12 reasons babies cry and how to soothe them

Highlights

·        1. Hunger

·        2. A dirty diaper

·        3. Needs sleep

·        4. Wants to be held

·        5. Tummy troubles (gas, colic, and more)

·        6. Needs to burp

·        7. Too cold or too hot

·        8. Something small

·        9. Teething

·        10. Wants less stimulation

·        11. Wants more stimulation

·        12. Not feeling well

·        What to do if your baby's still crying

There's no getting around it: Babies cry. It's how they communicate hunger, pain, fear, a need for sleep, and more. So how are parents supposed to know what their baby is trying to tell them? It can be tricky to interpret your child’s cries, especially at first.Here are the most common reasons babies cry. If your little one is wailing and you don't know why, work your way down the list. Chances are you'll find something that helps.1. HungerThis is probably the first thing you think of when your baby cries.Learning to recognize the signs of hunger will help you start your baby's feedings before the crying stage. Some signs to watch for in newborns: fussing, smacking of lips, rooting (a newborn reflex that causes babies to turn their head toward your hand when you stroke their cheek), and putting  their hands to their mouth.2. A dirty diaper3. Needs sleep

We thought our daughter was colicky for the first five weeks of life, until we read about how babies get really cranky if they're exhausted. After we started putting her to sleep as soon as she yawned the first time at any time of the day, she cried a lot less and had fewer problems with gas. — Anonymous I've noticed that if my baby starts crying after being played with, fed, and changed, and she's been up for a while, she is overtired! I just hold her close, talk to her in a soft voice, and let her cry. She doesn't cry hard when I hold her like that. She makes funny fussy noises with her eyes closed. Before long, she's sound asleep. — Stefanie A loud shhhhhh sound works incredibly well. I had to make a recording because I was getting lightheaded from doing it so much for my daughter. My recording lasts for 48 minutes, and it works every time! — Rob My 2 ½-month-old is so interested in everything that she doesn't want to stop being part of it by falling asleep. Yet she's tired and cranky at the same time. Minimizing sensory input sometimes helps her feel like she's not "missing something" by settling down. (And then there are the times when she's just going to cry no matter what I do.) — Anonymous

4. Wants to be held

I like to lightly wrap my daughter in a soft blanket, hold her in a nursing position and lightly stroke her face and head. She loves feeling my hands in her hair and calms down pretty quickly. — Tiffany My son loves to hear my voice, so when he cries uncontrollably, I hold him close to my chest and tell him that Mommy is here and will protect him. Within minutes, he is sleeping in my arms! — Jey

5. Tummy troubles (gas, colic, and more)Discover other possible causes of babies abdominal pain, including reflux, stomach flu, milk allergy, lactose intolerance, constipation, and intestinal blockage.Even if your baby isn't colicky and has never been fussy after eating, an occasional bout of gas pain can make him miserable until he works it out. If you suspect gas, try something simple to eliminate it such as putting him on his back, holding his feet, and moving his legs in a gentle bicycling motion.Some babies let you know right away when they need to be changed. Others can tolerate a dirty diaper for quite a while.Either way, this one is easy to check and simple to remedy.Aren't babies lucky? When they're tired they can simply go to sleep – anytime, anywhere. Or so adults like to think.In reality, it's harder for them than you might think. Instead of nodding off, babies may fuss and cry, especially if they're overly tired.Babies need a lot of cuddling. They like to see their parents' faces, hear their voices, and listen to their heartbeats, and can even detect their unique smell. Crying can be their way of asking to be held close.You may wonder if you'll spoil your baby by holding him so much, but during the first few months of life that isn't possible. To give your arms some relief, try wearing your baby in a front carrier or sling.Tummy troubles associated with gas or colic can lead to lots of crying. In fact, the rather mysterious condition called colic is defined as inconsolable crying for at least three hours a day, at least three days a week, at least three weeks in a row. If your baby often fusses and cries right after being fed, he may be feeling some sort of tummy pain. Many parents swear by over-the-counter anti-gas drops for babies or gripe water (made from herbs and sodium bicarbonate). Get your doctor's okay before using either of these.For more help, discover more than 20 strategies for soothing a colicky baby.