Reasons for a Baby's Whimpering

Caring for a baby can be an extremely rewarding experience, but along with the smiles come the tears. Crying and whimpering are natural responses for babies when they need something. They don̵7;t have the ability to put their emotions and needs into words, so crying is their way of communicating.

  1. Basic Necessities

    • Babies need to eat, sleep and have their diapers changed. When your baby is hungry, crying is her way to let you know she needs to eat. Newborns will eat about every three hours -- even throughout the night. Babies will feed less often as they age. Dirty diapers are uncomfortable, so your baby will let you know when it̵7;s time to be changed. Sleepiness is another reason babies cry. When your baby is tired, she may just need to rest. Newborns can sleep as much as 16 hours a day, so ensure your baby is getting the sleep she needs. As you get used to your baby̵7;s feeding, diaper and sleep schedule, you might be able to anticipate her needs before she whimpers.

    Emotional Needs

    • Your baby might be whimpering because he is lonely or needs attention. Caring for the emotional needs of your baby helps soothe his immediate cries and can also provide lifetime physical and neurological benefits. Babies need to be touched and cared for emotionally. According to the Attachment Parenting International website, regular touch can help cultivate your baby̵7;s feelings of security and comfort and suppress his whimpering. Hold your baby and gently touch and caress him to soothe him. Gently rock him or take a short walk while holding him to calm him down. Make eye contact with your baby while singing and talking to him to bring him comfort.

    Other Ways to Provide Comfort

    • Loud noises or overstimulation can make your baby uncomfortable. When being fed, babies get gas, which causes discomfort, possible whimpers or spitting up. Burp your baby by patting her gently on the back while and after she eats. Check out your baby from head to toe to look for circumstances or objects that can make her uncomfortable. Babies cry when they need a change in position. She may be uncomfortable due to the temperature, so you can try taking off a layer or adding a layer of clothing. A string wrapped around a baby̵7;s toe or an itchy tag from her clothes could cause discomfort. Try giving your baby a pacifier, as babies have a natural tendency to suckle and a pacifier can be an effective solution.

    Illness

    • Whimpering or crying can be a sign of mild discomfort or a more serious illness. The Mayo Clinic website suggests calling your doctor when your child has a fever, rash, diarrhea, constipation, eye discharge, ear trouble or symptoms of a cold, such as congestion, a runny nose or coughing. Although occasional spitting up is normal for babies, call your doctor if your baby is vomiting. A variety of illnesses are accompanied by whimpers, so always call your doctor if you have any questions.

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