Reasons for Crying in Newborn and Young Babies

Crying is the only means of communication for young babies. A normal healthy baby cries between one and three hours a day. Parents will start to notice and pick out different types of crying in their baby by the time the baby is ten to 14 days old. Parents will discover there are usually distinct sounds for reasons for crying.

For instance, a hungry cry is short and low-pitched, an angry cry sounds angry, a cry of pain comes on suddenly with a long high-pitched shriek, followed by a long pause and then a flat wail; then a half awake whimper may indicate your baby is dreaming and will return to dreamland. Other than physical needs such as hunger, tiredness, a wet nappy, being too hot or too cold or even discomfort from tight clothing there are two real possibilities for younger babies to cry; these are colic and a nappy rash.