Why is the baby crying?

All children cry – some more, some less. This is completely normal. Small children cry from one to three hours every day. But parents still worry and want to know: why is the child crying? How to calm him down?

What is a child trying to say by crying?

Your baby can't do anything on his own and relies on you for everything. Parents give him food, warmth, care, change diapers and put honey on his teeth when they are cutting. Crying is your baby's way of communicating, his statement of his needs or his dissatisfaction with the circumstances in which the little person has found himself. And it is also an expectation of a response from you.

Sometimes it’s hard for parents to understand what your baby is telling you with her cries. But over time, you’ll learn to recognize what your baby needs. And as your baby grows, she’ll learn other ways to communicate with you. She’ll coo, make noise, and smile, and her need to cry will gradually decrease. So what is your baby trying to tell you with her cries?

"I'm hungry!"

Hunger is one of the most common reasons why your newborn baby cries. The younger your baby is, the more likely it is that he is crying because he is hungry.

Your baby's small stomach doesn't take up much space, so if he cries, try feeding him milk. He may be hungry, even if the last feeding seems not so long ago. It is likely that you feed your baby often and regularly, but he may still want to eat. Especially if it is breastfeeding, the mother's breasts are tight and the baby is not getting enough milk. Even if you picked up the baby, he may not stop crying right away, you need to let him calm down first.

"I just want to cry"

If your baby is under five months old, she may cry in the afternoon and evening. This is normal and does not mean there is anything wrong with your baby.

Crying periods can vary from short periods of inconsolable crying to hours of crying. During crying, your baby may turn red and not respond even when you pick him up, and efforts to calm him down may be in vain. The baby may clench his fists, kick his legs, and arch his back. When it seems that you can do nothing to relieve the baby's suffering, just wait for a while. The baby will stop crying on his own.

If this does not happen, persistent and inconsolable crying of the baby may be related to bloating or digestive problems. It may also be related to allergies or intolerance to certain substances in breast milk or formula milk.

When can a baby cry?

• Your baby may cry every week, most often at two months of age, less often between three and five months.
• The crying may come and go, and you may not be able to determine the cause.
• Your baby may not stop crying, no matter whether you try to soothe him or her or not.
• A crying baby may look like he or she is in pain, even when there is no pain. In this case, you should see a doctor to determine the cause of the crying.
• A baby's crying can last for several hours throughout the day.
• Your little one may cry more and more often in the afternoon and evening.

"I need more affection"

Your baby may need more hugs and physical contact with his mother to gain confidence and calm down.

Try holding your baby in your arms more, rocking and singing a song. This will calm the baby down and make him feel more secure.

You may be afraid of spoiling your baby's character by holding him too much. But during the first few months of life, it's actually a good thing. Babies need a lot of physical contact with their parents in the first few months after birth. When you hold your baby, he'll be calmed by your heartbeat.

"I'm tired and I need to rest"

Often children have difficulty falling asleep, especially if they are very tired. You should recognize your child's signals that he wants to sleep, but cannot fall asleep for some reason. Then the child is capricious and whines at the slightest provocation, staring blankly into space, or quietly whines.

If your baby has had a lot of attention from guests during the day, he may become overtired and overwhelmed. Then, when it comes to sleep, he will have a hard time turning off his consciousness and falling asleep. Pick up your baby, talk to him calmly and quietly to help him calm down. And then he will fall asleep, finally stopping crying.

"I'm too cold or too hot"

Your baby may hate diaper changes or baths. The temperature change when changing clothes or the water may irritate him. Of course, the baby reacts to this by crying loudly.

Then you just need to change diapers faster and bathe him not so long. Try not to dress your child in a hundred clothes, so that he does not get hot or stuffy.

You can check if your baby is comfortable at this temperature by feeling his tummy. If it feels too hot or too cold to the touch, then your baby is uncomfortable. Use layers of clothing or blankets to regulate your baby's temperature. If he is too hot, remove one blanket, and if you feel that your baby is cold, add a blanket.

If you want to know exactly whether your baby is comfortable, don't rely on his hands or feet, because they are usually cool even if the room is hot. Just keep the temperature in the baby's room around 18 ° C. He will get used to one temperature and will not be capricious about it.

"I need to change my diaper!"

Your baby may protest if his clothes are too tight or if he is bothered by wet or dirty diapers. True, your baby may not cry even if his diaper is full because he may enjoy the warm, comfortable feeling. But if your baby has delicate skin that is easily irritated by a full diaper, he is more likely to throw a tantrum.

"I'm sick!"

Be aware of any changes in your baby's health. If your baby is unwell, his cry may be different than if he has wet his diapers or just wants to be held. His cry may be weaker, plaintive, continuous, or higher-pitched. And if your baby usually cries a lot and now his room is unusually quiet, it may be a sign that all is not well.

No one knows your baby as well as you do. If you feel something is wrong, call your doctor. Health care providers will always take your baby's problems seriously. Call your doctor if your baby has difficulty breathing, if his or her crying is accompanied by a fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation.

The baby is still crying. What can you do?

Caring for a baby who cries regularly and inconsolably can be very challenging. What else can you do to help your baby cope with crying?

As you learn your baby's personality and habits, you'll discover which methods work best for him. If none of the above methods work, these additional methods for dealing with baby crying may help.

Provide your child with a constant sound background

The sounds of a lullaby can soothe a crying baby. There are other repetitive sounds that can also have a calming effect.

The steady noise of a washing machine, the measured noise of a vacuum cleaner or hair dryer can lull your baby to sleep. The quiet sound of a television can also help.

You can also download background sounds to your child's computer or phone and place the media next to him. This will calm the baby down. There are special melodies for children that are advisable to turn on for them.

Rock the baby

Babies usually like gentle rocking. Then they stop crying. You can arrange the following.

• A walk with a swing in a stroller.
• Sit with your baby in your arms in a rocking chair.
• If the child is old enough, he can be seated on a baby swing.
• The child can be calmed in a child seat in the car.

Try giving your baby a tummy massage

By using massage oils or creams and gently rubbing them into your baby's back or belly, you can help him calm down and stop crying. It can also help him feel better, as it is a practical way to reduce your baby's tummy pain.

Try different feeding positions

Some babies cry during or after feeding. If your baby is breastfed, use trial and error to find a feeding position that will help your baby to avoid crying.

Some newborns have a strong need to suck on something. Sucking on the breast during feeding, or sucking on a finger or pacifier after feeding can provide psychological comfort to the baby. Sucking, according to scientific research, can stabilize the baby's heart rate, relax the tummy, and help solve problems with crying.

Give your child a warm bath

A warm bath can help calm your baby. Check the water temperature before giving your baby a bath. But keep in mind that this may make the baby cry even more if your baby doesn't like bathing. Over time, you'll learn whether your baby likes being in the water or, on the contrary, has an aversion to it.

Take care of yourself

If you and your baby are upset and you have tried everything to stop your baby from crying, it may be worth calling a friend or relative for support. Taking a break, having someone else handle your baby for a while can help calm your and your baby's nerves.

Tell yourself that nothing bad will happen to your baby and that crying will not harm him. Don't blame yourself for your baby crying, try again and again the means that will work and help your baby calm down.

Rest assured that as your baby grows, he will find new ways to communicate with you. He will find new ways to tell you about his problems and needs. And when this happens, you will forget about that dreaded question: "Why is the baby crying?"