Six reasons babies cry and how to soothe them
Why do babies cry?
All babies cry. It’s perfectly normal. Healthy newborns may cry for one hour and three hours each day.
Your baby can’t do anything for herself and relies on you to provide her with the food, warmth and comfort that she needs. Crying is your baby’s way of communicating any or all of those needs and getting your attention.
It’s sometimes hard to work out what your baby is telling you. Is she hungry, cold, thirsty, bored, or just looking for a cuddle? As a new parent, this crying can be upsetting. You may even worry that something is wrong with her.
But in time you will learn to recognise your baby’s crying patterns and know what she needs. And as your baby grows she’ll learn other ways of communicating with you. She’ll get better at eye contact, making noises and smiling, all of which will lessen her need to cry.
1. I’m hungry
Hunger is one of the most common reasons that your newborn baby will cry. The younger your baby is, the more likely it is that she’s hungry.
Your baby’s small stomach can’t hold very much, so if she cries, try offering her some milk. She may be hungry, even if her last feed doesn’t seem very long ago. It’s likely that you will be feeding often and regularly in the first day or so to help your breast milk to come in anyway. If you are formula feeding your baby she may not be hungry if she has been fed within the last two hours.
She may not stop crying immediately, but let her keep feeding if she wants to.
2. I need my nappy changing
Your baby may protest if her clothes are too tight or if a wet nappy is bothering her. Or she may not mind if her nappy is full and may actually enjoy the warm and comfortable feeling. Her skin may be irritated so she may cry because of this.
Checking and changing your baby’s nappy may meet her needs. Make sure that the nappy tab isn’t too tight.
3. I’m too cold or too hot
Your baby may hate having her nappy changed or being bathed. She may not be used to the feeling of cold air on her skin and would rather be bundled up and warm.
Take care not to overdress your baby. She will generally need to wear one more layer of clothing than you to be comfortable. If it is a warm day a vest and nappy should be enough.
Don’t be guided by your baby’s hands or feet, as they usually feel cool. Keep your baby’s room at a temperature of about 18 degrees C. Place her down to sleep on her back with her feet at the end of the cot. That way she can’t wriggle too far down under the blankets and become too hot .
4. I need to be held
Your baby will need lots of cuddling, physical contact and reassurance to comfort her.
So it may be that she just wants to be held. Try a baby sling to keep her close to you. Swaying gently may also help.
You may be worried about spoiling your baby if you hold her too much. But during the first few weeks of her life that’s not possible. Newborns need lots of cuddles.
Your newborn will probably like feeling snug and secure, just as she was in your womb. Swaddling her in a blanket may recreate that feeling for her.
Or she may not like being swaddled and respond better to other forms of reassurance, such as being sung to. If you hold your baby close she may be soothed by hearing your heartbeat.
5. I’m tired and need a rest
It’s easy to assume that babies will fall asleep whenever they need to, wherever they are. But many babies find it hard to get to sleep, particularly if they are overtired. Whining and crying at the slightest thing, staring blankly into space, and going quiet and still are just three examples.
If your baby has received a lot of attention from visitors, she may become over-stimulated. The lights, noise, and being passed from one adoring relative to the next, may become overwhelming for her.
Your baby may cry more than usual when relatives come to stay, or towards the end of each day. So her crying may just be because she’s had enough for one day. Take her somewhere calm and quiet to help her settle.
6. I need something to make me feel better
Perhaps your baby is crying purely because she gets fed up easily. This may be because she’s taking a while to adjust to being in the world.
Even so, if your baby has been fed and is comfortable, but is still crying, you may worry that she’s ill or in pain.
Be aware of changes in your baby. If she’s unwell, she’ll probably cry in a different tone to her usual cry. She may be particularly fretful and difficult to soothe. And if your baby usually cries a lot but has become unusually quiet, it may be a sign that she’s not well.
Nobody knows your baby as well as you do. If you feel that there may be something wrong with her, call your GP or Midwife.
My baby’s still crying. What can I do?
•   Walk around while rocking her.
•   Sit with her in a rocking chair.
•   Sit her securely in a baby swing.
•   Take her out for a walk in her pushchair.
•   Try a massage or a tummy rub – Using massage oils or cream and gently rubbing her back or tummy can help to soothe her.
•   Try a different feeding position
•   Let her suck on something
•   Give her a warm bath
This crying is a phase and it will pass. Newborn babies are hard work. Being the parent of a newborn who cries a lot is even harder work.
Be reassured that as your baby grows, she will learn new ways of communicating her needs to you. And when this happens, the crying will stop.
As a trainer on The Biggest Loser, Jillian Michaels was known for dishing out tough love to contestants.
