Why Is Baby Crying?..

Babies cry! If baby is crying it doesn't mean you have done something wrong. She can't talk yet and this is the only way to communicate with you. After a few weeks she will realise that if she cries you will magically appear.

Working out why she is crying can be difficult at first, but after a while you will learn to spot some of the reasons and act accordingly. Among the causes are:

- I'm hungry! She may also turn to your breast or put her fist in her mouth (also a sign of teething). Feed her.

- Teething: this usually starts around 10-12 weeks and crying is often accompanied by her trying to chew on something (her fist or a ring), red cheeks and a lot of dribbling. You can buy teething gel to rub on her gums and teething rings to bite on (some of these can be cooled in a fridge which helps).

- Change my nappy! Your nose will probably confirm this one!

Wind. If she has recently finished a feed she may have wind in her tummy. This is often confirmed by her pulling her knees up to her chest. Put her over your shoulder and gently rub her back to bring up her wind. Also try a dose of gripe water.

- I'm bored! If she just wants to be picked up try carrying her around in a sling.

- Fever. If her tummy or the back of her neck feels hot take her temperature. A fever is a temperature higher than 37.5˚C/99.5˚F. Call for medical advice.

- I'm tired! You've probably felt so tired you couldn't sleep, she may be feeling the same. Try massage or a warm bath.

- Colic. If the crying is persistent and lasts for several hours, and if she is aged between 3-12 weeks, she may have a bout of colic. We have a separate article on colic, you'll find a link at the foot of this page.

Other things you can try to stop the crying.

- Swaddling. Some babies miss the comfort of the womb in the first few weeks and are nervous, especially when ready to drop off to sleep. Wrapping her in a sheet with her arms close to her sides can provide comfort and reduce the stress.

- Rock her gently and the rhythm will send her to sleep.

- Massage. We all enjoy a massage and baby is no exception. If you suspect she has a tummy ache, gently rub her tummy in a clockwise direction to help digestion.

- Turn on the vacuum cleaner! The noise will remind her of being in the womb and will provide comfort. You could even do some housework while you're at it!

- Take her for a walk or drive. The motion could quickly send her off to sleep. Don't be tempted to leave her unattended in the car when you return even if she is asleep.

A screaming baby can be very stressful for you. You will be worried there is something wrong, and the noise can make everyone in the house tetchy. If you feel close to breaking point, place her in her cot and make a cup of tea. Leaving her for five minutes will do no harm and you will need a break to calm down. If you have someone who can help, go for a walk to get out of earshot.

As you get to understand the reasons for the crying you will be able to give her what she wants and the crying should stop. If the cause is colic, that should go away on its own at around age 12 weeks. Then, at around age 12 months, she will have found other ways to communicate without the need for crying. We all look forward to that!

See also the article on Baby Signing to learn how to communicate with baby before she can talk.