All babies cry. And, crying can be very stressful for parents. Your baby will cry for many reasons, and they might need your help to calm down. When your baby cries, the first step will be to figure out why they are crying. If they are still crying after you meet their needs, you can use repetitive sounds and movements to calm them down.
Babies cry for many reasons
Your baby will cry to let you know they really need something. He may cry when they are:
* Uncomfortable or overstimulated
* Tired or frustrated
* Ready for a diaper change
* Too cold or too hot
* Startled or scared
* Bored or lonely
* Sick or in pain
Understanding cues means less crying
Your baby will use cues to tell you that they need something. Unfortunately, their cues will not tell you exactly what they need. You will have to figure out what is wrong. If your baby is tired, they may open and close their eyes and nod their head. If they are overstimulated, they may turn away and have tense muscles.
If your baby does not get a response to these cues, they will get more upset. They will begin to fuss or cry. Responding early can help prevent some crying. As you and your baby get to know each other, you will get better at recognizing these cues and knowing their needs.
Crying babies are not always hungry
It can be easy to think your baby is hungry when they cry. After all, their tummy is very small and they do need to eat often. Luckily, there is an easy way to tell if a crying baby is hungry or not! When your baby is crying and hungry, they will give or show hunger cues while they cry. They will put their hands near their mouth, search for the breast or chest, and have flexed arms and legs. When they are crying, but not hungry, their body will be stretched out and they will not give hunger cues.
Repeat, repeat, repeat
Sometimes, your baby will cry even if there is nothing obviously wrong. Fortunately, there is something you can do to help! Spending some skin-to-skin time with your baby is a great place to start. Babies also often calm down when you use repetition (doing the same thing over and over.) Singing, rocking, or riding in the car can help quiet crying babies because they involve repetition.
Many parents will pick up their crying babies, hold them close, rock them back and forth, and softly repeat the same words over and over. This is a great idea! The key to helping your baby calm down with repetition is to stick with it. You will need to be patient. It may take a while for your baby to relax. If you try too many different things to stop the crying, they may become even more upset. Keep doing the same calming action over and over until they feel better.
When the crying becomes too much to handle
Hearing your baby cry can be very stressful. Sometimes it can feel like too much to take. If you feel angry, helpless, or overwhelmed when your baby is crying, it is time to get help. It is important that you do not try to be “superhuman” and deal with these strong emotions on your own. Put your baby down in a safe place so you can take a short break. Call your partner or a trusted friend to talk to. If, after your short break, you still feel too frustrated or angry, ask a friend to come care for your baby for a short while to give you a longer break or some rest.
Every new parent sometimes feels extremely frustrated and tired. If these moments become frequent or do not pass with short breaks, you may be experiencing what is called postpartum depression. It is important for you to talk to your health care provider if you are experiencing signs of postpartum depression.
Recommendation
Here are 3 short video clips to help you learn more about your baby's crying cues:
This 2-minute video clip will help you understand how babies use crying to communicate.
This 2-minute video will show you easy ways to soothe your crying baby.
This 90-second video clip will help you know what you to do if you feel overwhelmed when your baby is crying.