Babies, like adults, need to communicate with
others in order to have their needs met and be able to interact with their
environment. Unlike adults, however,
babies have not yet developed advanced verbal skills to effectively make their
needs and desires known. The only way
they can accomplish this is by crying.
When a newborn cries, he does so in a reflexive
way. He generally cries the same way in
response to every need or problem, because he is simply reacting to his
internal state. His cries are automatic
and designed to get the immediate attention of his parent or caretaker. As your baby gets older, he begins to
understand cause and effect and his cries become more varied. He develops distinct cries for each of his
needs as a means to better communicate those needs to you.
It can often be upsetting and confusing to hear
your baby crying and not understand the reasons behind those cries. With attention and practice, you will soon be
able to distinguish one cry from another for your particular baby. Responding to your baby's cries quickly will
build trust. Every baby is different,
but most babies share a basic crying vocabulary.
The Uncomfortable Cry:
This cry is generally nasal and continuous, and
will often build in intensity if ignored.
This is your baby's way of telling you that he is tired, uncomfortable,
or in need of a diaper change.
The Bored Cry:
This cry usually sounds more like a moan, and
is intended to get the attention of a parent.
Sometimes your baby will even stop mid-cry to see if anyone is
watching. Your baby is either bored or
lonely, and this cry will cease when he is picked up or otherwise attended
to. You might be amazed to find that
this cry can turn into an instant smile when you approach your baby.
The Hunger Cry:
This cry is a low-pitched cry that can escalate
quickly if your baby is not fed. The cry
is rhythmic, with a repeating pattern of a cry followed by a short pause, and
then followed by another cry. Your baby
may stop crying for a moment to suck on his hands or fingers.
The Angry Cry:
This cry sounds just like its name -
angry. It is a sustained cry of
lower-pitch that can leave your baby sounding hoarse if it continues for too
long. Distraction will sometimes cause
an angry baby to stop crying.
The Sick Cry:
This weepy and prolonged cry sounds nasal and
whiny. A cry of this sort combined with
any symptoms of illness, such as refusal to eat, diarrhea, or listlessness,
should be promptly reported to your pediatrician.
The Pain Cry:
This cry is impossible to ignore and is the
most distinct cry in a baby's vocabulary.
It is usually piercing and begins suddenly. The cry is very prolonged, sometimes lasting
four or five seconds, and is then followed by a long pause during which your
baby will catch his breath. This cry
involves the entire body, including tensing of the arms and legs, arching of
the torso, and an open mouth. If there
is no obvious cause for this cry, call your pediatrician immediately. A cry of this type signals serious pain.
Crying: What Your Baby Is Telling You