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8/30/2008 - by Anne Marie Nielson
  
Why Do Babies Cry

A crying baby can be very upsetting and stressful, especially if this is your first. Responding to a baby’s cry is an instinct that has been with us from the beginning of time. As baby grows and changes, the reasons why they cry also change. Their cries also sound differently for different situations for most babies. For example, a tired baby cry may be a soft and slow cry where as a hungry cry may be very loud and demanding. Your baby will have his or her own style of communication. You will become familiar with your baby’s voice and be able to respond to their needs. Above all, RELAX and stay CALM. If you are stressed, your baby will sense this and may cry even more. Some common reasons why babies cry are described below.

Why Babies Cry:

Very young babies most often cry because they are hungry. A newborn’s stomach is very small and will not hold much. This is why they wake up crying every couple of hours. If you are breastfeeding, make sure your baby is getting enough milk while they are nursing. Some babies have a difficult time attaching and getting the proper suction. If this continues, talk to your doctor or midwife, or a lactation consultant to help you learn. This is very comforting for your baby, so don’t give up. If your baby is only taking a few sips either breast feeding or from the bottle, then falling back to sleep only to wake up 15 minutes later, you will need to encourage them to stay awake a little longer. I found that if I tickled my son’s feet a little on the bottoms, it would keep him awake and focused on getting his little belly full enough to sleep for a little longer.

If your baby is fed and is still crying, then we go to the next big reason that babies cry. Dirty diapers! Changing diapers seems like an endless task. But what goes in must come out. Some babies don’t mind a full diaper as may be warm and comfortable to them. Most babies don’t like it at all! If they have a diaper rash or sensitive skin it can be absolutely painful to them. You may not see a rash, but the skin is new and very tender and the acid in the urine may irritate the area. A diaper rash cream may be helpful. If one doesn’t work, try a different one. I went through 3 brands until I found the one that worked for my baby. If your baby cries while urinating, please see your doctor to rule out a medical problem or infection.

If your baby has a clean diaper, he or she may just want to be held. They have spent 9 months safe and secure, being carried everywhere you go. They are use to being close and able to hear your heartbeat. Wrap your baby snugly. Most hospitals will show you how to do this before you go home. If not, ask your nurse to show you how. Some babies need to be held more than others. While it is good to get them use to being on their own turf, your baby may need a little more holding. You may want to consider using a baby sling. This keeps the baby in a comfortable position, while keeping your hands free. There are many styles on the market today and are very popular.

Overstimulation may be the cause of the cry. This is a difficult one to deal with as it sometimes seems that nothing will soothe them. You may have had lots of relatives over to visit. They all want to hold and fuss with the new addition to the family. While the bonding is good, the stimulation may be too much. If your baby doesn’t react well to all this activity, you may want to limit the visits to a smaller group and make sure that your baby stays on the schedule you have set. If you are visiting and are not at your home, there are many portable beds available to bring along. Excuse yourself and go to a quite place to feed and put your baby to sleep. You may want to bring along a baby monitor to keep an ear on your little one. This may help you to feel more at ease.

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