What Could Cause a Seemingly Healthy Baby to Randomly Scream Really Loud?

Trying to figure out the cause of your baby's cries is like being a good detective. Many parents feel like their babies seem to cry for no reason at all. As a sleuth, it's your job to look for clues about what might be making your baby unhappy. Although you won't always be able to crack the case, understanding the different possibilities can put you on the right trail.

  1. External Discomfort

    • You will first want to rule out any external discomfort. Make sure your baby doesn't have a hair around his finger, toe or penis. If your child's nose is stuffed, try suctioning out the mucus to see if it eases his discomfort. Also check your baby's clothes and diapers for any material that may be irritating his skin, such as a zipper or tags. And make sure to change a wet or soiled diaper, or apply diaper cream, to prevent or treat a painful diaper rash that may make your baby cry in pain.

    Internal Discomfort

    • Internal discomfort, on the other hand, is harder to diagnose. For example, your baby might be hungry, even if you fed her only an hour before. A loud, shrill cry followed by a pause might mean that your child has stomach pain or other internal discomfort. This may be caused by swallowing too much air during the previous feeding, ingesting milk or foods that she is sensitive to or eating too much in one feed. Try feeding your little one in an upright position to help prevent her from swallowing too much air. Additionally, try feeding smaller meals more frequently and make sure you burp her after a big meal.

    Sleepiness

    • There's nothing sadder than a tired baby. Watch for your baby's unique sleepy signs, such as playing with his ears, rubbing his eyes or sucking on his fingers. When you put a young baby to sleep (newborn to 6 months), consider swaddling him tightly to help him sleep longer stretches. If your baby cries often from sleepiness at specific intervals, you may want to consider putting him to sleep a few minutes before tiredness hits.

    Temperature

    • That sweet old lady at the park who yells at you for not bringing along your baby's sweater is right -- and wrong. During the first few weeks of life, babies are extremely sensitive to temperature changes and can become cold easily. As babies grow, though, you'll want to make sure not to overdress them. They should be wearing one additional layer of clothing than you are, and you can feel their stomachs or backs -- not their cheeks or feet -- to gauge their body temperature, according to Suzanne Schlosberg from Parents Magazine.

    Stimulation Levels

    • Your baby has been happy all day, but now she's started to cry. Time to play a game with her? Actually, it might be time to stop the games entirely. Your baby may be overstimulated, so give her a bit of a rest from playing. Take her for a walk in the stroller, let her sit in her infant seat for a while or snuggle her in her carrier. Your baby may also cry if she is bored or understimulated, and a fun game might be just what she's waiting for.

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