Why Infants Cry: Common Causes and How to Comfort Them

Your baby cries because it's their way of communicating their needs. Therefore, it is important for parents like you to understand why infants cry and to recognize their cues so you'll know when and how to help them. You can spot your baby's cues and track their behavior easily using a wifi baby monitor.

In this article, you will learn the common reasons why babies cry and how to identify their cues and feeding patterns. You will also discover how to distinguish normal fussiness from signs of illness or pain, and find practical tips for soothing your baby.

Communicating Vital Needs Through Crying

Since your baby is too young to use or understand words to communicate, they cry to express their needs. Once you learn why infants cry and understand their cues, it will be easier for you to find out if they are hungry, tired, overstimulated, in pain, or just need comfort. A wifi baby monitor can help alert you when your baby starts crying, even if you're in another room.

Your baby's cries can indicate hunger, discomfort, overstimulation, or illness. If you observe your baby, you'll eventually be able to notice the patterns in their crying and learn what each cry actually means. It is important to respond promptly and consistently to your baby's cries because it will help them feel safe, and it can build trust between you and your little one.

The Developmental Peak of the Early Infant Crying Curve

Once your baby is 2 to 3 weeks old, you may notice that their crying begins to increase. It usually reaches its developmental peak at 6 to 8 weeks. This pattern is often referred to as the normal crying curve. The peak of this curve is a central part of the period of PURPLE crying. Most infants may cry for about 2 to 3 hours a day, while some may cry for up to 5 to 6 hours.

If you're concerned about why infants cry during this period, you need to know that it is a normal stage of their growth, and it can gradually decline by 3 to 4 months. It is temporary, so you don't have to worry too much. During this period, you can use a wifi baby monitor to keep an eye on your baby and respond quickly when crying starts.

Identifying Hunger Cues and Feeding Patterns

One of the most common reasons why infants cry is hunger. Crying is a late sign of hunger. If your baby cries because they are hungry, you need to soothe them first before you feed them to reduce the risk of choking. You need to pay attention to your baby's hunger cues rather than follow a strict schedule. This way, you'll be able to feed them on demand and learn their feeding patterns. Here are common hunger cues to watch for in babies:

• Licking lips or opening the mouth: When your baby is starting to get hungry, they might lick or smack their lips, or open and close their mouth. Small mouth movements are some of the earliest signs of hunger. This stage is the best time to feed your baby.
• Rooting or turning the head side to side: Your baby is looking for a breast or bottle if they are rooting or turning their head side to side. This means they are ready to feed.
• Bringing hands or fingers to the mouth: If your baby brings their hands, fists, or fingers to their mouth to suck on, they are telling you that they are ready to eat. They may also suck on their feet or clothing. You can easily notice this hunger cue using a wifi baby monitor.
• Increased restlessness or squirming: Once you notice more body movements, you really need to be ready to feed your baby because their hunger is becoming stronger.
• Crying while moving frantically: This appears during the late stage of hunger. If this happens, you need to calm your baby first to make feeding easier and safer.

Recognizing Physical Discomfort from Diapers to Digestion

Another reason why infants cry is because they might be experiencing physical discomfort, whether from diaper-related issues or having digestive system problems. Having a wet or soiled diaper can make your baby fussy and cause them to cry. They may also cry if the diaper is too tight or if they have a diaper rash. You need to change your baby's diaper promptly, make sure it fits properly, and apply diaper rash cream to help prevent discomfort.

As your baby grows, their digestive system matures. That's why they may experience mild-to-moderate gastrointestinal symptoms like gas, bloating, acid reflux, regurgitation, constipation, and colic. Using a wifi baby monitor can help you spot your baby's early behavioral cues for pain or discomfort, like grimacing, deep frowns, arching the back, stiffening the body, or drawing the knees to the chest.

Understanding the Impact of Overstimulation and Fatigue

If you notice on the wifi baby monitor that your baby is getting fussy, you can try dimming the lights, turning off the TV or radio, or moving them to a quiet and familiar space. Swaddling or holding your baby skin-to-skin can also help. They might be fussy because they are overstimulated or extremely tired. Sensory overload and fatigue are some of the typical reasons why infants cry.

Signs of overstimulation can include turning the head away, avoiding eye contact, excessive yawning or hiccups, clenching fists, waving arms and legs frantically, arching the back, flushed or splotchy skin, appearing limp, or having glassy eyes. Your baby is showing signs of overtiredness if they pull their ears, rub their eyes, suck on their fingers or fists, or seem unusually hyperactive. Their cries may be louder, more frantic, or more high-pitched than usual.

Managing the Period of PURPLE Crying and Colic

It is common for parents to wonder why infants cry when the period of PURPLE crying comes, or if their babies have colic. During this time, your baby may still cry a lot even if you already fed them or changed their diaper. Their crying peaks around two months and will eventually decrease as time passes. This is a normal part of their development as your baby grows and their body matures.

You can manage this period better by using calming routines consistently and occasionally checking your baby on a wifi baby monitor. Soothing strategies like a warm bath, swaddling, gentle rocking or swinging, shushing, skin-to-skin contact, and white noise can help calm your baby. You should also hold your baby upright during and after feedings and help them burp to reduce trapped gas in their stomach.

Distinguishing between Normal Fussiness and Illness or Pain

You may be wondering why infants cry because you are worried that your baby is in pain or may have an underlying illness. After all, not all crying is part of normal fussiness. Sometimes, your baby's cry is a signal that they need medical attention right away. The table below highlights the differences between normal fussiness and your baby's behavior during illness or pain:

A wifi baby monitor can detect changes in your baby's behavior and patterns, and alert you if there's something wrong with your little one. You can use it to keep an eye on your baby even if you're in another room. It is very convenient to use, especially at nighttime.

Establishing Soothing Routines for Emotional Reassurance

Once you know the reasons why infants cry, you need to learn how to soothe them. Soothing routines don't just stop your baby's crying. They can also help build your infant's emotional security and teach your baby how to self-soothe in the future. Therefore, you should promptly and consistently respond when you see or hear your baby cry on the wifi baby monitor.

You can comfort your baby by talking to them in a soft voice, cuddling, or carrying them using a baby carrier. Introducing your baby to a predictable bedtime routine like a warm bath, gentle massage, lullabies, or reading a storybook can also help them settle and understand that it is time to sleep.