Health Tip: Is Your Baby in Pain?

Here's how to tell

Related Encyclopedia • Acne • Alagille Syndrome • Appendicitis • Asthma in Children More... Related Animations • Dental Cavities More... Related Healthscout Videos The Empowered Patient Saving Kids Is The I-Port Appropriate For Children Medical Dogs More... Related Drug Information • Adderal XR • Concerta • Strattera More... Related News Articles • Marijuana Is Option to Unpleasant Meds, Teens Say • Reduce Suffering, Urge Heart Failure Patients and Caregivers • Too Few Screened for Abdominal Aneurysm, Study Says • What May Be Causing Your Child's Headaches More...

(HealthDay News) -- Babies may cry for a variety of reasons, and it's often difficult to figure out the reason for their unhappiness.

Text Continues Below

---

Here are signs that your baby may be in pain, courtesy of the University of Michigan Health System:

• Unusual crying: If the cry is in a different pitch than usual, if the crying lasts longer, or if the baby is crying more forcefully.
• Facial features: If the baby is squeezing the eyes shut, furrowing the brows, or has deep lines or wrinkles around the nose.
• A stiffness or tenseness to the body: If the baby has the arms and legs stretched out, or squeezes them in close. Some babies may seem unusually limp or quiet when in pain.
• Irritability: If you can't soothe the infant by the usual methods. Also, the infant may be fussy, restless and unwilling to eat or sleep

-- Diana Kohnle