The Happiest Baby on the Block and The Happiest Toddler on the Block 2-Book Bundle pdfdrive com

Stomach Acid Reflux—This cause of burning pain
occurs in approximately one to three percent of fussy
babies.
Food Sensitivity—Five to ten percent of fussy babies
get better with a change in diet and so presumably
have this condition. Besides crying, it may cause
vomiting, diarrhea, rash, or mucousy blood in the
stools.
(For a complete discussion of reflux and food sensitivities see
Chapters

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4
and
14
.)
A “Pain in the Rear”: Can an Overly Tight Anus Block a Baby’s
Intestines?
In 100
A.D
. the physician Soranus opined that a tight anus could
block a baby’s intestines, leading to spasms. He recommended
stretching the anus to relieve a baby’s crying. Over the next two
thousand years, medical practitioners followed his advice and
routinely stuck fingers up the behinds of crying babies. Today,
however, we know this problem is extremely rare and probably
never causes colic.
Crying before, during, and after feeding
Immediately before a feeding: hunger, thirst, challenging
temperament
During a feeding: the gastro-colic reflex, the milk flow is too slow
or too fast, the milk has a strange taste, stomach acid reflux
Immediately after a feeding: continued hunger, the gastro-colic
reflex, needing to burp, needing to poop, wanting to suck more,
food allergy, stomach acid reflux
3. Breathing Trouble: From Blocked Nostrils to Oversize Tongues
The most common cause of breathing trouble is a condition

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where a baby’s tiny nostrils are blocked. Babies don’t know how
to breathe through their mouths, except when they’re crying.
That’s why babies who are born with tight nostrils, or who have
noses swollen shut from allergies or colds, get so frantic.
If you want to check for blockage, place the tip of your little
finger snugly over one of your baby’s nostrils, closing it off for a
few seconds. She should easily be able to breathe through the
open nostril. Then repeat this test on the other side.
If your baby can’t breathe or gets agitated when you do this
test, call your physician. If it seems the nostril is blocked from
mucus, ask the best ways to clear it. And do your best to rid
your home of dust, molds, sprays, perfumes, cigarette smoke,
and anything else that might make her nose congested.
Very rarely, an infant will have trouble breathing if her
tongue is too big for her mouth so it falls back into the throat
and chokes her when she lies on her back. This problem is
obvious from the moment of birth because her tongue will
always stick out of her mouth.