Hunger Cry vs. Sleep Cry — Identifying What Your Baby Really Needs
Your baby’s wail wakes you from your nap, and you rush to attend to them. What does their cry mean this time? Interpreting it can be tricky, but a few helpful hints can help you decipher the meaning.
Why Do Babies Cry?
Babies cry because they have few other ways to communicate their needs. Human infants are defenseless compared to other wild animals — they can’t walk or even eat independently. While scientists once thought this prolonged helpless period occurred due to maternal constraints on birth canal size, they now suspect it may be foundational for learning human behavior. Babies rely on their parents for everything, and their best method of getting your attention is to make some noise.
How Often Do Babies Cry?
It may seem like your baby cries all the time. However, in most infants, crying peaks at about six weeks, tapering off until they cry only an hour or so per day by 3 months.
Some babies become colicky, resulting in frequent cries. Remember the rule of three. If your baby cries for at least three hours per day at least three days per week for three weeks or more with no apparent reason, it could be colic. Fortunately, the condition is usually temporary. However, it’s wise to check with your pediatrician, especially if you suspect something else may be wrong or need coping tips.
4 Reasons Babies Cry and How to Tell What They Need
Fortunately, many parents learn to interpret what their baby’s cries mean. Part of it hinges on timing — if you’ve established a routine of feeding your infant at 2:30 p.m. before nap time, it’s logical for a few howls to begin around 2:15. However, you can often discern a lot from the tone and urgency and pinpoint the source of their distress. Here are four common reasons babies cry.
1. They’re Hungry
Babies rely on their parents to feed them, so they have to get your attention. Hunger cries typically start small and low-pitched but can gain in intensity if you don’t meet their initial demand with the breast or bottle.
Fortunately, your baby often precedes hunger cries with additional clues that it’s mealtime. Pay attention if your child:
- Puts their hands in their mouth
- Clenches their fists
- Smacks their lips
- Turns their head as if looking for food
You’ll hear these cries a lot in the initial weeks. Newborns typically need to eat every two to four hours.
2. They’re Tired or Overstimulated
Even the easiest infants can get cranky when they’re tired. Usually, putting them down for a nap fixes the problem. However, pay attention if your child becomes fussy in noisy environments with a flurry of activity but quiets down without sleeping when removed from that atmosphere. It can be a sign that they’re overstimulated, not tired.
3. They’re in Pain or Sick
If your baby cries from pain — such as an inadvertent diaper pin stick — they’ll generally let out a sudden, high-pitched shriek. If the pain continues, they may keep up the noise intensity until you fix the problem.
Sick cries sound different than your typical cry. It usually sounds weak but continues no matter what you do. It’s generally time for a call to the doctor.
4. They’re Lonely and Afraid
Many people ascribe certain emotions only to adult humans. However, all living beings experience fear, and humans of any age can feel lonely – the need for connection is a survival mechanism wired into human DNA.
Remain responsive to your baby’s cries. Parents who fail to respond to their children risk them developing an insecure attachment style, which significantly increases their risk of relationship difficulties and mental illness as they grow. It’s also why you shouldn’t feel embarrassed to approach your physician about a colicky child. Your baby’s cries understandably affect you, too, and reaching out for help is far better than inadvertently doing long-term harm.
Identifying Your Baby’s Cries
Intuiting what your baby needs when they cry is a mystery all new parents must solve. Fortunately, figuring out the riddle isn’t too tricky once you understand why babies cry and the importance of attending to their needs.
Editor’s Note: You can hear examples of different baby cries in this video between baby expert Priscilla Dunstan and Oprah.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mia Barnes is the Editor-in-Chief at Body+Mind.
Cover Photo by Natalia Olivera Amapola
