Infant baby. A newborn or baby sleeps a lot: a reason for joy or concern

And yet, how can you understand why an infant is crying? Maybe he was a little sick? Are you hungry? Does he suffer from colic? There are many options for potential negative factors, all that remains is to understand the real reason and find an effective “cure”.

But it is with identifying the true culprit that problems arise, since inexperienced parents are just learning to understand their baby. However, you can understand what a child’s crying is saying if you carefully monitor the tiny person’s reactions.

A little about baby crying

The cries of a newborn baby are the first sound signal after birth. In this way, the baby resists separation from his mother, protests against the change in environment and announces his birth to the whole world.

Such reactions can be found in many mammals, especially baby monkeys. Previously, in general, the viability of a newborn was judged by the first cries of a newborn. If the baby screams loudly, it means he is healthy, but if he screams weakly and sluggishly, therefore, there are some violations.

Usually a newborn baby cries quite often, and if at first the parents do not understand the source of the cries, then they begin to distinguish between different reasons based on the duration, frequency, intensity, volume and other characteristics of the crying.

You should not react to a baby’s crying as if it were a catastrophic event. On the contrary, it is necessary to listen to the child every time, trying to determine the source of anxiety and eliminate it.

The reasons for a newborn crying are multifaceted and may include: the following features and factors:

• colic and discomfort in the tummy;
• hunger;
• wet diapers;
• low or high room temperature;
• desire to sleep;
• boredom;
• discomfort in the crib;
• fear;
• health problems.

And these are just a few of the possible reasons for children's dissatisfaction. Having learned to understand why a child screams during the day, parents will be able to quickly solve problems that arise or contact doctors if the situation is really serious.

Let's look at the main reasons for crying small child in details.

If you ask an experienced pediatrician why a newborn is crying, then in most cases the answer will be something like this: the baby is hungry.

The ventricle of a newborn baby is very small, so infants are fed often, but with a small amount of milk or formula. But since lactation is just getting better, during one of the feedings the baby may receive a smaller amount of food, which is signaled by crying.

If a newborn baby cries a lot, the mother, first of all, needs to check whether he wants to “eat.” To do this, bend your little finger and touch it to the corner of the child’s mouth. If the baby turns his head towards the stimulus and opens his mouth, then the crying was provoked by hunger.

The mother can only put the baby to the breast for feeding or offer a bottle of freshly prepared formula. Usually, immediately after receiving the coveted food, the screams begin to subside, and loud crying is replaced by quiet sobs, which gradually disappear.

“Hungry” crying is loud, prolonged, and intense; the baby seems to be choking. If the child has just recently become hungry, the screams will be inviting.

If the child cries constantly, you need to track the dynamics of weight gain and the volume of milk from the mother. It is very likely that the baby cannot eat enough and this situation requires an increase in the amount of milk or the introduction of complementary foods.

It is best to consult a specialist.

An artificial child, by the way, may cry not from lack of food, but from thirst. Mothers, especially in hot weather, need to keep a bottle of clean drinking water near them.

Feeding problems

If a newborn is capricious and cries directly during or after eating, we can conclude that there are certain problems that interfere with normal feeding. Here are just a few of them:

1. Stuffy nose. The baby may start sucking milk or formula, but then rejects the breast or bottle. At the same time, you can hear snoring or sniffling. If you have a runny nose or stuffy nose, clean your nose with an aspirator, rinse it with saline solution, and instill a solution recommended by your doctor.
2. The child choked. If a baby's cry during feeding is short and does not repeat itself, and the baby clears his throat, then he probably just swallowed a lot of milk. It is enough to wait a little and then resume feeding.
3. Ear infection. If by all indications the baby is hungry, but leaves the breast at the first sips and starts screaming loudly, he may have otitis media. In this case, swallowing only increases the discomfort. You need to see a doctor who will prescribe nasal and ear drops.
4. Thrush. When the oral cavity is infected with a fungus from the genus Candida, the child develops a whitish coating, and when milk gets on the tongue, a burning sensation occurs. To prevent your baby from crying and refusing to eat, you should visit a doctor who will recommend the correct treatment method.
5. Unpleasant taste from milk. If a hungry baby turns away from the food source and continues to cry, he may not like the taste of the milk. The use of flavored products: spices, hot seasonings, garlic sauce or onions changes milk levels. They should be avoided during breastfeeding.
6. Entry of air into the digestive tract. If immediately after eating your baby begins to whine and pull his legs towards his tummy, he may have swallowed a lot of air. It is enough to put the baby as a “soldier” so that excess oxygen comes out.

If a newborn constantly cries when feeding, you need to consult a specialist to rule out serious problems with the gastrointestinal tract.

A common cause of crying in a newborn baby is colic, which is a spastic reaction localized in the tummy. Their occurrence is determined by the imperfection of children's digestive system, manifested by stretching of the intestinal walls with gas bubbles.

In this case, the child’s cry is loud, shrill, and can continue long time with short pauses. A parent can guess about colic according to such characteristics as:

• flushed face;
• pressing the lower extremities to the stomach with their further sharp stretching;
• hard belly;
• fist clenching.

Of course, the problem of colic will disappear on its own at 4 months of age, when the digestive tract “matures.” However, simply waiting for this blessed time would be foolish. It is necessary to calm the baby. How? For example, Can:

• stroke the diaper and place it warm on the baby’s belly;
• do a light massage of the umbilical area;
• place the baby on your stomach;
• perform the “bicycle” exercise;
• Give the baby some dill water or a medicine prescribed by the doctor, etc.

Does the child not cry after the manipulations? So you did everything right. Very soon the unpleasant symptoms of colic will disappear, and children's anxiety will be replaced by joyful activity.

Physical discomfort

If hunger and colic disappear, the mother may assume that the newborn baby is crying due to unpleasant sensations caused by uncomfortable underwear, incorrectly selected temperature conditions, or, what happens most often, a wet or dirty diaper.

Let's take a closer look main reasons for physical discomfort and methods to eliminate them:

1. The child peed himself. If the baby cries, fidgets, trying not to touch the wet thing, you need to see if he has done his “wet deeds” in a diaper or diaper. The solution to the problem is very simple - just change clothes and underwear, wipe the baby's skin with a napkin.
2. The baby is uncomfortable in clothes. If a child screams in displeasure immediately after dressing or changing a diaper, the mother may conclude that he does not like the clothes. Perhaps the seams, threads, buttons are dug into the body, the synthetics cause itching, or the diaper material is quite hard. The baby is simply changed.
3. The baby is uncomfortable in a crib or stroller. A whining newborn may be unhappy with the position. In this case, he begins to cry, wave his limbs, trying to change his position. The solution is to move the child to a position that is more comfortable for him.
4. The baby is cold or wet. If a child constantly whines, sobs, and has reddened and hot skin, then he is too hot. When crying and pale skin, on the contrary, they conclude that the baby is hypothermic. Parents need to change his clothes based on the room temperature.

How to understand a newborn who is experiencing physical discomfort? It is enough to show basic attentiveness and monitor your child’s reactions.

Painful conditions

If the mother does not know why the newborn is crying or has disturbing symptoms, the doctor will help answer all questions. You should seek medical help if:

• children's crying is characterized by monotony and monotony;
• the child is too lethargic and inactive;
• body temperature is increased.

If a child cries all the time, and the source of the screams cannot be determined, it is better not to hesitate and call a doctor. What else should parents know? Ways to help with some painful conditions are presented in the table.

Discomfort of psychological origin is another answer to the question of why a baby cries. The child may become overtired, miss his mother, or be frightened by a loud sound.

The baby is able to cry if he needs to attract parental attention. In this case, he screams invitingly for a few seconds and waits for his mother to approach. If the adult does not respond, then after a short interval the cry is repeated.

Some experts do not recommend immediately grabbing a child in your arms to calm him down. To prevent the baby from growing up “tame”, it is better to pet him directly in the crib. Most likely, he will quickly calm down as soon as he hears his mother's voice.

The baby may cry as a sign of protest. For example, if a newborn doesn’t like something, he will start screaming sharply and loudly at the top of his lungs. Most often, children may be bothered by changing clothes, cutting their nails, and cleaning their ears.

A capricious newborn is an almost impossible phenomenon, since such young children cry for objective reasons. Thus, tears and discontent are provoked by increased activity during the day, communication with strangers, and a day that is excessively rich in emotions and events.

If your newborn often cries in the evening, he is most likely overtired. Help relieve fatigue:

• quiet entertainment;
• ventilation of the room and humidification of the air;
• rocking;
• lullaby;
• going to bed;
• lactation.

It is quite possible to prevent a baby from crying and screaming if you follow a certain sequence of steps in the evening. For example, you can bathe, feed, put the baby to bed, then turn off the light and sing your favorite lullaby. This whole ritual will speed up falling asleep.

Other reasons why a baby cries

In addition to the main factors, there are other reasons why newborns cry. The child may scream while bathing, urinating, defecating, falling asleep and waking up. And experts find a logical explanation for almost every cry.

Crying while urinating

Some mothers and fathers note that newborns cry while urinating, resulting in fear. Typically, this phenomenon occurs in healthy children, but in some cases it may indicate certain health problems.

The most common reason that a baby screams and is capricious when going to the toilet “in a small way” is fear of what is happening. Healthy child he simply does not understand the process of urination and cannot relax, which is why he begins to cry.

However, in some situations, tears and children's cries can be caused by painful sensations due to illness. So, The catalyst for an unfavorable process is:

• urinary tract infections;
• improper positioning of the foreskin, which is manifested by stagnation, suppuration, and burning.

If your child constantly cries when urinating, you should definitely consult a pediatrician who will suggest taking certain tests.

Crying while defecating

If newborns whine when going to the bathroom "in a big way", then most likely they have difficulties with bowel movements. When adapting the digestive tract, almost every child goes through a stage of colic and even constipation.

When children cry during bowel movements, you need to pay attention to the characteristics of feces, and also remember what the child ate over the past few days.

The main factors causing crying and screaming in newborns during bowel movements are:

• constipation that occurs due to switching to artificial feeding or changing the formula;
• intestinal colic;
• inflammatory bowel diseases.

If your child regularly cries during bowel movements, and there is bloody or mucous discharge or strange inclusions in his stool, be sure to make an appointment with a pediatrician.

Many parents notice that their newborn baby screams in his sleep. First of all, you should examine the crib and the position in which the baby is resting to rule out physical discomfort as a cause.

Experts also name other reasons why a baby cries and screams during sleep. Provoke baby crying can:

• colic, which we already talked about above;
• nervous fatigue;
• teething;
• any disease;
• hunger;
• horrible dream;
• detection of mother's absence.

Many experts do not recommend waiting until the child finally wakes up, otherwise he simply will not want to sleep later. It is best to stroke the baby and rock it a little. If the crying doesn't stop, you can pick him up and rock him a little.

Crying while bathing

Another question that worries parents is why the child cries while bathing. The reasons for tears during water procedures are many-sided. Highlight Several main factors that influence a child’s behavior during bathing:

1. Uncomfortable water temperature. The baby may react negatively to excessively cold or hot water. It also affects your well-being and the temperature of the bathroom. Before swimming, it is important to make sure that the water and air temperature are optimal.
2. The bath is too big. Some children are frightened by the large volumes of an adult bath. In this case, experts advise wrapping the child in a diaper before lowering him into the water. This reduces psychological stress.
3. Fear of swimming. Negative emotions arise due to soap suds getting into the eyes or water getting into the mouth or ears. A child in such a situation interferes with the water procedure in every possible way.
4. Uncomfortable position. Many mothers are afraid of harming their baby, so they hold him too tightly. This leads to the fact that newborns begin to express dissatisfaction and protest during bathing.
5. Related factors. Feelings of hunger and colic can worsen a child’s mood. To understand what exactly caused the dissatisfaction, the signs that we have already discussed above will help. To water treatments passed calmly, you need to get rid of the unpleasant symptoms.

Some neurological problems are also accompanied by reluctance to bathe. However, crying and screaming can also occur during sleep or eating. In this case, it is important to contact a neurologist for a comprehensive examination.

Every mother is able to find an approach to to your own child, if he begins to watch him carefully. Even if at first a child’s cry always seems the same to parents, but then, as communication is established, literally every squeak will be filled with its own special meaning.

The birth of a child is not only joy, but also worries, worries and concerns about his health. Unfortunately, in the early childhood(up to 1 year) children can develop a variety of diseases, some of them progress from the first days after the baby is born.

Omphalitis and

The umbilical wound is formed in a newborn by the 3-5th day of his life and is located at the site of the fallen umbilical cord remnant. Pediatricians warn parents that until the umbilical wound is completely healed, the baby should be bathed only in boiled water with the addition of potassium permanganate (“potassium permanganate”) until it turns pale pink. This period corresponds to two weeks. After the child has been bathed, it is necessary to carry out a number of manipulations, but only with clean, washed hands:

• moisten cotton swab in a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide and use it to remove the remaining secretions directly from the wound;
• take a new stick and remove the remaining hydrogen peroxide;
• lubricate the umbilical wound with a solution of brilliant green (2% brilliant green).

Important! Baby vests, rompers and diapers need to be ironed on both sides after each wash, infants' underwear is changed several times a day, and care must be taken to ensure that the umbilical wound is not covered with a diaper.

If the umbilical wound begins to get wet, discharge of blood and/or pus appears, the skin around the navel becomes red, then the health visitor should be notified about this nurse or a pediatrician. Most likely, we will talk about inflammation of the umbilical wound bacterial origin, caused by or . With this pathological condition general health the baby will change:

• the baby shows anxiety and constantly cries, or, conversely, becomes noticeably lethargic;
• the baby sucks poorly;
• weight loss occurs;
• in some cases, body temperature rises.

Treatment of omphalitis consists of treating the umbilical wound four times, and in severe cases, the pediatrician may prescribe treatment.

Note:if hygiene care umbilical wound parents are carried out in strict accordance with the rules, then there will be no omphalitis. This inflammatory process is always a consequence of insufficient care.

That's what they call the exit internal organs through the large umbilical ring - this is the weakest point in the anterior abdominal wall of a newborn. This pathology is diagnosed in infancy quite often, parents can see it themselves: when the baby cries or strains, a hernial protrusion appears, which is a consequence of increased intra-abdominal pressure.

As soon as an umbilical hernia is detected, the child must be shown to a surgeon - the doctor will repair the hernia for the child and apply a special plaster for 10 days. Similar treatment sessions can be used several times in a row, additionally prescribed physiotherapy and massage are procedures that should only be performed by a specialist.

If the baby already knows how to hold his head, then he should be placed on his tummy on a hard surface. Such simple “measures” will help not only to move organs back into place, but also to normalize stools and eliminate constipation.

In some cases, a child’s hernia does not disappear even by the age of one, and in this case the child will be indicated for surgery. As a rule, surgical interventions for umbilical hernia are performed only with three years of age, but if the hernia falls out too often, then experts recommend carrying out such radical treatment earlier.

Most often, the icteric coloration of the skin and mucous membranes in newborns is a physiological manifestation of the adaptation period after birth. Jaundice appears, as a rule, 2-3 days after the birth of the baby and this occurs due to the lack of a sufficient amount of enzymes that neutralize it. Normally, bilirubin, neutralized in the liver cells, is released after a series of transformations from the body in feces or urine. But in a newborn, the liver does not have time to neutralize all the bilirubin; its level in the blood rapidly increases, which leads to a rapid discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes yellow.

Such jaundice in newborns is a physiological process and does not pose any danger to the life of the child. Jaundice develops in 60% of full-term infants and in 90%, disappears spontaneously in a maximum of three weeks.

There are cases when physiological jaundice persists for longer than three weeks in a row, which may be due to the transition of physiological jaundice to breastfeeding jaundice. The point is that in breast milk mater and contains a substance that can inhibit or block the formation of liver enzymes - this phenomenon has not yet been fully studied, but it does occur.

As a rule, jaundice of natural feeding does not pose a threat to the health and life of the child, but a full examination of the baby should still be carried out. In some cases, the cause of such prolonged jaundice may be:

• massive destruction of red blood cells - hemolytic jaundice;
• dysfunction of liver cells – hepatic jaundice;
• obstruction of the bile ducts – obstructive jaundice.

The named pathologies require constant monitoring. If this indicator does not exceed normal limits, or the increase is insignificant, then doctors simply monitor the newborn. But in case of a sharp increase in the level of bilirubin in the blood, it may be necessary to surgical treatment, since such a development of pathology is fraught with serious consequences for the brain.

Skin problems

The baby's skin is very delicate and easily vulnerable, the blood vessels are located superficially, and even when the baby is slightly overheated, moisture begins to evaporate from the skin. These three factors cause problems with skin in children under one year of age.

Diaper rash

This is the name for inflammation of individual areas of the skin when there has been prolonged exposure to moisture or friction. Most often, diaper rash occurs in the armpits, neck, inguinal, intergluteal folds or behind the ears.

Depending on how diaper rash occurs, doctors distinguish three degrees of its severity:

• first degree– slight redness, the integrity of the skin is not compromised;
• second degree– redness becomes bright, microcracks and erosions appear;
• third degree– intense redness, cracks, erosions and pustules appear on the skin.

Diaper rash causes pain, burning and itching, which leads to restlessness and whims of the baby. The causes of the skin problems under consideration can be both increased skin moisture and excess weight of the baby. Provoking factors can also be identified:

• inadequate drying of the skin after bathing or washing the baby;
• violation of child care rules, skin irritation under the influence of urine and feces;
• skin friction with synthetic clothing;
• child overheating;
• the baby's skin on the material from which the diapers are made.

Under no circumstances should diaper rash be ignored! Such pathological skin lesions can quickly spread and become associated with infection. Therefore, parents should in the room where the baby is - it should not be higher than 21 degrees; the baby should be given air baths regularly.

For the first degree of diaper rash no specific treatment is required, you just need to carefully follow the rules of skin care, change diapers on time (at least every 3 hours), carry out air baths and treat folds with a protective cream. If you cannot get rid of diaper rash within 24 hours, then you need to consult a pediatrician - a specialist, after assessing the condition of the baby’s skin, may prescribe the use of medications (for example, Drapolen or Bepanten ointments).

Second degree diaper rash involves the use of special “talkers” - a product that is prepared in pharmacies. The pediatrician may prescribe treatment using tannin or methyluracil ointment on the affected area. If pustules appear, the skin is treated with green paint or methylene blue.

In case of second degree diaper rash, you need to bathe your baby in a weak pink solution of potassium permanganate, and if the baby is not allergic to medicinal herbs, then he can be given baths with a decoction of oak bark (the duration is a maximum of 7 minutes).

Third degree diaper rash It is quite difficult to treat, so parents must make every effort to prevent such a development of pathology. If the skin is already wet, then you cannot use any oil ointments for medicinal purposes - a film will form that will prevent the wounds from healing. The best option The solution to the problem of third degree diaper rash will be to seek qualified medical help.

Prickly heat

This is the name of the disease, which is characterized by the appearance of a pinpoint rash on the baby’s skin. Pink colour. Typically, such damage occurs in those places where the baby produces the most sweat - natural skin folds and folds, buttocks. Miliaria is usually not accompanied by any unpleasant symptoms, and the newborn’s behavior remains unchanged.

Most often, prickly heat disappears without any specific treatment - it is enough to follow the rules for caring for the baby’s skin, you can lubricate the affected area with Bepanten cream.

To prevent the occurrence of prickly heat, the following preventive measures are used:

• all child’s underwear should be made from natural fabrics;
• for walks you need to dress your baby strictly according to the weather;
• in the room where the baby spends most of his time, the air temperature should be constant;
• use decoctions or oak bark for bathing, but only if the baby does not have allergies;
• Use only water-based cream for treating baby skin.

The disease is manifested by redness of the skin, swelling, peeling and the appearance of small blisters. Diaper dermatitis is accompanied by itching and burning, which makes the child restless and capricious, and disrupts his sleep.

If the disease in question is not treated, then cracks, pustules and erosions appear on the affected areas of the skin. Next, the surface layer of skin is torn away, ulcers can form, and often an infection – fungal or bacterial – is associated with diaper dermatitis.

It is carried out only as prescribed by a pediatrician or dermatologist.

Pemphigus of newborns

This is a purulent contagious skin disease that is caused by Staphylococcus aureus. The disease occurs in the first weeks of life; an infant can become infected from caregivers with a pustular infection on their hands.

A sign of the disease will be the appearance on the baby’s skin of large blisters with a cloudy yellowish liquid. They often open on their own, leaving behind an eroded surface. The liquid that flows from the burst blisters contributes to infection of neighboring areas of the skin.

Complications in newborns may include abscesses and septic conditions. Treatment of the disease in question is carried out only as prescribed by a pediatrician. Antibacterial drugs must be used in therapy, regardless of the child’s age.

Hormonal crisis

Hormonal crisis develops in healthy, full-term babies and this condition is associated with the entry of mother’s hormones into the child’s body through the placenta or when natural feeding. Symptoms of this condition will be:

Such changes appear on the 3-4th day of the baby’s life and gradually decrease in intensity over 30 days; no treatment is required. The only thing parents need to remember: it is strictly forbidden to squeeze out the discharge from mammary glands, massage them, as this can lead to the progression of mastitis, which requires surgical treatment.

Thrush

A sign of thrush is that white spots appear on the baby’s tongue and cheek mucosa, which resemble pieces of curdled milk. Such deposits are not washed off between feedings, but are removed with a spatula if the disease is mild. With moderate severity of thrush, spots appear on the palate and lips and it is no longer possible to remove them completely.

Severe thrush is characterized by the rapid spread of dense plaque on the gums, back wall pharynx, on the soft palate. The areas affected by the fungal infection are painful, the baby cries a lot, his sleep is disturbed, he either sucks poorly or refuses to breastfeed altogether.

Factors that can trigger the appearance of thrush include:

At the initial manifestations of the disease, the oral cavity should be treated with a sterile cotton swab, which is moistened in a weak solution of potassium permanganate or a 2% soda solution. After wiping, the mucous membranes are lubricated with a methylene blue solution every three hours for 5 days.

Treatment of thrush in newborns is carried out using drugs that contain Nystatin or Levorin. During the entire treatment period, the mother should wipe her nipples with a baking soda solution and boil toys/pacifiers/bottles before each feeding. Severe forms of thrush can only be treated in a hospital.

Despite modern medical capabilities, rickets is still one of the most common diseases in infants. This disease develops due to a deficiency in the body, which is “responsible” for phosphorus-calcium metabolism. The child receives this vitamin through food, and it is also synthesized in the skin under the influence of sunlight. Therefore, according to statistics, the frequency of diagnosing rickets in children born in winter is much more common than in those born in warm weather.

With rickets, there is not only a lack of vitamin D and calcium, but also a lack of iron, copper,. Due to the lack of all these microelements, children with rickets become excessively whiny, capricious, their sleep is disturbed, and they often get colds.

The first symptoms of the disease in question may appear as early as one month of age in the baby, and if treatment is not carried out, the child’s condition will worsen. Symptoms of rickets in infancy include:

If there is no treatment for rickets or it is carried out incorrectly, then the pathology progresses, which is manifested by narrowing of the pelvis, curvature of the spine, flat feet and the formation of a hump.

The development of rickets is very easy to prevent - it is enough to give children vitamin D, and treatment of the disease in question, started on time and carried out correctly, gives positive results. Currently, advanced forms of rickets are diagnosed only in children who live in dysfunctional families.

Treatment of rickets is complex and involves the use of various procedures:

• lasting for fresh air;
• correction of the child’s diet, which will provide the growing body with all the necessary vitamins and microelements;
• therapeutic exercises, massage and swimming lessons;
• drug therapy - probiotics, vitamin D, vitamin-mineral complexes.

Digestive tract problems

Severe pain in the baby's intestines, which is accompanied by bloating, is a fairly common problem for infants. At the same time, the child actively twists his legs, draws them in, and cries loudly. The cause of intestinal colic may be improper (if the baby is breastfed) or the child swallowing air during feeding.

It is quite possible to prevent the occurrence of colic and accumulation of gases in the intestines; for this you need:

By the age of 3-4 months, intestinal colic in a child goes away due to the maturation of the digestive tract.

Many parents believe that if a child does not have bowel movements throughout the day, then this is constipation. But this is not entirely true! The fact is that mother’s milk, for example, can be completely absorbed by the body, so you need to judge whether a baby has constipation by how he feels and the consistency of his stool.

We can talk about constipation if the baby behaves restlessly, cries, constantly strains, but his intestines do not empty. When constipated, the baby's stool is dark color and dense consistency, may even be hard, like peas or cork.

The cause of constipation in infancy is most often non-compliance or incorrect diet of the baby who is on artificial feeding. The mother’s passion for protein foods, coffee, flour products. But not everything is so “rosy” - in some cases, constipation in infancy is associated with the development of pathologies:

• Hirschsprung's disease - a disorder of intestinal innervation;
• dolichosigma - congenital elongation of the large intestine;

Parents should not try to cope with constipation in a baby on their own; it would be wise to seek help from a pediatrician - a specialist will not only make a diagnosis, find out the cause of such intestinal dysfunction, but also give recommendations on how to solve the problem.

If parents are sure that the child does not have any pathology, then one of the following remedies will help cope with constipation:

• glycerin suppositories;
• irritation of the rectum with the tip of the gas tube;
• lactulose preparations, which must be prescribed by a doctor.

Note: the old way relief from constipation, which involves inserting a bar of soap into the anus, should never be used! The alkali contained in this product can cause a burn to the intestinal mucosa.

Diarrhea in infants

A child under one year of age can have a bowel movement after each feeding. But if with this regimen the baby’s general condition remains within normal limits, he is calm and eats well, then parents should not worry. Of primary importance with such frequent bowel movements are the color, consistency of the stool and the presence of blood or mucus in it. It is worth remembering that it is dangerous because too much fluid will be removed from the baby’s body.

Loose stools can be caused by:

• improper nutrition of the nursing mother or the baby itself;
• acute intestinal pathology - for example, or;
• intolerance to certain foods;
• dysbacteriosis;
• acute intestinal infection.

If your baby has diarrhea, you should immediately seek qualified medical help.. It is especially important to follow this rule if diarrhea begins for no apparent reason, and bowel movements occur too often. Before the specialist arrives, the baby needs to ensure sufficient fluid intake in the body.

This phenomenon occurs in almost every child, which can be physiological or pathological. Physiological regurgitation is associated with underdevelopment of the digestive system:

• the esophagus is narrowed or relatively short;
• the sphincter of the entrance to the stomach is underdeveloped;
• the gastric mucosa is highly sensitive and reacts to any irritant, including breast milk;
• The shape of the esophagus is funnel-shaped.

Physiological regurgitation is especially common in premature babies; it disappears only by the age of nine months. If the baby’s condition is not affected, there is nothing to worry about. Physiological regurgitation can also appear when improper feeding baby or violation of the rules for caring for it:

The following measures will help get rid of physiological regurgitation:

• keep the baby in a semi-upright position during feeding;
• when artificial feeding, use a special nipple that prevents the swallowing of air;
• do not overfeed the baby;
• After feeding, hold the baby in an upright position for some time until air burps.

Organic causes of the condition in question:

• pyloric stenosis - narrowing of the inlet of the stomach, which refers to developmental anomalies;
• damage to the nervous system intrauterine development;
• phenylketonuria, galactosemia – disorders of food absorption of a hereditary nature;
• viral and bacterial infections;
• pathological lesions of the kidneys and pancreas.

This is the name for inflammation of the mucous membrane of the front surface of the eye and the inner surface of the eyelid. The cause of the development of this disease is bacteria, viruses and fungi, and only in extremely rare cases can conjunctivitis be an allergic reaction.

The disease in question manifests itself as redness of the mucous membrane of the eye, itching and discharge of pus from the conjunctival sac. After sleep, the baby's eyelashes become stuck together with the released pus, which prevents him from opening his eyes.

Treatment of conjunctivitis in children should be carried out only under the supervision of an ophthalmologist, because it is a specialist who will be able to select effective medications. Parents can only ease the baby’s well-being by washing the eyes with decoctions of chamomile or calendula, but this can only be done after consulting a doctor.

Acute respiratory viral infections are a group of diseases caused by various viruses transmitted by airborne droplets. In general, ARVI is considered the most common disease in childhood, and infants are no exception.

Clinical manifestations of acute respiratory viral infections are cough, runny nose, difficulty breathing, frequent sneezing, and increased body temperature of the infant. The child may become lethargic and sleep a lot, and lose his appetite.

As soon as the first signs of ARVI appear in the baby, you need to call a pediatrician at home - this will allow you to start effective treatment. The child needs to be provided with plenty of fluids: up to the age of six months, the baby can be given warm boiled water, and older children can be given a decoction of raisins, cranberry, chamomile infusion or. If the child has consumed too much a large number of liquids, or he was force-fed, this will provoke an attack of vomiting - there is no need to worry, but you need to adjust the dosage of the foods and liquids consumed.

Note:on the background high temperature the baby's body may begin to ache - the baby's body stretches, limbs tremble or twitch, eyes roll back. In this case, parents should immediately undress the baby, give him an antipyretic and call an ambulance.

This diagnosis is made in the case of underdevelopment of the hip joint during intrauterine development - the femoral head has increased mobility inside the joint, the development of connective tissue is disrupted. Most often, hip dysplasia occurs in children with. It is very important to diagnose pathology early, therefore, as part of the examination of the baby, examinations by an orthopedist are carried out at 1-3-6-12 months. If the doctor suspects a deviation from the norm, he will prescribe an X-ray examination or ultrasound for the baby, but not earlier than the child reaches six months of age.

Symptoms of hip dysplasia include:

• additional folds on one leg;
• asymmetry of folds on the hips and buttocks;
• baby crying or fussing when trying to separate his legs;
• clicks when spreading the legs, bent at the knee joints;
• unequal length of legs.

Depending on how severe the disease in question is, the infant may be prescribed:

• physiotherapy;
• Pavlik stirrups;
• massage;
• Freika tire.

With the help of special orthopedic devices, the child’s legs are constantly in an extended and bent position - this creates optimal conditions for the correct formation of joints. At first, the baby must wear such spacers around the clock, then the wearing mode becomes softer. Under no circumstances should parents due date remove devices, as this can nullify all previously achieved results.

Torticollis is incorrect position head, in which it is deflected to one side. The appearance of the defect depends on the development of the baby.

Signs of the pathology in question in the first year of a baby’s life:

• in the first two months of life - when the baby is laid on his stomach, increased tone of the muscles of the back and neck is visible, asymmetry of folds will be noted on the legs;
• at 3-5 months – the child’s growth slows down and the reaction to any sound stimulus decreases;
• at 6-7 months – strabismus is noted, the child stands on his toes, teeth erupt late;
• at 7-12 months – the asymmetry of the folds on the hips and buttocks, the asymmetry of the shoulders, the curvature of the spine is clearly visible, the baby begins to walk late and is quite behind in physical development from their peers.

The reasons for the development of torticollis include the following:

If torticollis is determined, you will need to consult an orthopedist and a neurologist - specialists will be able to determine the true cause of the disease and prescribe the correct treatment. Parents should not delay visiting doctors and starting treatment, as advanced torticollis can lead to deformation of the vertebrae and face.

To treat the disease in question, the following can be used:

• physiotherapy – electrophoresis, magnetic therapy;
• applying a special collar;
• physical therapy and massage;
• treatment by position;
• specially selected exercises in the pool or in the bath.

There is also surgery torticollis, but if therapy was started in a timely manner, then it will not be needed.

For every family, the birth of a child is a grand event. And young parents prepare themselves in advance for the fact that in the first months they will not get enough sleep at night. And in some cases, children are born who, from the first days of their life, sleep abnormally a lot, more than 20 hours. Of course, at first, young mothers are happy that they can get enough sleep at night and have time to do things around the house. But over time, they begin to worry and wonder why the baby sleeps a lot?

The importance of sleep and nutrition for a baby

For proper physiological and psychological development, the baby must sleep a lot and eat a lot. These are the two main components of a baby’s diet, on which its health depends.

Many parents rejoice at a calm and obedient baby who sleeps a lot and is not capricious. At first glance, it seems that the baby is full and happy with everything, and this may be true if he receives nutrients along with his mother's milk on time.

Of course, the child should sleep exactly as much as he wants, but do not forget that for the full development of a newborn, not only sound sleep is required, but also timely feeding with mother's milk.

In the first 6 weeks, the baby sleeps a lot, 17 - 20 hours a day, waking up every 1.5-2 hours only to eat. Such frequent awakening of the baby is due to the fact that in the first weeks all newborns have a very small stomach and can only hold a teaspoon of milk. And although maternal colostrum is very nutritious and fatty, it is processed in the child’s ventricle quite quickly.

Should you worry?

The reason for this behavior may be: individual characteristics the child’s body, as well as negative factors that inexperienced mothers may not notice. Therefore, at the slightest suspicion of excessive lethargy and drowsiness of the baby, you should seek advice from your local pediatrician. It is better, as they say, to be safe than to miss a dangerous moment!

Do I need to wake up my baby?

There are very frequent cases when in the first days a newborn does not eat well and sleeps almost constantly; this is primarily due to adaptation to the new world around him and rest after the difficult process of childbirth.

It’s one thing if a newborn sleeps a lot and, when put to the breast, without waking up, begins to suck milk and, having had enough, continues to sleep. This behavior is quite common and normal, because it is in their sleep that babies develop and grow best.

But there are times when young mothers do not monitor the frequency of feeding and do not put the baby to the breast while he sleeps. If the child is calm and sleeps a lot, this does not mean that he is well-fed, such babies must be woken up and fed, or at least try to put the sleeping child to the breast, having smelled the milk, he can start sucking without waking up.

Shallow sleep in babies

Some young mothers try to teach their babies to sleep through the night without feeding, which is absolutely not allowed. Prolonged sleep (more than 5 hours) threatens dehydration of the baby’s body.

Unlike adults, whose average sleep duration is 8 hours, when falling asleep, an adult immediately falls into a phase of long (deep) sleep, lasting 2-3 hours. In infants, deep sleep is much shorter and it develops over time; falling asleep, they immediately fall into the phase of superficial (rapid) sleep, and deep sleep comes later and lasts a short time. And therefore, frequent awakening is the norm for infants.

It is necessary to wake up infants very carefully and only during REM sleep.
Superficial sleep is not difficult to recognize:

• trembling of the eyelids;
• movement of arms and legs;
• the appearance of facial expressions.

And also, if, when touching the newborn’s face, he makes sucking movements and looks for the breast, this will be the best moment for feeding.

The dangers of long sleep

Rare breastfeeding leads not only to weakening and lethargy of the baby, but also to problems with lactation and the further development of mastopathy in the mother. And for infants this is fraught dangerous consequences for health, since, for the full development of the body, they do not receive required quantity fluids, nutrients and trace elements.

Constant malnutrition can ultimately lead to sad consequences, such as: lethargy, irritability, dehydration, hypocemia, jaundice, low blood glucose levels in the baby.

Difficult birth

The birth process is just as stressful for the baby as it is for its mother, so in the first days newborns sleep almost constantly, waking up only for a few minutes to eat.

Prolonged sleep in babies can also be a consequence of medications used during difficult births. During long and difficult labor, doctors cannot do without the use of pharmacological drugs that stimulate labor; such drugs can cause a newborn to sleep for a long time, since these drugs enter his blood.

In some particularly severe cases, the child may temporarily lose the sucking reflex and the ability to control proper reflex swallowing and breathing at the mother’s breast.

Malnutrition

Improper attachment to the breast can also cause malnutrition in the baby. Due to the influx of milk, the mother's breasts become very tight, the nipples become rough and the baby's small mouth cannot fully grasp them. After several unsuccessful attempts, he gets tired and falls asleep hungry, never having received the required portion of milk. Each time, from constant malnutrition, the baby becomes weaker, this leads to lethargy and increased drowsiness.

The baby may also refuse to eat in cases where a large amount of milk flows into his mouth, causing him to choke and become frightened. Therefore, in order for the breasts to become softer and milk not to flow too much, the mother should express a little milk before each feeding.

Bright light

Oddly enough, bright light can act as a sleeping pill on babies and cause prolonged sleep. A noisy room with bright lighting is not the best place for a newborn to sleep. The babies quickly fall asleep under such conditions, but they sleep very restlessly, and such sleep cannot be considered complete.

Teething

Teething can also cause sleep disturbances in children, causing discomfort and some discomfort for babies. Having cried all night from painful sensations, he will naturally sleep off during the day and this is a completely adequate reaction of a tired body.

Remember - nothing restores the immunity and strength of infants like breast milk!

Graft

In the first year of life, babies are vaccinated to develop immunity to a number of dangerous diseases. Usually, after vaccination, children are given antiallergic and antipyretic medications, which have a soporific effect, so children sleep a lot in the first and most difficult hours after vaccination, which is common and normal.

Diseases

By 3 months, when the child’s body has already fully adapted, nap It doesn't take that much time anymore. But in cases where children have suffered various diseases, they sleep a lot because, to fight infection, children's body expends a huge amount of energy.

This is considered normal physiological phenomenon, because after an illness the child is weakened, and long sleep helps to restore spent strength. You should not panic in such situations; watch your baby for 24 hours, listen to his breathing, check his temperature and complexion. If all these readings are normal, you should not worry. Give him a rest and gain strength. And, of course, periodically put the baby to the breast.

Sleep standards

At the age of 1.5 - 2 months, children begin to sleep a little longer at night, but you should not expect that the baby will sleep all night long; he can endure a maximum of 5-6 hours without food. After feeding and changing the diaper, the mother can put the baby to bed next to her. After all, co-sleeping is very convenient for a mother whose child sleeps a lot and eats little, since you can feed him without waking him up. And also, sleeping next to the mother is very important for the general and psychological development of the child. The beat of the mother's heart, touch, her smell, warmth are well known to the baby, which allows him to calm down and feel in psychological comfort and safety.

According to pediatricians, the daily sleep norm for a child who has reached 2 months of age should not exceed 16–18 hours, of which 4–5 hours of continuous sleep only once a day. Exceeding the indicator is a reason to go to a specialist and find out the reason for the baby’s sleepy behavior.

Sleep as a wake-up call

All of the above cases regarding the child’s condition are not so dangerous and require consultation with specialists and local pediatricians. The following symptoms require urgent medical attention:

• Prolonged sleep (more than 5 hours), without movement;
• Intermittent and shallow breathing baby;
• Fever;
• The mucous membranes and skin of the baby became bluish.

If a child exhibits at least one of the above symptoms, parents should urgently call an ambulance medical care. Any delay can be fatal for the newborn.

Fresh air

For healthy and sound sleep, it is best to put babies to bed in a thoroughly ventilated and well-humidified room. The bed should not be very soft to prevent the soft edges of pillows or blankets from getting on the baby’s face.

Walking in the fresh air plays an important role in the full development of children. While walking, a child sleeping in a stroller associates the rocking of the stroller with the lulling movements of the mother. Along with these sensations, an influx of oxygen saturates the blood, stimulates brain function and strengthens immune system, allows you to normalize healthy and sound sleep for the baby.

It will take a little time and you will get used to the new and very responsible role of a parent. Over time, the child’s daily routine will become stable, which will suit both the baby and his parents. And the question will lose its significance in your eyes. By teaching your child a proper and stable sleep pattern from early childhood, you will help him avoid many problems associated with physiological and mental development in the future.

Infant age is considered from the moment of birth until the age of 12 months. This is a period of amazing leaps (growth and development), difficult problems of care (nutrition, cleanliness) and the prevention of specific diseases (rickets, anemia, infections).

Motility (motricity). Initially, the position of the infant is similar to the position during intrauterine life, characterized by a predominance of flexion tone of the limbs. Spontaneous movements have the character of “pedaling” and involve all four limbs together or in a short sequence. Gradually, individual expedient movements crystallize from this “motor chaos.”

The sequence of movements is differentiated in a certain order: from top to bottom and from the base to the end of the limb. The reflex movements with which a child is born are gradually replaced by learned, voluntary movements. The most important steps are the following:

• at the age of 3-4 weeks: the child coordinates the movements of the eyeballs; directs his gaze to certain luminous or colored moving objects; if you put the baby on his stomach, he raises his head;
• at the age of 2 months: lying on his stomach, the child raises his head and shoulders;
• at the age of 3 months: the child holds his head when he is lifted up;
• at the age of 4-5 months: when a child lying on his back is pulled up by his arms, he holds his head independently;
• at the age of 5-6 months: the child turns from his stomach to his back;
• at the age of 6-7 months: the child sits with minimal support, reaches out his hand to grab this or that object;
• at the age of 7-8 months: the child turns from his back to his stomach;
• at the age of 8-10 months: the child crawls on all fours, stands on his legs with the help of support;
• at the age of 10-12 months: stands on his feet without support, rises, leaning on surrounding objects;
• at the age of 15 months: takes the first steps independently.

Perception

In the first weeks of life, the behavior of an infant is determined by the satisfaction of its basic needs for warmth, silence, satiety.

The child reacts “negatively” mainly through crying when these needs are not met, that is, when he is cold or hungry, or when his peace is disturbed by excessively intense auditory or visual stimuli.

The child fixes and watches with his eyes, early notices certain objects and differentiates them from other surrounding objects.

An important organ of cognition (orientation) is the mouth (licks, sucks, bites objects); using your mouth infant understands a significant part of the surrounding world.

Hands first accidentally touch objects; after a while they grab the objects perceived by their gaze. An exercise begins, coordinated experimentation: eyes-hand, hand-eyes. In this way, the child learns to recognize his own body and distinguish it from the environment.

In addition to basic needs, there is an ever-increasing need for movement (contact with the environment). It is satisfied when the child has a variety of environments and when he is provided with constant communication with the adults around him.

Speech

Starting from 3 months of age, different images of “expression” can be distinguished. Depending on the nature of the sounds made, one can draw conclusions about how the child feels (after eating, after a bath). At first he babbles, and by 6 months he pronounces differentiated sounds, repeats, “mumbles” with saliva, testing his capabilities.

At 8-9 months, the child imitates the syllables “ta-ta”, “da-da”, “na-na”, “pa-pa”, “ma-ma”. At the same time, he shows increased attention and interest in speech. So, for example, he pauses the action when he is told “no, no,” turns his head when he is shown some object in the room or the face of one of his parents, or repeats when he is told “dad.”

Social contact

The first positive reaction towards an adult is expressed during the 2nd month of life through a smile. In the second half of the first year of life, the child makes increasingly active contact with adults using sight, sounds, and gestures. He distinguishes familiar faces from unfamiliar ones; in relation to strangers, most infants show a reaction of defense and fear (fear of strangers), often combined with fear of separation (the child screams every time his mother leaves him).

He imitates the sounds and gestures of adults. And this behavior of the child expresses his need for activity, which manifests itself in him in the rhythm of sleep and wakefulness.

A small infant sleeps about 20 hours a day, waking up at relatively regular intervals - day and night - to a short time for feeding; after 6 months, the child needs to sleep 16 hours, of which 12 at night and only 4 during the day.

At this stage, adults have, in addition to the responsibilities associated with caring for the child, the role of a stimulating factor and a “playmate.”

After the first year of life, an important degree of development has been achieved. The child stands on his feet, takes several steps independently and actively penetrates the world. He uses both hands extensively to wield various items. He understands simple phrases, pronounces simple syllables and words, seeks the company of others and imitates their gestures, and can follow simple instructions using his own thinking.