This is the best part of the life of a new mom and dad! The crying! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the very thing that is so welcome when the baby comes into the world can also become a code to decipher when the newborn cries. Why does a baby cry? What can it mean, or what is the baby trying to say with a particular cry?

If you stop to analyze, a newborn baby’s cry can indicate several different things. But first, let’s talk about why newborn babies cry. Crying is the only way a newborn baby can express what they’re feeling or what they need at that moment. Usually, a newborn baby cries when they’re hungry, sleepy, uncomfortable with something, or simply in need of affection. Of course, the newborn needs all of these things, but how to distinguish what they need just from their cry?

Hunger: this is a shorter, stronger cry, as if the baby is crying in shorter and quicker bursts with a more intense tone than, for example, a cry from tiredness. Of course, offering food is the first instinct and also the most appropriate thing to do when they cry. A newborn may also cry if they need to burp, so if the baby has just fed and hasn’t burped yet, it’s a good idea to keep them in a favorable position to burp.

Pain: newborns might cry from pain, especially when it’s caused by colic. This cry is longer, more intense, and deeply felt. The baby might stretch their legs and arms and act very irritable. This crying continues even if you offer food or change their diaper, and the baby seems really upset. To relieve a newborn’s colic, some procedures are necessary— the most common are bicycle massages, pushing the baby’s knees toward the belly, and also the Shantala massage. There are medications like simethicone that can help ease the pain from colic in newborns, but these should only be prescribed by a pediatrician. A newborn’s cry can also be a screamed cry, which can really alarm parents. The baby may give high-pitched screams and then really start to cry, which can mean they are feeling some specific pain and it’s important to check what might be bothering them.

I Have a Newborn Crying a Lot, What Could Be the Reason?

The newborn also feels a lack of comfort, wants to be held, and needs attention. That’s why they might also cry differently—it’s a more subtle cry, just a way to signal they need something, but it’s not very intense. A newborn crying a lot can also indicate irritation, and it’s important to change their position, whether in your arms or wherever they are resting. They get tired of staying in just one position for too long, whether it’s being held or lying down in the crib, car seat, or stroller.

Sleep crying is very characteristic, it’s more heartfelt than other types. Parents know when the baby is sleepy; over time, their routine becomes well established and the sleep periods can be clearly marked, making it easy to know when it’s nap time. A newborn crying a lot might also mean they are too hot or cold. Usually, when they’re cold, their hands, feet, and legs take on a slightly yellowish color with reddish patches. But a newborn might also cry simply because they miss the womb environment. A good solution when the baby is crying and you’ve tried everything with no success is to swaddle them tightly. This way, they feel like they’re back in the mother’s uterus and feel more comfortable.

How to swaddle a baby in a blanket or cloth.

It’s good to remember that each newborn has their own personality and temperament, so if your baby tends to cry a lot, be patient—this is just a phase. Babies who cry all the time for no apparent reason should be examined by a trusted pediatrician. Care for them with lots of love, affection, understanding, and patience and everything will work out in the end. It’s important to understand that a baby doesn’t cry out of stubbornness, but out of need—crying is the only form of communication they have.

See you next time!

Also read: Guide to caring for a baby – Fontanelle and Little Bumps on the Face

Photo: Rodrigo Denúbila