There are several reasons babies cry
Development
Early experiences are significant in shaping babies minds. A baby can begin to communicate as early as two months and will be able to smile and coo although crying is still his main form of expressing their needs.
There are seven main reasons why a baby most commonly cries. They are:
1) Hunger – As a parent, if you feed your baby whenever he is hungry, after a while you will be able to anticipate his hunger and your baby will cry less for this reason.
2) Pain – Try and find the source of the pain such a bruise, but if you can’t see anything try cuddling and soothing and seek medical attention if he continues crying for an extended period.
3) Discomfort – This could be caused by wet or dirty nappies, scratchy, prickly or tight clothing or being too hot or too cold.
4) Loneliness – Babies become insecure when left alone. Let them sleep near you or in a sling around your torso.
5) Overstimulation – Babies become disturbed by sensory overload in the form of too much light, noise or activity so by taking them somewhere calm and quiet, they may stop crying.
6) Boredom – Lack of stimulation can also cause tears.
7) Frustration – Babies who are repeatedly attempting to do something without success can become emotional.
Each of these cries is elicited to draw a specific response from you and you won’t spoil your baby by offering attention, cuddling or feeding on cue. Babies whose cries are answered and whose needs are met, grow into more stable and secure children than babies whose needs are ignored and who are left to cry. Furthermore, controlled crying is ineffective at this age as babies are not old enough to teach themselves how to sleep.
Some babies cry more than others – and are referred to as “high needs babies”. But generally if cries are high-pitched and close together, the baby is more likely to be distressed.
Babies are also developing their other senses – hearing, taste, smell, touch as well as sight. By taking your child out into the world with you, you are providing an opportunity for them to take in their surroundings from the pram, car seat or baby sling and are nurturing him mentally.
Medical
This is the month your baby needs his first round of several immunisations including diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, haemophilus influenza b, a second shot of Hep B (first shot is given at birth), Pnuemococcal conjugate and the rotavirus vaccines. It is important that you find a doctor you like and feel comfortable with administering your child’s shots.
Your doctor will generally like to conduct your baby’s first check-up at six weeks and will ask questions about eating, sleeping and bowel movements and measure their length, weight and head circumference as well assessing their hearing and vision, overall movement and behaviour, as well as checking the fontanelles (the soft spots on your baby’s skull where the bones are yet to fuse together that need to be handled carefully). Be sure to share any concerns you may have and record all the information to help you monitor your baby’s progress.
Sleep
Between one and two months of age most babies will continue to wake every two-four hours both during the day and during the night and will be able to remain awake longer than he did in the first month. Baby will sleep for around 16 hours but this can fluctuate between 12 and 22 hours. Around the six week mark some babies will sleep for 5-6 hours straight but this usually occurs in the third or fourth month.
