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Today, I'll discuss some questions I get about crying children.

So let's start with babies. Babies cry a lot. Babies cry because they have no other way to communicate. Babies cry when they want a clean diaper, they cry when they're hungry, they cry when they're tired, they cry when they're in pain, they cry when they're over stimulated and want to be left alone, they cry when they're scared. Basically, again, they cry a lot.

Babies from 2 weeks to 3 to 4 months cry even more sometimes because they are in the period of purple crying. They can cry and cry for what seems like no reason at all, and it's actually a normal developmental stage.

Then, on to toddlers, they cry mostly because they're trying to figure out their emotions. It seems like they are very stubborn and negative. And you can tell because their favorite word is "no," but they're learning how to get what they want. They're learning that if they're told no and they cry, sometimes they'll get what they want. Sometimes they won't. And it's almost as if they start training you as parents to give in to their cries to keep them quiet. Yes, toddlers are sneaky that way.

This is where trying to reason with a toddler is like trying to reason with a pet rock. You can talk to them, but they're hardheaded and often don't listen. Trust me, you'll get through that phase. Just be patient and do everything consistently. And eventually, they'll come through.

School-age kids cry too. Often, again, because their feelings are hurt or their bodies are hurt. These are legitimate tears. School-age kids cry for a reason. And often, they can tell you why. And this is good because they are learning the communication skills they didn't have as toddlers. As a parent, you know you can help them through whatever is causing their hurt.

Teenagers, well, often they'll either cry all the time or they'll hold their emotions in and never cry. Teenagers are harder to decode, but if you keep the lines of communication open with your teen, then when they do show emotion, you'll be able to start having more in-depth and maybe even adult conversations with them and try to help navigate them and navigate what is bothering them as they struggle through the teenage years and become those young adults we all want them to become.

Every age and stage has their own reasons for crying. If you have concerns about your child's crying, go ahead and ask your pediatrician. Chances are we've heard your concern before and are usually able to help.

Dr. Gellner: "Top Five Old Wives' Tales About your Newborns," or, "How to Troubleshoot your Newborn," on today's "Scope." I'm Dr. Cindy Gellner.

Announcer: Remember that one thing that one person told you that one time about what you should or shouldn't do when raising your kids? Find out if it's true or not. This is "Debunking Old Wives' Tales" with Dr. Cindy Gellner on The Scope.

Dr. Gellner: Newborns don't come with instruction manuals, so parents often worry when things really are normal. For example, "Excessive crying means something is seriously wrong." Not necessarily. Newborns cry up to two hours a day, sometimes it's because they're hungry, babies have a "nah" cry for this. Sometimes it's because they're wet or their diaper is too tight, or they're stimulated, and babies have a "wah" cry for this. I know, it's pretty cool. I learned that from my lactation consultant.

Or it could be colic, and your pediatrician can help you determine if this is why your baby cries. As the mom of a former colicky baby, I say, "Good luck and good news," it does go away by itself in three to four months. It's making it through the colic period that's tough.

Another concern for parents of girls is that some baby girls have vaginal bleeding. No, your daughter's not going through puberty already. It's actually due to mom's hormones coming out of her system. Little girls get white discharge during the latter part of the first week of life and sometimes it turns blood-tinged. Normally, this goes away in a few days and unless your daughter starts having pubic hair before age eight, you're fine.

Then there's periodic breathing, which freaks a lot of parents out. Babies have this funny way of breathing where they'll sometimes hold their breath and then they'll breathe really fast, and then normal again, and it might seem like an eternity that they're holding their breath, but it's really only seconds. This happens because the part of the brain that controls breathing hasn't fully developed yet. Now, if your baby stops breathing for more than 20 seconds and turns blue, that's not periodic breathing, that's a trip to the ER.

Then there's their bellybutton That scares parents most of all, it seems. Everyone thinks that the yellow goop is an infection, but it's not. It's the remnants of something called Wharton's jelly, which is what makes up the umbilical cord. True infections are very rare. Bleeding is common too. Remember, that's where all the blood vessels were that connected baby to mom. The blood finishes coming out until the cord completely seals itself. If you have any questions about your baby's navel, pediatricians are really good at evaluating cute baby bellies.

Finally, "Yellow drainage from one or both eyes is a serious infection or pink eye." Probably not. It's most likely an infected tear duct. Your baby probably has one eye that waters a lot too. The tear ducts can take awhile to open, so it's easy to get them infected. Antibiotic drops will help with the goopiness, but it will come back until the tear duct itself opens, usually by a year old. Bottom line is, if you have any concerns about your newborn, don't hesitate to ask your pediatrician. Babies are what we do best.

Announcer: thescoperadio.com is University of Utah Health Sciences Radio. If you like what you heard, be sure to get our latest content by following us on Facebook. Just click on the Facebook icon at thescoperadio.com.

Dr. Gellner: Babies: the reason they cry and how to help manage their crying. I've got the support you need on today's Scope. I'm Dr. Cindy Gellner.

Announcer: Keep your kids healthy and happy. You are now entering "The Healthy Kids Zone" with Dr. Cindy Gellner on The Scope.

Dr. Gellner: Let's be honest, new babies cry a lot. It's a good thing they're really cute because sometimes they cry to the point you want to cry along with them. There are a few main reasons why they cry. First, their digestive system is still maturing. It wasn't getting used in the womb and now their bodies have to learn how to process breast milk or formula. The muscle where the esophagus and the stomach meet is really weak, and sometimes what they eat doesn't know it's only supposed to go one way. This can be irritating to some babies.

We advise parents to do reflux precautions, which are feeding smaller amounts more frequently, keeping baby propped up for at least 30 minutes after a feeding, and don't feed the baby when they're lying flat. And while this often helps babies, if your child is really uncomfortable during feeds or after feeds, and they're losing weight because they're spitting up so much, or they stop breathing during feeds, you need to talk to your baby's pediatrician about more severe reflux issues.

Next, babies get gas a lot. Parents are always telling me that their baby can clear a room and are way too gassy. Well, the main reason for that is babies swallow air when they cry. They swallow air when they eat. They're trying to coordinate this whole suck, swallow and breathe at the same time thing. Gas drops can only do so much. To help your baby not be so gassy, make sure they take frequent burp breaks while feeding. Make sure they have a good seal on the bottle or breast when they eat. And if they're on formula, they may need to try a formula that has the milk protein broken down for some babies that have gas. If they're nursing, moms need to remember if a certain food gives you gas, it will give your babies gas and adjust your diet accordingly.

Finally, some babies are just naturally more sensitive. They may or may not have true colic. What doesn't bother one baby may turn another into a screaming banshee. Babies are all trying to figure out their new environment. There are new noises and lights and uncomfortable soiled diapers to deal with.

While you can't change your baby's temperament, soothing your baby before they get overwhelmed can help. Figure out what works best for your baby. Some like to be snuggled, some like to be swaddled, some like a swing, some like a pacifier, some like white noise. Every baby is different and it can take a while to figure out what your baby likes.

Trust me, I had a colicky baby and it made me feel frustrated. Here I am, a pediatrician and I can't stop my own baby from crying. He's much older now and completely fine. We've all survived. Regardless of the reason, the most important thing to remember is babies can cry, a lot, and it's usually okay. This is the time when most of the cases of shaken baby occur because it's really hard to deal with a crying baby. So remember put your baby in a safe place and take a time out. Get help when you are overwhelmed and always be sure to talk to your pediatrician if you are at your wit's end.

Announcer: thescoperadio.com, is University of Utah Health Sciences Radio. If you like what you heard, be sure to get our latest content by following us on Facebook. Just click on the Facebook icon at thescoperadio.com.