Babies will cry when they are trying to tell you something. There are a number of different reasons why they may cry and the most obvious reason might not always be the correct one. This can turn into a very stressful situation for parents especially if they haven’t been parents before and are clueless about how to stop their baby from crying. Let’s look at a few of the common reasons why babies cry along with tips on how you calm them down:
Hunger
Babies are growing and developing constantly. Their bodies require a constant nutrient supply. This supply is what makes them feel hungry regularly. Some babies tend to send certain hunger signals before they start crying. Some of these signals include smacking their lips, fussing, turning their heads when you’re stroking their cheek or putting their hands in their mouth. These signals should be used as an indicator for you to know it’s time for them to feed.
Dirty diapers
Sometimes, babies are extremely sensitive and react right away to a dirty diaper. In such situations, you need to change their diapers right away or they are going to start crying eventually.
Need to sleep
There is no denying the fact that babies can get tired very quickly and are always looking to get some rest. Sleeping is the best rest that they can get. Some babies fuss and cry before they nod off. So ensure that you have the best environment ready for them where they can feel comfortable and go to sleep easily.
Babies need to be held
Babies require quite lots of cuddling. They are always looking to be held by their parents, to see their face, hear their voice, etc. Crying is the best way for them to cry out for this.
Tummy problems
This is considered to be the main reason why a baby cries. Tummy pains are quite uncontrollable and can make babies cry quite a bit. If they have too much gas in their tummy, it could lead to pains. Most of the parents would consider gripe water or some sort of anti-gas drops in order to calm their babies down. It’s advisable that you speak to your doctor before you consider using any of these drugs. Some of the other ways in which you can eliminate this pain are by putting the baby on their back, holding their feet and moving their legs in a bicycle motion.
Too cold or too hot
Babies may sometimes protest when you are trying to remove their clothes or changing their diapers or using cold wipes to clean their bottom. Newborns will also like to be kept warm but this doesn’t mean they want to be kept too warm. They are going to make it known if they aren’t too comfortable with their surroundings.
Stimulation
Noise, light, being swaddled, being passed around or the environment in general can all be reasons why a baby starts crying. Crying is the only way they have to communicate. It is their way of saying that they have had enough of something or that they want more of it. The difficult part here is figuring out which one it is.
Teething
This can be quite a painful process. New teeth start pushing through a babies tender gums. They are most probably going to be fussy and quite tearful during this period. You should try touching their gums using your finger. If you feel like there are hard nubs anywhere, this may just be the reason why the baby is crying. Speak with your dentist right away about how to reduce these teething pains.
Something small
Babies are quite sensitive and could be troubled by some things which can be very difficult to spot. They may also start crying if their clothing is too scratchy or if they are being held in an uncomfortable position. It may also be that they dislike a particular color and that is why they are crying.
Unwell
And lastly, sickness is a very common reason for babies to cry. Sick babies have a very distinct cry and it can seem quite abnormal at times. If you feel like your baby is sick, it’s best that you go to the doctor right away.
