Normal Baby Behaviour

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• Support in managing a crying baby

Feeding Cues

Babies know when they are hungry and full, so try to tune into the signals they give you. The leaflet below explains some common cues babies use to show they are hungry and ready to feed.

Off to a Good Start leaflet

Pooing

Normal baby pooing is very variable. We would usually expect around two £2 coin-sized dirty nappies in 24 hours in the early days of life, but this will vary depending on the baby. You should see your health visitor or GP if the poos are hard or infrequent (less than 2-3 per week).

Skin to skin

Skin to skin contact can be very helpful to calm both baby and parent – and it’s important for both parents to do this with the baby to help with relationship building, minimising stress, brain development and supporting the baby’s immune system to develop. There is no such thing as too much skin-to-skin!

Crying

Every baby cries, and some babies cry more than others. Babies tend to cry most at about 7 weeks. Reasons for a baby to cry include hunger, a dirty nappy, being tired, wanting a cuddle, wind, or boredom.

Learning to recognise when your baby is hungry will help to reduce their crying. Early signs of hunger include:

• Rooting
• Wriggling
• Sucking fingers
• Mouth opening.

You can try to soothe your crying baby by:

• Letting your baby suckle
• Holding your baby close
• Using skin-to-skin contact
• Rocking gently.

Colic is defined as excessive, frequent crying in a baby who appears to be otherwise healthy and well-fed. It affects 1 in 5 babies and stops at around 4-6 months. Looking after a baby with colic can be difficult and tiresome, so it is important to seek support from family and friends.

Crying can be overwhelming, so it is important to know how to cope.

• Infant crying is normal
• Comforting methods can help
• It’s okay to walk away
• Never, ever shake a baby

For more information and support, visit ICON