Homeopathy for Babies:
 "Cry Babies! Homeopathy Soothes Distressed Infants and Brings Peace to New Parents"
by Miranda Castro, FSHom, CCH
Reprinted by permission. Fall 2009.

Daniel was a year old when he received his first constitutional homeopathic remedy—a year old when his night terrors ceased. Until then he would wake screaming the house down every hour or two throughout the whole night. House guests rarely stayed longer than a night or two. Until they did stay, they simply could not imagine the dreadfulness of our nighttimes and mostly thought I was exaggerating. Homeopathy saved both our lives!

A baby’s cry is one of nature’s loudest sounds. At eighty to eighty-five decibels, it is as loud as an unmuffled truck, not far below the pain threshold! Some babies cry more than others; those who do cry usually settle down within three to six months. This is a long time in the life of a new parent! It is easy to understand how these parents become desperate and frayed around the edges.

  Babies have different cries ... a grating scream, a constant whining, a miserable moaning, a shrill wail ... which can drive their parents mad. Some cry more during the day, only really settling when they are being fed or carried; others cry more at night, waking an unbelievable number of times. And some poor unfortunate parents have babies that cry day and night.

A Shocked Newborn

Jenny rang me to tell me that she’d had her baby boy, Ewan, at home, just as she had wanted, with her family gathered around her. The birth had gone well although the labor had been unexpectedly fast, and both she and Ewan were a bit shell- shocked. I made a house visit and on holding her new baby was struck by how shocked he looked, how much fear there was in his eyes, and how much tension there was in his little body. Jenny was taking Arnica for her bruised soreness but wondered how to help her baby get over the shock of arriving on planet earth so suddenly. I told her to give him Aconite 30c, one dose every two hours for a day, since this is an excellent first-aid remedy for fright and shock.

 She rang me four days later to report that the Aconite had only helped a little. She said that he was very distressed a lot of the time, crying angrily during the day, waking screaming at night, and having a difficult time going back to sleep again. He wanted to be carried a lot of the time. Her doctor and midwife had confirmed that there was nothing wrong with his physical health. “This may seem silly,” she said, “but I think he’s having nightmares, I think he’s still working through the birth trauma. Is that possible? Do babies have nightmares? Is there anything you can do”

It seemed to me that the stress of the birth had affected Ewan deeply, and he needed something that would address his fears on an even deeper level than Aconite. So I prescribed Stramonium 30c, one dose every two hours, telling Jenny to stop giving it if she noticed a reaction, whether better or worse.

Jenny rang the next morning euphoric. Ewan had slept a lot the previous day after only two doses of Stramonium and had slept more peacefully in the night, waking without the terrible screaming, feeding easily, and going back to sleep without having to be walked and rocked.

What if Stramonium hadn’t worked? I’d have assumed that our diagnosis of birth trauma was wrong and would have started to think through what else was going on with this little baby. Maybe his head was big enough to have gotten “squashed” during the birth. Did he need a dose of Natrum sulphuricum and/or a visit to a cranial osteopath? Maybe Jenny’s milk was slow coming in, and he was screaming because he was hungry. Did she need a visit from a breastfeeding counselor? Maybe there was tension at home that was affecting him. Did Jenny and/or her partner need to talk things through with someone? Maybe one of the post-natal interventions had distressed him. Maybe he was suffering from colic, or maybe he had something more serious (but not immediately obvious) that needed investigating by a pediatrician.

Since babies can’t talk and tell us what’s wrong, you can only go a step at a time, using their symptoms and your gut instincts to guide you.

Mothers who are woken every hour or two by screaming, inconsolable babies soon become worn out. These babies seem to know, instinctively, the point at which their moms are drifting into a deep and peaceful sleep! It is perfectly understandable, and not at all unusual, for both mother and baby to end up howling together in the early hours of the morning.

Crying is your baby’s first “language,” and mothers soon get to know when a cry means “I’m hungry,” “I’m wet and cold,” “I’m hurting,” “Please pick me up, I want a cuddle,” or “I’m bored, I want a change of scenery.” It is the many other cries and not knowing what they mean that can be so frustrating ... for parents and for the baby.

All babies cry, of course. Researchers have found that infants younger than six weeks old average about 2 or 3 hours a day (and night). And some cry much more than that.

 If your baby’s crying seems out of the ordinary, it’s important that you ask your healthcare professional to check that there isn’t anything more seriously wrong, especially if your baby was formerly contented. Her crying may signal the onset of an illness or other physical problem. More often than not, however, your doctor will pronounce your baby to be perfectly healthy!

Robin’s nine-month-old baby, Alice, climbed onto the sofa in her first serious climbing expedition and fell backwards, hitting the back of her head on a pile of wooden bricks. She was in great distress but the skin wasn’t broken, and it didn’t seem serious enough to warrant a visit to the doctor. A bump developed, so Robin gave Alice a dose of Arnica since it’s an excellent first-aid remedy for injuries. Alice stopped crying within a minute of taking the remedy and fell asleep, and the swelling on her head went down quickly.

Over the next week Robin suspected that Alice was teething because she was more bad-tempered than usual and woke frequently at night, screaming. Alice would ask to be picked up but would soon start screaming again as if in pain. Nothing comforted her for long. Robin began to feel exasperated. Her happy, contented baby had turned into a “rat bag,” and the nights were very difficult. Robin decided to give Alice Chamomilla 6c four times daily, since it is often helpful for teething, irritable babies who can’t be pleased. But the Chamomilla didn’t help at all. Robin then gave her Chamomilla 30c for a few days in the hope that a higher potency would work. It didn’t.

Luckily, Robin kept good notes so she got them out and gave me a ring. I asked her when, exactly, Alice had started to become irritable. “Oh my goodness!” Robin said immediately. “It started on the day she had her fall. So much was happening with the other children that I never made that connection!”

It seemed to me that Robin’s baby was in pain, and I knew that she didn’t have an earache or sore throat because Robin had taken her to the doctor the day before, just in case. And because Chamomilla hadn’t worked, I knew that it probably wasn’t teething either. I was almost certain then that little Alice was suffering from a headache (caused by her fall)—a surprisingly common but difficult-to-diagnose symptom in babies who can’t talk.

I told Robin to give Alice a single dose of Natrum sulphuricum 30c, a helpful remedy for the after-effects of head injuries, and as it dissolved in her mouth Alice smiled angelically again. That night, she slept well for the first time in more than a week, and when she awoke, she was back to her smiling, contented self.

Growing Like Crazy

Your baby may be having a growth spurt; these happen at regular intervals during the first year ... at three weeks, five to six weeks, three months and six months ... and your baby will be hungrier then. Breastfed babies will want to feed more—often at a time when you thought life was getting easier. Spend a few days building up your milk supply and your baby will soon settle down:• Nurse more often switching your baby from one breast to the other several times during a feed.

• Drink more, eat more, and rest more!

• Have a snack and a drink every single time you nurse.

• Sit or lie down for as many feedings as possible.

Contact a La Leche League breastfeeding consultant if you are not able to increase your milk supply or have any problems with breastfeeding. The La Leche League is an unrivalled resource for information, advice, and support. Their local groups have saved countless moms around the world from resorting to the bottle. [www.llli.org or 1-800-LALECHE]

Frustrated or Tense

Babies sometimes need “a good cry” to release tension or frustrations. Every mother knows that a busy day with new activities—such as traveling or entertaining guests—can lead to a fussy baby at night. Hold your baby during those times and sing to her.

Tummy Pains

Your baby may be colicky—especially if she started crying a few days after the birth. She may be sensitive to something you are eating. It is a good idea to troubleshoot your own diet—it is especially worth eliminating anything you are craving and eating a lot of. Many foods are known to affect some babies through breast milk; these include cow’s milk and all dairy products (read labels carefully to properly eliminate this group); alcohol, tea, chocolate, coffee, spices (including chili powder and black pepper), onions, garlic, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, peppers (especially raw green peppers), strawberries, oranges, and grapes. Occasionally, egg or wheat products are to blame and sometimes fruits with stones (cherries, apricots, etc.).

A Teething Baby

Carole’s baby, Ben, weighed nearly ten pounds at birth and then went on to gain weight at an almost alarming rate on breast milk alone! He had a large head and a long body. He was hungry most of the time and at three months was very grateful to have some fruit and vegetables, moving quickly on to yogurt, cottage cheese, and eggs. He loved all food, especially eggs! At three months, he started teething and seemed to find this particularly stressful. He started waking four to eight times a night and was generally difficult to please (having previously been a contented little soul). He had one bright red cheek and was sweaty at night especially on his head.

“Should I give him Chamomilla?” Carole asked me. She had been reading her homeopathic first-aid book, and this remedy description seemed to “fit”—he had a bright red cheek and was teething. But the book also said that children needing this remedy would be angry—and because Ben wasn’t particularly angry she wanted to check with me first.

I suggested that Calcarea carbonica was, in fact, a better fit. Ben was a big baby—not fat, just juicily plump! I asked her about his feet and she admitted reluctantly that they were clammy and well, yes, they did smell! She described him as a cheerful, happy baby with a large, stubborn streak that had come out rather strongly since he’d started teething. The feet and sweaty head at night, the love of eggs, the cheerfulness, stubbornness, and teething confirmed my choice of this remedy.

Ben had a few doses of Calcarea carbonica 30c that day and slept well for about a week, then started having difficulties again. Carole needed to give him a weekly dose of his teething remedy for about a month, and he finally managed to push through his bottom two teeth. A few months later he started teething with his top teeth and needed the same treatment to help him through the physical stress of it. He has maintained this pattern through his teething years.

It is as if all Ben’s energy goes into building his body and his big bones, and there’s none left over for his teeth! Some babies find teething very stressful and need a lot of help in order to maintain their equilibrium. Thank goodness for gentle, safe homeopathic remedies!

Incubating An Illness

Babies who are falling sick with an illness such as chickenpox, a cold, or an earache can cry more. Everyone knows about feeling unwell or uncomfortable or both during the incubation stage of an acute illness. Older children and even grownups can find it hard to articulate what’s wrong. All is clear once the fever and/or any of the symptoms come out.

Picking Up On Mom’s Feelings

Some babies cry more when their parents are upset—especially if their mother is suffering from post-natal depression. A difficult birth, whether it was very long, very fast, premature, or a forceps or cesarean delivery, can leave some babies shocked and upset. A combination of homeopathy and cranial osteopathy can help these babies a lot.

What Can Mothers Do?

Some mothers find their entire life is ruled by their baby’s crying and that they aren’t managing to get anything done. Your baby’s crying may make you feel frustrated and incompetent and like howling as well. Let yourself have a good cry ... it will help to release physical and emotional tension.

Most babies are soothed by being carried in a soft sling. Being close to you helps your baby feel safe and secure, similar to when you carried them in the womb. They can hear your heartbeat and are lulled by your movements. This is a wonderful way to be able to continue with your activities while providing for your baby. Partners can carry the baby as well which will help them bond and also to feel like they are helping with some of the nurturing, at a time when breastfeeding moms are doing all the work!

Take a refreshing little break—by yourself or with your partner. Leave your baby with a trusted friend or relative who is calm and confident and has your cell phone number in case they can’t cope. Go for a walk or a run. Sit under a tree and meditate. Go shopping for a little while! Taking some time out to reconnect with your partner will help both of you feel that life is not all about the baby at a time when your own needs are on the back burner. Sit in the car and hold hands—or something… Some babies need a change of company, too, and will settle with someone else, especially if you have become tense and anxious.

Get Help If You Are Desperate

Get help if you are feeling guilty or blaming yourself for having a difficult baby, or if you end up howling too often. Talk to a trusted friend or counselor. Or call a parent support helpline (look in the yellow pages under “parent” or “social services”). You do not need to suffer on your own ... it is a sign of strength to ask for help, not weakness or failure.

What About The Other Parent?

Partners can find it difficult to cope with their crying babies too, feeling powerless to help and pushed out and neglected. It is vitally important that partners make time for each other, to talk about what is happening so that they can comfort each other.

Distractions for Cry Babies

Here are some ideas to help you cope with a crying baby.

• Noise Play your baby the music you listened to when you were pregnant ... or try a range of music to find out what your baby likes. Some enjoy loud rock music or Wagner operas, others prefer Chopin or folk music! Desperate moms have found that the vacuum cleaner or the food processor can soothe a screaming baby!

• Sights Put your baby in front of a front-loading washing machine or dryer ... some babies are mesmerized by the action. Put interesting items (pictures, hanging things, soft toys) in the crib and stroller, and change them frequently.

• Movement Go for a car, bus, or train ride. The movement sends some babies straight to sleep.

• Fresh air Get out in some fresh air. Some (most) babies (and their parents) need a daily walk to feel relaxed ... whatever the weather.

• Change of scenery Visit a friend or go shopping. Some babies (and many more mothers) become cranky when bored.

• Get into (not too) hot water Give your baby a warm bath—or several if she enjoys them and they are soothing for her. Or better still, have one with her! Be careful getting in and out of the bath with your baby, or ask a friend or partner to help: to pass the baby once you are in and to take her out first.

Homeopathic Solutions: Good for Moms & Babes!

Homeopathy can be such a boon to new families. The remedies are completely safe, nontoxic, and easy to use. Just observe your baby carefully and match her behavior/symptom picture with one of the remedies described on page 15. If you can’t decide on one or if the remedy you give doesn’t work, then take your baby to a professional homeopath, who can prescribe for both of you to help with this stressful time in your lives. For inspiration, read the stories of A Shocked Newborn, A Teething Baby, and A Bad Fall on the Head within these pages.

In order to choose a helpful remedy to soothe your baby, observe her carefully and match her behavior/symptom picture with one below (or in a self-care book). If you can’t decide on one or if the remedy you give doesn’t work, take your baby to a professional homeopath, who has many more remedies to choose from and the skills to select the correct one.

How to Give Homeopathic Remedies
(See also other Acute Dosing Tips on this website)

Although tablets can be given to older babies (they love the sweet taste!, the best way to give a remedy to an infant is to dissolve 4–8 pellets in a half-cup water by stirring vigorously; consider one teaspoonful a dose.

• Give the selected remedy in the 6c or 30c potency.

• Repeat it according to the severity of symptoms, for example:
        Severe: one teaspoon every 1/2–1 hour
        Mild to Moderate: one teaspoon 2–3 times a d

• Stop on improvement: give the remedy less frequently if there is moderate improvement; stop giving it as soon as there is significant improvement.

• Repeat as needed: repeat the remedy if it helped for awhile but the same symptoms return—starting and stopping it as needed until completely better.

• Stop the remedy after 6 doses or so if it clearly isn’t working, and select another. Or seek professional advice

Finally ...

Time slows down for parents with “crying babies.” Each day can pass in an endless fog of exhaustion and misery. A little support goes a long way at this time. I remember my own La Leche League counselor comforting me and telling me, “this time will pass even though it doesn’t feel like it right now—and when it does it will feel absolutely wonderful.” And it did! She made some practical suggestions that helped tremendously. And then the correct homeopathic remedy brought a blessed peace to our home. The nightmares ceased, everyone got a good night’s sleep—and we were thrilled to be able to fully enjoy the delightful, smiley little being that had popped into our lives.

About The Author

Miranda Castro, FSHom, CCH, is a British homeopath and author of The Complete Homeopathy Handbook; Homeopathy for Pregnancy, Birth and Your Baby’s First Year; and A Homeopathic Guide to Stress.

She believes passionately that homeopathy is “medicine for the people,” and her books make classical homeopathy spectacularly accessible to the home prescriber. She currently lives, practices and teaches in Gainesville, Florida. Her website is www.mirandacastro.com.