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Why Is My Baby Crying? Help!

How To Interpret Your Baby's Cries

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With a baby crying and no clue why, any parent can feel desperate. The younger your infant is, the harder it is to know why he or she is crying and what to do.

But remember, a baby crying is a baby communicating. This is their only way to get your attention and help in the beginning. In that way it would be worse with a baby who doesn't cry!

Generally speaking, if your baby is healthy, he will cry from hunger, fatigue, dirty diapers or stomach pain.

He might also be too cold or too hot or just want to be hugged.

When he gets older, a few months or so, add boredom, anger and fear to the list.

Below you'll find tips on how to know why your baby cries and how to help him in each situation.

For ways to soothe your baby even when he won't stop crying and you don't have a clue, click here.

Hunger

Short, sharp screams that won't stop away until the baby is fed. The crying rather increases as the baby gets more and more hungry. And the solution is - did you guess - food!

You might have to try to calm your baby by hugging him before he can eat if he is very upset. The best thing is to avoid letting him get that hungry.

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Fatigue

If the baby's area around the eyes gets red, if he rubs his eyes or if he yawns, he is likely to be tired. Help him go to sleep by breastfeeding him, rocking him, swaddling him or whatever you are used to do. For baby sleep tips, click here.

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Dirty diapers

Just check the diaper. In addition to the diaper being dirty, you might want to make sure that your baby hasn't developed a diaper rash or that the diaper elastic irritates him.

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Stomach pain

He might pull his legs up towards his stomach. The stomach might feel a bit hard if you press it lightly. Try to help your baby burp by holding him upright or release gas by for example putting him down on his back and lightly press his thighs towards his stomach.

Many babies seem to feel better if held tummy down, resting on your forearm. Make sure that he can breathe! You can pat his stomach lightly with your other hand.

To prevent and mitigate stomach pain, baby massage is great.

If nothing else works and you are desperate, a car ride seems to be exactly the right swing to soothe a baby.

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Temperature

If none of the above seems to be the reason, check so that your baby is not too cold or too hot. A good place to check is on his back. If he is sweaty he is definitely too warm.

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Boredom

Starts with whining rather than crying. Usually occurs if the baby has been put down for a long time in his bed on his own for example. Babies need more and more stimulation and variation the older they get. If yo uneed inspiration, check out our suggestions for baby activities or games to play with babies depending on their age. (Browse the different baby months to find games to play.)

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Over stimulation

An over stimulated baby tries to look away. He might cry and will get calmer just by placed in a calmer spot.

For example, if you are out in a shopping mall or at a dinner with lots of people, the sight and hearing impressions will become too much after a while.

Put your baby down in his stroller or take him to a calm room and just hold him for a while and he'll be much calmer.

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Fear

Hysterical. Watches his mom or dad intensively almost to ask how dangerous this situation is. A baby that cries out of fear is usually quite easy to soothe by holding him, talking gently and taking him away from what ever scared him.

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Anger

When your baby grows older, you will notice how his willpower increases. Even as early as at the age of 7 months, some babies can get furious when not allowed to do or get what they want.

Just get used to it! It is still nothing compared to how your baby will react when 2 years old! Or 3 years old. Or a teenager ;-)

If your baby is angry, you'll probably know. Many babies scream, wave their arms, kick their legs and cry hard.

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Pain

Teething, tummy pain, a sore throat, tipping over from sitting on the floor etc will of course have your baby crying too.

If your baby seems to be in pain and you are the least worried, consult a doctor.

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Wants a cuddle

Now if you're baby is not in pain and you have tried everything else, but your baby won't stop crying, just take him up for a while, cuddle him and talk to him. Maybe he just longs for your love!

If nothing helps, check so that he isn't ill, take his temperature. And if he screams a lot for no apparent reason, it might be colic.

Remember though, that there will be many, many times in the beginning, when you won't be able to figure out what makes your baby crying. It takes time to get to know each other.