Why Babies Cry Ages 0-5

Sometimes you may wonder why your baby is crying. You might worry that you are doing something wrong. It may be exhausting and upsetting when your baby is unhappy. Caring for a crying newborn requires a lot of patience and courage. You may be surprised at how much it hurts you to listen to your baby crying. Crying is the only way a baby has of telling you his needs, to express his emotions and feelings. He doesn’t’ have words yet. Never worry about holding your baby too much. In a few weeks you will begin to recognize the different cries that your baby has. This may make it easier to care for him, as you have learned what he needs.
Common Causes for Crying: Ways to Calm a Crying Baby: When all else fails:
1 Hunger:

At first you may assume that every time your baby cries he is hungry. Babies need to suck throughout the day – even when they are not hungry. If it has been a few hours since your baby last ate, and your baby does not clam with a pacifier and rocking your baby is probably hungry.

2 Pain:

There are many reasons why your baby may develop pain and start to cry. It may be due to gas, difficulty in having a bowel movement, or because of an illness such as an ear infection.

3 Colic:

The cry from colic is different from a normal cry. Sometimes it may be harder to calm your baby. Hunger, physical discomfort, or illness does not cause these crying spells

4 Boredom and Loneliness:

Some babies may cry out of loneliness. When you pick your baby up and hold him he may calm and stop crying. He may need your company and attention. Remember, you won’t spoil your baby by holding him.

5 Tired and Fussy:

If your baby is over tired he may become cranky and irritable. He fusses, whimpers, and cries and has a trouble settling down and falling asleep.

6 Wet and / or Soiled:

Some babies will cry with a wet or soiled diaper, for other babies, it doesn’t seem to bother them.

  • Pick your baby up. Hold and rock your baby.
  • Talk to your baby.
  • Sing to your baby or play music.
  • Change your baby’s diaper and clothes.
  • Feed and burp your baby.
  • Rub or pat your baby’s back.
  • Give your baby a pacifier.
  • Swaddle or wrap your baby.
  • Show your baby something interesting, such as a toy.
  • Place your baby in a front pack and carry him around.
  • Take your baby outside for a walk.
  • Take your baby for a ride in the car.
  • Place your baby in his infant carrier and put him on top of the clothes dryer while it is turned on. Be sure to stand right there and never leave your baby alone. The carrier may fall off the dryer
  • Vacuum the floor with your baby in his front pack/ sling.
  • Never shake your baby.
  • Take “time out.” Put your baby in his crib and go to another room to calm down. It’s ok to let him cry for up to 5 minutes. He may be able to calm himself if left alone.
  • Get help. Ask a friend or relative to take the baby go for a short time so you can sleep or have some time to yourself.
  • Sleep when the baby sleeps. Most newborns do not sleep much at night (nor will you), so it’s important for you both to sleep during the day.
  • Call a friend, relative or one of the parenting support groups.
  • Attend a new parent support group or parenting class. It’s nice to talk to someone who is in the same situation as you are.
  • Just remember that all babies cry and all parents find it difficult at time, to calm their baby down.