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Why Babies Cry: The New Mom’s Guide to Soothe a Crying Baby
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Babies have their unique ways of communicating and it can take a while to learn to understand these ways, even for their mothers.
A baby’s most common and preferred way of communicating is by crying. They cry to pass across their need for food, comfort, or any other they might have and it usually is overwhelming at first when you’re a new mom still trying to decipher which need is which. However, over time, you become an expert in deciphering what each cry means and might even be able to anticipate when a crying episode is coming on, thereby nipping it in the bud.
Here Are Some of The Likely Reasons Why Babies Cry
Here are some of the commonest reasons why a baby cries and how you can soothe them:
Babies Cry When hungry
Your baby will cry to let you know she’s hungry and needs a feed. The cry might start with her fidgeting and making light crying noises, then intensifies to loud wails the more this need is left unmet.
Other signs will let you know when your baby is hungry and these will come well before the tears. If anything, babies only cry when other cues have gone unnoticed and they have become very hungry.
Some of the signs you want to watch out for include:
- Turning their heads often from side to side.
- Inching their heads towards your breast region.
- Making tiny sucking sounds.
- Clenching and unclenching their fists.
- Sucking their fingers or hand and drooling.
How to Rectify This
This need is just about the easiest to meet. Feed her immediately, giving her a choice of food until she’s full, and let on she needs no more.
She has a Soiled Diaper
Soiled nappies make babies uncomfortable, irritating their skin and they will pass this message across to you in that special way. Babies also cry to let you know their nappies are soiled and need a change.
How to Rectify This
Change her diaper immediately and she will become calm again.
To have fewer episodes of this, you might want to switch to a brand that offers dryness for longer, if you aren’t already on one, that way you are sure your baby will have dryer nights.
Babies Cry Because they Need to be Held
Babies need a lot of attention and cuddling and will cry if they start to feel lonely. Child development experts strongly recommend giving babies the attention they need so they develop physically, emotionally, and intellectually.
How to Rectify This
Contrary to previously promoted notion, child development experts are coming to agree, babies can’t have too much affection. So when next your baby cries for attention, you might want to pick her up and hold her close to you. The sound of your heartbeat or your unique smell will serve to calm and reassure her.
You could also try singing to her as your voice, which she’s heard and gotten used to from the womb, is most known to her and will also serve to calm her.
Babies also love being swaddled as this gives them a safe feeling as they experienced while in the womb and a good swaddle blanket will recreate this feeling once again
Babies Cry When they Feel Unwell
Your baby will also cry if she feels any kind of illness.
How to Rectify This
Most new moms are unsure of their child’s state of health. If you suspect your child might be ill, you should take her to the hospital for a checkup and treatment.
Babies Cry When Uncomfortable
If your baby is uncomfortable then she will let on how she feels by squirming, being irritable, or crying.
You will know all is not well as she will be difficult to console, at least until the object of discomfort is removed.
How to Rectify This
Check her clothing to see if they are too tight or chaffing her in any way. Also, check if she’s experiencing gas or acid reflux and give a gentle stomach massage if she is.
You also want to check if she’s laying on a toy or any other object that’s making her uncomfortable.
Babies Cry When Tired
A baby will also cry if extremely tired and needs a rest. Long trips out tires babies out and besides crying, other ways they let on their tired state is by
yawning, making frequent jerky movements, or being irritable.
How to Rectify This
Swaddle her and gently rock her to sleep and she’ll fall easily asleep in this position.
Read Also: 5 Tips to Get Your Baby to Sleep Through the Night
Babies Cry for No Reason
Sometimes, babies, especially newborns of four months and below, will cry for no reason whatsoever. This is usually frustrating and you only arrive at this conclusion after you have tried every other solution to make her crying stop.
How to Rectify This
When this happens straddle and rock her as you would when she needs attention. Sing to her or have her strapped to you and soon, she will feel comfortable and calm enough to stop crying.
Recommended Reading
Why Do Babies Sleep so Much? 3 Reasons Experts Give
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