What Are the 4 Basic Baby Cries?

It can sometimes be frustrating when you hear your baby cry and you don't know what it is that your baby wants or needs. Since babies can't communicate using words, it's important for mothers to understand the reasons why babies cry. Babies usually cry for four basic reasons. Having an understanding on what these reasons are can make it less difficult for you to figure out what kind of attention your baby needs.

  1. Baby is Uncomfortable

    • Your baby may be uncomfortable or distressed for different reasons. The reasons may be because your baby is hungry, needs a diaper change, is feeling too hot or too cold or just wants to be held. Other reasons may be because your baby needs to burp or she is tired. Do your best to find out what your baby needs --- a warm blanket, a nap, burping, or just to be held.

    Baby is Overwhelmed

    • When your baby is crying because she doesn't know what she wants or needs, it means that she is overwhelmed. This is common for babies up to three months old who are just getting used to being in a new environment. You know if your baby is overwhelmed when you do everything that you can to try to please her but the crying continues. The best way to deal with an overwhelmed baby is to stay calm and speak calmly to her while rocking her. You can also try to feed your baby, give her a pacifier, or try to make her fall asleep.

    Baby is in Pain

    • If your baby is crying in a way that's not how she normally cries, it's usually a sign that she is in pain. If the crying is accompanied by another symptom it's usually a sign of a serious condition. Your baby may be crying in pain because of an obstructed bowel, of which passing blood in the bowel movement and vomiting are symptoms; or hernia, of which swelling in or above the groin are symptoms. In these cases it's important that your baby gets immediate medical attention.

    Baby is Sick

    • Sometimes babies cry just because they're sick and don't feel well. Being sick may mean that your baby has a cold or a fever and not necessarily something as serious as an obstructed bowel or hernia. However, consult a doctor immediately if your baby is lethargic, has difficulty breathing, is irritable, has any changes in color, has a red rash that doesn't go away when pressed, has changes in appetite, has especially loose or watery stool and has high fever for more than five days or a cold for more than two weeks.

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