I was talking about recognizing different types of cries The Fussy Baby (Part I). For first time parents, you may wonder how you will ever recognize those cries. You’ll learn the way we all do – through practice. Here are some tips on how to recognize the different types of crying and what clues that can help you.
- Hunger – If it’s been a few hours since the last time you fed him or her; if he or she has just had a full diaper or if she or he just woke up from their nap – chances are good they are hungry. Feeding the baby will likely alleviate their crying.
- Tired – Your baby is probably tired if they are not interested in toys or distractions; if they are rubbing their eyes or the biggest clue – they’re yawning. The crying can be the fussiness associated with exhaustion. Get them settled and asleep.
- Uncomfortable – Your baby cries when they are too hot, too cold, too confined or just too sweaty. An uncomfortable baby will squirm and arch their back when they are uncomfortable. Check them for the signs of discomfort and they will likely stop crying.
- Pain – painful cries are sharp, sudden and very, very shrill. You’ll notice that it can come with long cries punctuated by pauses where they are catching their breath. When your baby is crying like this – check them out for something that may have hurt them, caused injury or even fever.
- Too Much Stimulation – It’s important to recognize that babies can get overwhelmed. Places where there are lots of noises (grocery stores, shopping malls, family gatherings) can easily over stimulate their senses by providing them with too much to keep track of. Babies who are over stimulated will cry, close their eyes and try to turn their head away. The best thing to do in that situation is to get them away from the sources of stimulation. A quiet place, sometimes dark and just soothe them.
These are just some ways to help you learn to recognize your baby’s cries. You will find that not all babies are the same. You will learn your baby’s cues and responses, believe in yourself and your baby.