Crying - Tip Sheet
The sound of a crying baby,
while often distressful to the
parents, tugs at the emotions of
most humans within earshot.
All infants cry. This is their
way of communicating. Babies
may cry when they are tired,
hungry, thirsty, too full,
uncomfortable, hot, cold, wet,
soiled, or in pain. They may cry
for long periods or stop as
quickly as they started.
When a baby cries they can
appear uncomfortable, squirming
and drawing up their legs. They
may whimper or scream out
loudly. There may be lots of tears
or none at all.
As parents, we naturally want
to soothe our crying baby and it
is important for your baby’s
future that they develop a basic
sense of trust in you. This means
you should respond to your
baby’s first cries as quickly as
you can.
But how do parents know what
a crying baby wants?
If your baby has been awake
for some time, they may simply
be tired. If you have recently fed
your baby they may be thirsty,
rather than hungry. Signals such
as straining and pushing with
their arms and legs can be signs
your baby is tense or over-
stimulated. Check your baby’s
diaper, feel their body to see if
they are too hot or cold, and
make sure that they aren’t lying
in an awkward or uncomfortable
position.
The truth is, sometimes it may
not be possible to work out why
your baby is crying. When this
occurs it is best to try not to feel
too anxious about it and
remember that they are not crying
just to upset you. Research has
shown that babies aged between
one and three months will
generally cry for about two hours
each day. After three months of
age, this should decrease as they
learn other ways to
communicate.
When your baby does cry you
may have to spend at least 10 to
15 minutes trying to settle them.
Make sure they are comfortable,
help them relax by holding them
close, singing or talking to them,
or rocking them gently in a
bassinet or carriage. If your baby
cries excessively you should
consult your doctor to check that
there isn’t any medical problem.