What's your checklist when newborn cries?

[MrsHD]

Just looking for some guidance as DS, 17 days, is quick to cry and I've always assumed he wants boob. There must be other needs tho! I check too hot/cold, change nappy if nec, feed if nec, change of scenery etc. Sometimes he needs help to go to sleep, often boob but occasionally somethuing else works. I'm starting to get a degree of anxiety about this, which I know won't help him, so looking for general ideas - what do you check/do when your LO cries?

same as you - pick up, cuddle, offer milk, check nappy, pat on back.

Wind / needs to do a poo, fart or burp - my DD (8wks old) cries mostly because of this if not hunger. She is a very windy, hiccupy baby.

17 days is incredibly young. Newborns can very unsettled, and it isn't always easy to tell what's wrong, especially with your first (is he your first?).

You know, you could well be on the right track with just offering your breast every time he cries. He may not be especially hungry and may just be using your breast for comfort, but there is nowt wrong with that, especially at this early stage. And if it works - well, don't fix what ain't broke!

Thanks. He's my second, but quite different to DD. I know I just need to roll with it really but not adjusting well!

same as above, although at about 1mth DD started crying lots, I was told she could have colic - but you never really no.... She constantly wanted to be latched on to my boob which is exhausting after a while. Somebody suggested a dummy (which I was REALLY against, ugly!) but as brestf. was well established I gave it a go. It really helped her and soothed her...

1. Sigh
2. Feel tired
3. Drag self off to see what the matter is

HTH!

After that though

1. Feed
2. Nappy
3. Too hot/cold
4. Wants a cuddle
5. Wants to be quiet and sleepy
6. Wind (never quite got the hang of that one though)
7. Just having a cry

17 days is teeny though - and sometimes babies do just cry. If you've checked all the obvious things then just cuddling is probably a good plan

i'd just offer boob unless he refuses it, otherwise nappy, hot/cold, comfy clothing?
Boob was always my first port of call though!

my checklist is boob. then boob then some more boob.
if baby starts refusing boob i would go through checklist of nappy, wind that kind of thing.

Maybe just wants to be cuddled. I find wearing them in a sling helps, they wake and settle again without you having to 'do' anything.

When my section is completely healed the sling might be worth a shot, but as Sir is now 11lbs 3oz I'm not sure I fancy carting him about too much of the day!

Thanks anyway. He's been calmer today and had more happy spells

We did this as an exercise at my NCT antenatal group - the tutor played the sound of a crying baby and we all took it turns to think of something to check/do.

By the time it got to my husband the usual hungry/cold/tired/wet/burpy ones had gone. So in answer to 'why is the baby crying' he said; existential angst! At the time, I thought, 'oh good god, stop showing off and you're going to be a fat lot of help' but it can sometimes feel like you've tried everything sensible. He turned out to be a fab dad too.