The Different Types of Baby Cries & What They Mean
Everyone is familiar with the sound, yet many still wonder what causes newborns to cry. Your baby may cry for various reasons, but the primary reason is to get your attention. They may be uncomfortable, hungry, or exhausted—all feelings that adults can relate to but that babies cannot communicate with words. Understanding the different types of baby cries and what they mean can go a long way toward soothing your child, leading to grins and giggles.
“Make the Pain Go Away”
One of the more difficult cries to decipher is that of pain and discomfort. While you can easily assume they’re hungry, tired, or overstimulated, it can be a mystery when a baby hurts, and there is no visible queue.
A high-pitched, passionate howl is the first sign of pain or distress, followed by loud, continuous wailing. In addition to the volume of these screams, the tears that follow might be the most heartbreaking.
Your infant may exhibit unusual behavior, posture, or facial expression; they may even grunt or stop breathing. Teething, diaper rash, constipation, or an invasive element in their surroundings are common triggers for these types of screams. Colic might also be at fault.
“I’m Feeling Hangry”
Everyone knows how it feels to be “hangry,” so you can probably understand the discomfort that leads to this type of crying. Hungry cries are typically the easiest ones to understand for parents. Your baby may gently whimper before they sound like they’re auditioning for an opera. Often, those cries vanish after you satisfy their nutritional needs, and you live to fight another day.
“There’s Too Much Going On!”
Your infant has limitations on stimulation, just like everyone else. Crying is a means for children to relieve stress from being in a chaotic environment. To put it plainly, they’re irritated. If you want to calm your child down, you should try to limit their exposure to stimuli.
Babies may become grumpy when overtired, particularly if they stay awake from something stimulating them. Babies should get 14 to 17 hours of sleep per day for the first 3 months, then 12 to 15 hours per day for the following 8 months. If your baby is crying and they haven’t gotten enough sleep, this could be the reason.
“I’m Feeling Sad and Lonely”
As adults, even inconsequential things can make us feel down in the dumps. Even though children may not fully comprehend their emotions yet, things can upset them, leading to crying. When they suddenly start crying loudly, it’s typically because they’re feeling unhappy.
First and foremost, you should inspect their diaper. If it isn’t that, something may have scared them, like a loud noise or a new person. It’s also possible they’re upset because their favorite toy fell to the floor or they got their blanket twisted up.
Crying fits may sometimes indicate that your baby is lonely or bored. If the latter seems likely after you’ve eliminated other possibilities, try entertaining them to see if it gets them out of their bad mood. It may simply be that they want your company and to feel your warm embrace.
Regardless of which type of baby cry yours is exhibiting, you now know what they mean to provide comfort in the best way possible. A pacifier holder from Bunnies by the Bay also comes in handy when your child needs to suckle on something to calm down. Our pacifier holders are unique, soft, and adorable, allowing you to locate a binky at a moment’s notice and give them something soft to cuddle.