Crying Spasm: How It Can Be Stopped
When your baby has a crying spasm, you can feel your heart stop in your chest. It is an involuntary reaction that can appear out of the blue, during a crying fit or if the little one is scared or upset. This article aims to arm you with the necessary information to better understand what spasms of crying are and how they can be stopped or at least relieved.
Motor Development
Before moving on to practical advice, it is important to understand how a child's motor development works and what the essential stages are. In the first years of life, motor development is rapid and complex, as the child learns to coordinate body movements with the nervous system. During this period, the child will go through different motor phases, from holding the head, walking and fine hand coordination.
Language development
In parallel with motor development, the child will also develop his language. In the first months of life, babies vocalize by crying, and later they start babbling and imitating the sounds around them. Around one year of age, most children can say a few simple words and begin to string words together to form short sentences. It's a fast-forward time for language, and every new word is a victory.
What Is Crying Spasm
A cry spasm occurs when a baby cries loudly and then gasps for air but cannot breathe. The colors of the face change, becoming pale or blue, and the child may even lose consciousness for a very short time. Although they may seem scary, these spasms are usually harmless and last only a few seconds.
Causes of Crying Spasms
The exact causes of crying spasms are not fully understood, but they are thought to be related to the maturation of the baby's nervous system. It can also be a reaction to situations of emotional stress or fatigue. It is also possible that there is a genetic component, with some children being more prone to such spasms.
Methods of Stopping Spasms of Crying
Of course, finding effective ways to stop these spasms is essential for parents. Some of the strategies that can help include:
- Staying calm: Staying calm will help your child calm down.
- Ensuring a safe environment: During a spasm, it is important to ensure that the child cannot injure himself.
- Distraction: Sometimes redirecting your child's attention to something else can help them stop more quickly.
- Deep breathing: Teach your child deep breathing techniques that can help if this happens when they are awake.
Tips To Prevent Spasms
Prevention can also be an important part of dealing with these spasms. Although they cannot always be avoided, here are some tips that may help:
- Encourage a healthy lifestyle: Sufficient sleep and proper nutrition can reduce stress and fatigue.
- Avoid triggers: If you notice that certain situations or activities tend to trigger a spasm, try avoiding them or handling them differently.
- Teach your child to express his emotions: By helping your child talk about his fears and upsets, you can reduce the likelihood of a spasm.
Aftercare and When to See the Doctor
In most cases, a crying spasm does not require medical attention. However, it is important to see a doctor if:
- Episodes become frequent or intensify.
- The baby seems to have trouble breathing outside of the crying fits.
- Manifestations also occur when the child is calm or during sleep.
Conclusion
Crying spasms can be a worrying phenomenon for parents, but with the right information and a calm and pragmatic approach, they can be managed. If our article was helpful and you want to learn more about raising and caring for children, we encourage you to visit other sections of our store or subscribe to our newsletter to receive updates and useful tips straight to your inbox .
