Why Babies Cry

WHY BABIES CRY

By Shlomo Y. Radcliffe

Why do Babies Cry?

All babies cry at one time or another. Even completely healthy newborns will sometimes cry for somewhere between one and three hours each day. Since babies can\'t do things for themselves they rely on someone else to provide them with their needs, such as food, warmth, and comfort. Crying is how the baby communicates those needs. As a new parent though, it can be difficult sometimes to understand what your baby is trying to tell you. It can be upsetting in the early days not knowing what your child wants. However, you will gradually begin to recognize your baby\'s different crying patterns and be able to anticipate his needs as you get to know him better. As babies mature, they learn other ways of communicating with us as well. They get better at making noises, eye contact, and even smiling, all of which will reduce the need for crying. Here are some common reasons why babies cry:

•    Rest. Obviously babies need to sleep and rest. If you’re baby has been getting a lot of attention, he may become overstimulated and find it hard to settle, rather than just falling asleep by himself and as such will cry to make you aware of that. Taking him somewhere calm and quiet and away from the noise, lights, visiting relatives, or whatever is overstimulating him may let him eventually calm down and fall asleep.
•    Temperature. Babies like to be warm and not cold and as such some babies will dislike having their nappy changed or being bathed since they are not used to the feel of the air on their skin and prefer to be warm and bundled up. With practice though, you will become faster and more efficient at nappy changes and be able to do this faster so he calms down quicker. Overdressing your baby can also cause him to cry if he becomes too hot, so be careful about how much you dress your baby with. Generally one more layer of clothing than you need is required for him.
•    Food. The need for food is the most common reason a new baby will cry. If your baby has been fed and is still crying then it is probably for a different reason.
•    Need to be burped. Babies will often feel uncomfortable because they have swallowed air and may therefore cry. Keeping your baby upright as much as possible during feeding and burping can help prevent this. Burping your baby regularly during feeding should be done to expel swallowed air.
•    Feeling Unwell. If after feeding and making sure your baby is comfortable he is still crying, it may be because he is ill or in pain. A sick baby will often cry in a different tone than his usual one- being more high-pitched or urgent possibly. For a baby that cries frequently, unusual silence may indicate sickness. You will learn to recognize your own baby’s way of communicating and be able to identify his or her “normal” communication from that which is abnormal and of concern.
•    Wants to be held. Some babies need a lot of cuddling and reassurance, and new babies often need close physical contact for comfort. Some parents worry that holding their baby too much will \"spoil\" him, but that\'s not possible during the first few months of life. While some babies may not seem to need that much physical contact, there are others who want to be held almost all of the time. Baby sling\'s can help you if your baby wants to be held a lot, allowing you to keep your hands free for other tasks while keeping your baby close.
•    Need to be comfortable. Their clothes may be too tight or they may have a soiled nappy bothering them.
•    Crying for no apparent reason. You’ve checked that all of your baby’s needs have been satisfied, but he’s still crying. Many newborns will go through periods of unhappiness and are not easily comforted. The unhappiness may last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours, an almost constant state of crying that is sometimes called colic. Colic is defined as inconsolable crying for at least three hours a day, for at least three days a week. It can be hard to cope with a baby who has colic. While there is no cure for colic, it usually disappears within three months. While coping with it, keep in mind that your baby will grow out of it.

What You Can Do For Your Crying Baby

Eventually you will get to understand what your baby needs and what his personality is to figure out what works for you. Here are some common things you can try:

•    Rhythm. One of the reasons why babies like to be held close is because while in the womb they could hear the regular beat of your heart. Other regular, repetitive noises such as playing gentle music or singing a lullaby can also have a calming effect. Many parents have also found that the sound of a vaccum cleaner or hairdryer or the steady rhythm of a washing machine can help lull a baby off to sleep if he can hear it.
•    Rocking. Most babies enjoy being gently rocked and you may find walking around with him while rocking or sitting with him in a rocking chair to have a calming effect.
•    Comfort. Just like they were in the womb, newborns like to feel snug and comfortable, try snuggling your baby in a blanket to see if he likes that. Putting him in a baby sling or holding him close so he can hear your heartbeat has also been found to be soothing. Some babies may find being snuggled closely to be too restrictive and may prefer other forms of reassurance.
•    Sucking. It is common in some newborns to have a very strong need to suck. Sucking a clean finger or thumb, or a dummy can bring great comfort and help him settle.
•    Massage. Giving your baby a massage or gently rubbing his back and tummy can soothe him. If he seems to have pains with wind, try feeding him in a more upright position and winding him after a feed by holding him against your shoulder.
•    Don’t stress out. Babies who cry almost constantly will bring no lasting harm to themselves, but may cause much stress and worry for their parents. Parents may sometimes blame themselves, feeling that it is their incompetence as parents that is causing the crying but this is hardly ever the case. If you know that you’ve met all your baby’s need and there is nothing physically wrong with your baby causing him to cry and you’ve tried everything you can think of it’s time to take care of yourself so you don’t become too overwhelmed. Take deep breaths, let your baby cry somewhere (safe) out of your hearing, call a friend or relative and get support by letting them take over for a while, talk to local support groups or mother-and-baby groups where you can share your feelings and discuss ways of coping with the crying with other new parents. Above all, remember that this is just a phase (even when a long one!) and it will pass. Soon, your crying baby will turn into a whining toddler – something to look forward to!