Why Is Your Baby Crying? Top Reasons Why Your Baby Might Be Crying
For new parents, watching your baby cry even after countless attempts to comfort them can be upsetting and frustrating. While it can be overwhelming, it is important to understand that crying is the first mode of communication for babies. Crying is their way of expressing discomfort, hunger, fatigue and any other emotion that they might be feeling.
Understanding your baby’s cries, especially during the night, is of crucial importance in addressing their reason for discomfort and establishing your bond with your baby. If you are a new parent, trying to navigate your way through parenting and understanding your baby’s signs, this article is a must-read for you.
In this comprehensive article, we have compiled the reasons why babies cry at night along with some parenting hacks you can use to soothe them. Join us as we take a deep dive into the subject and find answers to “Why do babies cry?”.
Why Do Babies Cry?
A baby crying is an integral part of their development. It may seem at times that your baby is crying for no reason but it is a means of communication for the infant. Some of the common reasons why babies cry, at night or during the day, could be:
1. Hunger
Hunger is possibly one of the major reasons why babies cry at night. A newborn has a very small stomach and needs feeding almost every hour or two. What you can do is, try to observe any signs that your baby might be hungry like lip-smacking or rooting- a reflex where they turn their head and open their mouth in response to a touch on their cheek, as if searching for a food source. While these signs might not always work, if you can pick them up, you can prevent the child’s natural instinct to cry when they get hungry.
2. Wet or Soiled Diapers
Babies generally get uncomfortable with wet or poopy diapers. If you think that is the reason why your baby is crying while asleep, a quick check and change will do the trick to calm your baby.
3. Tiredness
Babies often cry when they are overtired but unable to slip into sleep. Newborns, in particular, have a delicate sleep schedule, and understanding their sleep cues can prevent overtiredness.
4. Need For Sleep
Babies might also cry if they are facing difficulty falling asleep. If you are wondering why babies cry at night even after feeding, this might be the reason. In such cases, you can calm them by performing soothing activities like gentle rocking, nursing or a short walk to help settle them.
5. Feeling Too Hot or Cold
Infants are still incapable of maintaining their body temperature like adults. To make sure that the baby is not too hot, dress them in light, breathable fabrics or warm, cosy layers, depending on the external temperature.
6. Overstimulated
Having too many people around or being surrounded by noise can overstimulate an infant, leading to discomfort and crying. A calmer, quieter atmosphere may help alleviate such reasons that lead to crying.
7. Seeking Attention or Comfort
Sometimes babies need the comfort of being held. A parent’s touch and interaction offer essential comfort that helps them feel secure.
8. Colic or Digestive Ailments
Symptoms of colic or any type of gastrointestinal issue include gas, which could be the reason why your baby is crying. Also, the crying typically lasts around the same time every day. Modifying the baby’s feeding habits, finding ways to soothe the baby and consulting with a paediatrician can help.
9. Teething Pain
Teething can cause a lot of pain and discomfort, resulting in fussiness in babies. Soothing toys and special teething gels can help alleviate their discomfort.
10. Illness or Fever
If you suspect your baby is crying due to illness, such as a fever, consulting a healthcare professional is imperative.
Why Do Babies Cry at Night?
If you are wondering why babies cry at night even after feeding, you are not alone. Night-time crying is especially hard because parents are exhausted at the end of the day and infants are not capable of coping with distress. Understanding why a baby may cry even after being fed, helps parents soothe the baby and get some rest themselves. Here are a few other reasons why babies cry at night:
1. Interrupted Sleep Cycle
Babies have different sleep cycles compared to adults, waking more frequently. Over time, these cycles lengthen and become more stable, resulting in better sleep patterns.
2. Environmental Changes
Babies can be sensitive to environmental changes such as noise or light levels and such changes may interfere with their ability to stay asleep during the night.
Why Do Babies Cry During Sleep?
1. Nightmares
If you are wondering why babies cry in sleep, nightmares might possibly be the reason. It is rare but sometimes even infants get nightmares or night terrors. This makes them cry in their sleep.
2. Sleep Regression
Occasionally, developmental milestones are accompanied by sleep regression phases where babies tend to cry more during sleep times.
Why Do Babies Cry So Much and Seemingly for No Reason?
With no obvious reason behind it, it may even seem strange that babies will not stop crying. Here are a few explanations why babies cry for no reasons:
Growth Spurts: During growth spurts, babies tend to feel crankier and require more food and comfort than usual.
Sensory Processing: Babies experiment as they grow and process massive amounts of sensory information, which bombard their developing senses, at times overwhelming them.
Tips For Soothing A Crying Baby
Is your baby crying uncontrollably even after doing everything possible like diaper checks, feeding and ruling out possible illness? Here’s what you can do to comfort them:
Try swaddling the baby. Swaddling is quite comforting for babies as it gives them a womb-like feeling.
White noise or soft lullabies can soothe and make them feel surrounded with familiar music.
A warm bath can be relaxing and help ease any discomfort.
Gentle rocking provides the baby with warmth and soft movements that many infants find comforting.
Take baby out for a short walk or a drive, a change of scene and environment may help soothe your baby.
In the end, decoding why your baby is crying involves a bit of detective work, trial and error and a deep understanding of your child’s unique needs and personality. While it can be an overwhelming experience, remember that crying is a natural and transient stage of your baby's development. However, if you have frequent thoughts popping to mind like, "Why my baby won't stop crying and I have tried everything," don't hesitate to consult a paediatrician or experienced parents for help. A little patience, experience and lots of love will help you better understand your baby’s needs.