Crying is the only form of communication a baby knows. A sudden outburst of tears literally screams for attention.

Babies cry the most in the first three months of their lives. What is the baby trying to say when it cries? Deciphering the message is one of the most difficult tasks for parents.

 

These are the reasons why the baby wants attention from the mother.

Hunger

 

Hunger is the most common reason why a baby cries, especially in the first few months. The stomach growls and the baby almost perceives the feeling of hunger as pain. It cries so that the mother can make the pain of hunger go away.

 

Boredom

 

Babies sometimes cry simply out of boredom. They need stimulation because they are programmed to learn. Some parents think they are hopelessly spoiling their baby if they take him out of bed to play when he cries. But if boredom is really the reason, the baby will gratefully stop crying immediately, and that is ultimately the most important thing for the baby and the parents' nerves.

 

Discomfort

 

The baby cannot distinguish between physical discomfort and discomfort. The mother has to find out the cause of the discomfort. Perhaps the nappy is full or the bottom is sore; perhaps it has a tummy ache or is even ill.

 

Disturbance of sleep

 

If the baby is woken up by noises or otherwise disturbed, it is natural for it to cry. In this case, the parents can try to put the baby back to sleep by rocking it and using gentle words or soft music.