Why DO Babies Cry?

“Babies are like bits of heaven sent down to Earth, swaddled in a mother’s arms.”

While a baby’s smile and little giggles warms our hearts and fills our souls, we are immediately terrified and enter a state of panic when we hear the cries of our little ones. Now, do you know why your baby cries?

I’m sure the mamas and daddys out there know this by now, that every baby is different in their own special ways — there is simply no Googling the answers as to why your little one might be wailing. But what we do know, is that that is their only means of communication with us as they cry by reflex.

Being a mother of two myself, I understand completely how stressful it can sometimes be when our babies wail and wail despite our best attempts at soothing them. So, I have compiled a list of a few main reasons as to why our little ones might be wailing, and hopefully this gives you some idea of how to better handle those situations!

“Mama, I’m hungry!”

The little rumble in our babies’ bellies is arguably the most common reason why they’d burst out crying, especially if they’re a newborn! The capacity of a baby’s belly to hold food is much smaller than ours, as such they tend to get hungry easily and require a second, or third feed.

Leila’s Tip: The key to knowing when it’s time for another feed is never to watch the clock, but rather to watch out for and respond to your little one’s cues! Look out for the suckling of their fists, lip-smacking or rooting; a reflex that is usually seen in newborns, that is when they automatically turn their faces toward the stimulus and make sucking motions with their mouths when the cheek or lip is touched. This is a good indicator that your little one may be fidgeting to look for a breast or bottle to suckle on! Once you have started feeding, your little one will again let you know that they are done through cues such as latching off the breast or bottle.

“Daddy, my diapers are soiled!”

Some babies might be alright with sitting in a soiled diaper for a little while, but there are others that hate it and convey those feelings with a little wail. Often times, your little ones might have sensitive or irritated skin and require immediate attention when their diapers are wet.

Leila’s Tip: Now, whenever you peep in on your little one during nap time, just do a little sniff test while you’re at it! Who wouldn’t love to be clean and dry in smooth, fluffy diapers all day?

“Mama, I’m not feeling well.”

Unlike mama and daddy, babies don’t have the capacity to tell when they are sick. Instead, they communicate their discomfort through their little wails. If your little one is not feeling well, the tone of their cries will come out differently than the ones that you’d otherwise have been used to. It might translate more aggressively and will prove to be harder to pacify your little ones in situations like this.

Leila’s Tip: If your newborn baby is crying excessively throughout the day, even more than usual and is inconsolable despite a feed or fresh change of diapers and you notice them getting a little red-faced from all the crying, your little one might have colic. If, on top of all these signs your baby begins vomiting or experiencing a fever, see your paediatrician as soon as possible. Your doctor will be able to better assess your little one to determine the source of their distress.

“Daddy, can you stay with me?”

Just like you and me, babies love being cuddled, swaddled and carried. Being in physical contact with your little one helps them feel protected and reassured. So, if your little one is wailing, all they need might just be some cuddles and snuggles from you!

Leila’s Tip: While keeping your little one close, sway them from side-to-side, sing some nursery songs or read them a little book to provide some form of comfort and distraction from their tears. Just being close to them, and having the warmth and smell of your body around them will soothe, and calm your little ones.

“It is too hot! It is too cold!”

It is important to recognise if your little one might be feeling too hot or too cold in certain situations. A good way to get a gauge of that is to feel for body temperature on their bellies, or the back of their necks. Once your little ones start feeling like it is too hot or cold, they might begin crying to communicate that with you.

Leila’s Tip: Remember to keep the room with your little one between 18°C to 23°C, and if need be, have a room thermometer installed to ensure that the temperature is kept optimal for your baby. No one likes to be feeling too hot and stuffy, or too cold!

Us parents don’t have it easy, from learning the tell-tale signs of each cry to everything else that comes with being a parent, but I can definitely say that it is all worth it. Just keep in mind that our little ones’ cries are their ways of communicating with us, and never think that you might spoil your baby if you give in to their cries when you soothe or hold them.

“Babies are a little bit of Heaven sent to you, to cherish and to love.”