Decoding baby’s cries: What your little one’s tears really mean

Why is my baby crying?

It’s a question that plenty of new mums find themselves asking on an almost hourly basis; why is my baby crying?

While there is no simple formula to figuring it out (after all, every baby is different), experts have revealed some of the best ways to decode your little one’s tears.

Check it out…

Is your baby hungry?

The sound of the cry:

Rhythmic and repetitive, becoming louder over time.

Additional physical clues include:

The solution:

Offer your baby the breast or a bottle. However, if your baby has been fed formula in the last two hours, give them a little longer; they may be feeling some indigestion.

Is your baby experiencing indigestion?

The sound of the cry:

Rhythmic and repetitive, becoming louder over time.

Baby’s cry is harsh, deep and urgent, making a fairly recognisable “eairh” sound.

The solution:

Try rubbing baby’s back or tummy with gentle circular movements, or place your little one on their back and try moving their legs and hips around as if they were riding a bike. These kinds of motions break up bubbles and give gas that little extra push it needs to work its way out.

Is your baby experiencing gas?

The sound of the cry:

Baby makes an ‘eh, eh, eh’ sound before crying.

Baby’s cry is harsh, deep and urgent, making a fairly recognisable “eairh” sound.

The solution:

Try burping your baby by rubbing their back or walking them around. Some mums advise giving them a little tummy time, to help encourage a big burp!

Is your baby tired?

The sound of the cry:

Breathy, helpless and intermittent, from full cries to quieter fussing, but growing in intensity.

Baby’s cry is harsh, deep and urgent, making a fairly recognisable “eairh” sound.

The solution:

If you are fairly convinced that your baby is tired but restless, put them down in their cot or basket for a nap.

Some experts advise swaddling, or offering baby a dummy, to soothe them.

Is your baby uncomfortable?

The sound of the cry:

Fussy, whiny, breathy. It may be intermittent (sounding like “uh-UH, uh-UH”) and may take a fairly long time to build to a full cry if no one responds.

Additional physical clues include:

The solution:

Look to see if your baby has a dirty nappy, is too hot, or too cold. It could even be something as simple as their hat falling over their eyes!

Is your baby bored or over-stimulated?

The sound of the cry:

Often quieter than other cries, and may be staccato. Some mums have said that, when baby is bored, the sounds often alternate with what sounds a little like laughter. if over-stimulated, however, the cry can lead to shrieking.

Baby’s cry is harsh, deep and urgent, making a fairly recognisable “eairh” sound.

The solution:

If your baby is bored, experts suggest that you give them a few minutes to see if they find something to distract themselves with - they may find themselves focusing on light patterns or something completely different, eliminating the need for attention. If not, pop baby in a new position, so that they can see a mobile, or sit them in a baby chair so that they can watch you as you get on with whatever it is you need to be doing.

If your baby is over-stimulated, try setting them down somewhere quiet and using white noise / reading quietly to soothe them.

Is your baby frightened?

The sound of the cry:

The cry may gradually increase in tension, ending in explosive bursts.

Baby’s cry is harsh, deep and urgent, making a fairly recognisable “eairh” sound.

The solution:

Your baby needs lots of cuddling, physical contact and reassurance to comfort her; try swaying and singing to her as you hold her.

Is your baby feeling sick?

The sound of the cry:

This tends to be quite different from the sound of a cry caused by hunger or frustration; most mums will recognise this cry as ‘not quite right’ or ‘different from normal’.

It may sound weak, be sad and pitiful or might be high-pitched and continuous.

Additional physical clues include:

The symptoms will vary depending on what illness your baby is experiencing.

The solution:

If you feel that something's not right, call your GP, midwife or health visitor. Health professionals will always take your concerns seriously.

Call your doctor straight away if your baby is persistently crying and has a fever, is vomiting, or has diarrhoea or constipation.

Is your baby in pain?

The sound of the cry:

Harsh, high-pitched and intense from the start. There may be pauses as she catches her breath.

Additional physical clues include:

The solution:

Your baby could be teething, so gently feel inside their mouth to see if you can feel the hard nub of a tooth under the gums. If you can, try giving them a cool, clean washcloth to chew on.

Your baby could have a hair tourniquet; this is when a loose strand of hair gets wound tightly around one of their small digits (such as their fingers, their toes, their arms, their legs, or their penis). This is one of the first things experts advise on looking for if a baby seems to be crying for no reason; if found, unwrap it immediately, as it can be painful or cause circulation.

Your baby could be enduring a painful experience, such as an injection or heel prick. Try offering them a dummy to soothe them if this is the case.

If you are concerned that your baby's cries indicate something more serious, go with your gut and phone your GP, midwife or health visitor. Health professionals will always take your concerns seriously.

AND REMEMBER…

"Crying is a type of normal behaviour in infants," states Marc Weissbluth, MD, a renowned paediatrician in Chicago and author of Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child. "Babies cry like birds fly: It's part of being the creature we are."

To figure out if your baby is just crying for the sake of crying (aka colic), apply the PURPLE rule:

P = Peak of crying

Your baby may cry more each week, the most at two months old, then less at between three months and five months.

U = Unexpected crying.

It can come and go and you don't know why.

R = Resists soothing

Your baby may not stop crying, no matter what you try.

P = Pain-like face.

Your baby may look as if she is in pain, even when it is unlikely that they are not.

L = Long-lasting periods of crying.

It can last for several hours a day.

E = Evening.

Your baby is most likely to cry more in the late afternoon and evening.

There is no known cause of colic - and no known solution.

However some experts advise applying the Five S’s (swaddling, setting baby down on their side / stomach, making shushing sounds, swinging, or offering them something to suck) can help to soothe them.

Find out more about crying - and what it means - over at What To Expect now.