Newborn Lesson #43

August 10, 2011: There is a cry indicator! …of sorts.

12 reasons babies cry and how to soothe them

by Dana Dubinsky
Reviewed by the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board
Last updated: January 2011

Highlights:

• 1. Hunger
• 2. A dirty diaper
• 3. Needs sleep
• 4. Wants to be held
• 5. Tummy troubles (gas, colic, and more)
• 6. Needs to burp
• 7. Too cold or too hot
• 8. Something small
• 9. Teething
• 10. Wants less stimulation
• 11. Wants more stimulation
• 12. Not feeling well
• What to do if your baby’s still crying

There’s no getting around it: Babies cry. It’s how they communicate hunger, pain, fear, a need for sleep, and more.

So how are parents supposed to know what their baby is trying to tell them? It can be tricky to interpret your child’s cries, especially at first.

Here are the most common reasons babies cry. If your little one is wailing and you don’t know why, work your way down the list. Chances are you’ll find something that helps.

1. Hunger

This is probably the first thing you think of when your baby cries.

Learning to recognize the signs of hunger will help you start your baby’s feedings before the crying stage. Some signs to watch for in newborns: fussing, smacking of lips, rooting (a newborn reflex that causes babies to turn their head toward your hand when you stroke their cheek), and putting  their hands to their mouth.

Newborn Lesson #13

July 28, 2011 (2 weeks old): There is no potty break when an infant is hungry. Ya just gotta hold it.

So often I neglected my own body’s urges and instead tended to my daughter. I would get upset when Dan wouldn’t do the same. He would wake up to feed Mila and let her cry in her crib until he tended to his bathroom duties, (even now I’ll check on her, give her her pacifier and then go to the bathroom). I soon learned that Mila will survive and I really don’t want a bladder infection. It takes only a minute to go so as long as she’s not in any danger, I now take care of myself when absolutely necessary.