (but fever is common in babies up to 2 days after they receive vaccinations)
- Becoming increasingly sleepy and not consistently waking for feeds
- No wet nappies in the last 8 hours
- Has a dry mouth or sunken fontanelle (soft spot on the head)
- Is getting worse or you are worried
You need to contact a doctor or nurse today.
Please ring your GP surgery or call NHS 111 - dial 111
We recognise that during the current COVID-19 crisis, at peak times, access to a health care professional may be delayed. If symptoms persist for 4 hours or more and you have not been able to speak to either a member of staff from your GP practice or to NHS 111 staff, then consider taking them to your nearest ED.
- None of the above features are present
- Continues to feed well
- Has plenty of wet nappies
- Try to make sure that your baby stays well hydrated - you may need to offer them feeds more frequently than normal. And closely monitor them for any signs of deterioration by looking out for any red or amber features.
- Additional advice is also available for families to help cope with crying in otherwise well babies – click here.
Self care
Continue providing your child’s care at home. If you are still concerned about your child contact your Health Visitor or call NHS 111 – dial 111
Conditions that can cause a baby to cry excessively:
- becomes pale and floppy going blue around the lips
- is fretful or excessively miserable when touched
- becomes difficult to rouse
- is finding it hard to breathe
- develops a rash that does not disappear with pressure (the Glass Test)
Colic can cause
excessive, frequent crying in a baby who appears to be otherwise healthy. It's
a common problem that affects up to one in five babies. Although the cause is unknown, it is likely to be due to intestinal discomfort like bowel cramping.
Colic tends to begin
when a baby is a few weeks old. It normally stops by four months of age, or by
six months at the latest.
Looking after a
colicky baby can be very frustrating and distressing, but the problem will
eventually pass and is usually nothing to worry about.
Signs and symptoms of
colic include:
· Your baby often
starts crying suddenly. The cry is high-pitched and nothing you do seems to
help.
· The crying begins at
the same time each day, often in the afternoon or evening.
· Your baby might draw
their legs up when they cry.
· Your baby might
clench their hands.
· Your baby's face
might flush.
· The crying can last
for minutes or hours. A baby with colic cries for 3 hours a day or more.
· The crying often
winds down when your baby is exhausted or when they have passed wind or poo.
For more information click here.
Being constipated is another cause of excessive crying babies. However, the crying tends to stop once your baby has had a poo.
Formula fed babies are more prone
to constipation because formula can be harder to digest than breastmilk. A
breastfed baby is far less likely to get constipated.
Signs of constipation may include:
· Crying and discomfort,
irritability or pain before doing a poo.
· Dry, hard,
pellet-like poo that is hard to pass.
· Foul-smelling wind
and poo.
· A hard belly.
Try
not to worry too much if your baby becomes constipated. It's likely to happen
now and then. Simple things you can try at home if your baby is constipated
include:
· Gently move your
baby’s legs in a bicycling motion to help move the hard poo along.
· If your baby is
drinking formula, give them extra water in between feeds, but don’t dilute the
formula. Make sure that you are using the recommended amount of milk powder
when making up a bottle. Too much powder can dehydrate your baby, causing
constipation. For babies under 6 months, use water from the mains tap in the kitchen - you will need to boil then cool the tap water because it is not sterile straight from the tap. Water for babies over 6 months of age doesn't need to be boiled.
If your baby is in significant pain despite doing this, you should take
them to see your GP who may decide to start them on treatment.
For wear and tear, minor trips and everything in between.
Self-care
You can treat your child's very minor illnesses and injuries at home.
Some illnesses can be treated in your own home with support and advice from the services listed when required, using the recommended medicines and getting plenty of rest.
Sound advice
Children can recover from illness quickly but also can become more poorly quickly; it is important to seek further advice if a child's condition gets worse.
For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?
For wear and tear, minor trips and everything in between.
Self-care
You can treat your child's very minor illnesses and injuries at home.
Some illnesses can be treated in your own home with support and advice from the services listed when required, using the recommended medicines and getting plenty of rest.
Sound advice
Children can recover from illness quickly but also can become more poorly quickly; it is important to seek further advice if a child's condition gets worse.
For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?
Pharmacists are experts in many aspects of healthcare and can offer advice on a wide range of long-term conditions and common illnesses such as coughs, colds and stomach upsets. You don’t need an appointment and many have private consultation areas, so they are a good first port of call. Your pharmacist will say if you need further medical attention.
Sound advice
- Visit a pharmacy if your child is ill, but does not need to see a GP.
- Remember that if your child's condition gets worse, you should seek further medical advice immediately.
- Help your child to understand - watch this video with them about going to the pharmacy.
For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?
Pharmacists are experts in many aspects of healthcare and can offer advice on a wide range of long-term conditions and common illnesses such as coughs, colds and stomach upsets. You don’t need an appointment and many have private consultation areas, so they are a good first port of call. Your pharmacist will say if you need further medical attention.
Sound advice
- Visit a pharmacy if your child is ill, but does not need to see a GP.
- Remember that if your child's condition gets worse, you should seek further medical advice immediately.
- Help your child to understand - watch this video with them about going to the pharmacy.
For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?
School nurses care for children and young people, aged 5-19, and their families, to ensure their health needs are supported within their school and community. They work closely with education staff and other agencies to support parents, carers and the children and young people, with physical and/or emotional health needs.
Contacting the School Nurse
Primary and secondary schools have an allocated school nurse – telephone your child’s school to ask for the contact details of your named school nurse.
There is also a specialist nurse who works with families who choose to educate their children at home.
Sound Advice
Before your child starts school your health visitor will meet with the school nursing team to transfer their care to the school nursing service. The school nursing team consists of a school nursing lead, specialist public health practitioners and school health staff nurses.
They all have a role in preventing disease and promoting health and wellbeing, by:-
- encouraging healthier lifestyles
- offering immunisations
- giving information, advice and support to children, young people and their families
- supporting children with complex health needs
Each member of the team has links with many other professionals who also work with children including community paediatricians, child and adolescent mental health teams, health visitors and speech and language therapists. The school health nursing service also forms part of the multi-agency services for children, young people and families where there are child protection or safeguarding issues.
School nurses care for children and young people, aged 5-19, and their families, to ensure their health needs are supported within their school and community. They work closely with education staff and other agencies to support parents, carers and the children and young people, with physical and/or emotional health needs.
Contacting the School Nurse
Primary and secondary schools have an allocated school nurse – telephone your child’s school to ask for the contact details of your named school nurse.
There is also a specialist nurse who works with families who choose to educate their children at home.
Sound Advice
Before your child starts school your health visitor will meet with the school nursing team to transfer their care to the school nursing service. The school nursing team consists of a school nursing lead, specialist public health practitioners and school health staff nurses.
They all have a role in preventing disease and promoting health and wellbeing, by:-
- encouraging healthier lifestyles
- offering immunisations
- giving information, advice and support to children, young people and their families
- supporting children with complex health needs
Each member of the team has links with many other professionals who also work with children including community paediatricians, child and adolescent mental health teams, health visitors and speech and language therapists. The school health nursing service also forms part of the multi-agency services for children, young people and families where there are child protection or safeguarding issues.
