Newborn to 1 month: reflexes, regulation, and survival cues In the first weeks, behavior is dominated by physiologic regulation. Newborns cycle through feeding, sleeping, brief alert periods, crying, and recovery. Their nervous system is immature, so they cannot reliably calm…

The first weeks: adaptation outside the womb In the newborn period, behavior is strongly shaped by physiologic transition. Babies are learning to regulate temperature, glucose, feeding, digestion, sleep-wake states, and sensory input. Many newborns seem to move between only a…

Why crying affects caregivers so strongly Infant crying is acoustically and emotionally difficult to ignore by design. Reviews of the literature describe crying as a stimulus that recruits caregiver attention, motivates proximity, and often triggers attempts to feed, hold, protect,…

Why babies get gas Gas enters and forms in the digestive tract in two main ways: air is swallowed, and intestinal bacteria produce gas as they break down carbohydrates. In babies, swallowed air is especially important. Crying, rapid feeding, shallow…

Normal gas versus gas pain: why the distinction matters All babies have gas. Air enters the digestive tract when a baby swallows during crying, feeding, sucking, or bottle-feeding, and gas is also produced as milk or formula is digested. The…

Why babies may cry after feeding Crying is one of a baby’s main ways to communicate. After a feed, crying may mean the baby is still hungry, uncomfortable, tired, overstimulated, too hot or cold, needs a nappy change, or wants…

Why babies get gas Infant gas is usually a combination of swallowed air and gas produced in the intestines during digestion. Babies swallow air when they cry, feed quickly, latch shallowly, use a bottle nipple with a flow that is…

Understanding colic crying without blaming yourself Colic and excessive crying usually refers to repeated episodes of intense crying in a young infant who otherwise appears well, feeds adequately, and has no clear medical emergency. Classic descriptions often mention crying that…

Why gas is so common in babies Infant gas is part of normal early physiology. Babies feed frequently, coordinate sucking and swallowing, and may take in air during breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, pacifier use, or crying. Their abdominal muscles and intestinal motility…

What clinicians mean by colic Colic usually refers to intense, repeated crying or fussiness in a young infant who otherwise appears healthy. Many clinicians think of colic as excessive crying that occurs without an obvious cause such as hunger, a…