When we’re pregnant or awaiting adoption, we dream about our
baby-to-be, we always envision those beautiful Hallmark card
scenes: charming baby smiling up at peaceful mother’s face.
We read books in advance of the big day about how care for a
newborn how to bathe, feed and dress her and then we feel
somewhat prepared. However, a crying baby was never part of
that idyllic vision, so this takes us by surprise. But the fact is, all
babies cry at one time or another. Some babies cry more than
others, but they all do cry. Understanding why babies cry can help
you get through this phase and respond effectively to your crying
baby so can the list of ideas that follows.
Why does my baby cry?
Simply put, babies cry because they cannot talk. Babies are
human beings, and they have needs and desires, just as we do,
but they can’t express them. Even if they could talk, very often
they wouldn’t understand why they feel the way they do, they
wouldn’t understand themselves well enough to articulate their
needs, so babies need someone to help them figure it all out.
Their cries are the only way they can say, “Help me! Something
isn’t right here!”
Different kinds of cries
As you get to know your baby, you’ll become the expert in
understanding his cries in a way that no one else can. In their
research, child development professionals have determined
that certain types of cries mean certain things. In other words,
babies don’t cry the same exact way every time. (Other child
development experts, also known as mothers, have known that
for millennia.)
Over time, you’ll recognize particular cries as if they were spoken
words. In addition to these cry signals, you often can determine
why your baby is crying by the situation surrounding the cry.
Following are common reasons for Baby’s cry, and the clues that
may tell you what’s up:
Hunger
If three or four hours have passed since his last feeding, if he has
just woken up, or if he has just had a very full diaper and he begins
to cry, he’s probably hungry. A