Top 10 Reasons Babies Cry

Listening to your baby cry can bring mixed emotions for a parent.  On one hand, your heart goes out to the little one, and you want to do anything you can to make him or her feel better. On the other hand, it can be more than a little discouraging as you try to figure out the reason behind the tears.

Without the ability to ask your baby what is wrong and how you can help, you are not alone if you sometimes feel a little lost.   An no amount of reading up on infant soothing tips will help if you are missing the reason.

Here is a quick and easy list of the ten things that may cause your baby to cry in hopes that it will help you provide comfort for the baby in your life.

1. I’m hungry. A new baby is growing and developing quickly, so he or she needs lots of nutrients and is probably hungry more often than you might think.
2. I’m tired. Babies also need tons of sleep to fuel their rapid growth and development, but sometimes they do not want to go to sleep. They feel tired but need help falling asleep.
3. I want to be held. A new baby loves to be cuddled. If your little one is feeling lonely or even bored, they might cry to get your attention and to get back into your arms.
4. Something hurts. Maybe the outfit you choose has a tag that is poking the baby or a hair has gotten wrapped around a tiny finger or toe, but something is irritating the little one and they need your help to fix it.
5. I have colic. If your baby cries excessively – more than three hours a day, more than three days a week, for more than three week, your baby might have colic. In this case, it can be difficult to comfort him or her until they grow out of this phase.  Learn more about the possible causes of colic
6. I am teething. Run your finger along the baby’s gums to see if you can feel any teeth pushing against the gums – this will tell you if your infant is crying from the pain of new teeth coming in.
7. I am too hot (or too cold). Sometimes it can be hard to find the perfect temperature for a baby, or the baby may get cold during a bath or changing. This can cause a few tears!
8. My diaper is dirty. Not every baby cries when they need to have their diaper changed, but many do.
9. I need to burp. Burping is not a necessity, but if you notice that your baby gets fussy after every feeding, it could be an indication that he or she needs to burp so that they can relieve the pressure.
10. I’m sick. If all of the babies other needs are met and the crying hasn’t stopped, he might be coming down with something. Check to see if he or she has a fever and call the doctor.

Learn More about Infant Soothing

You can find products to help you sooth your baby’s cries at Luna Lullaby. Luna Lullaby provides information and support for mother and child at this exciting time in your life.   Browse our website or view our Parenting Resources to read more helpful articles such as this.