Being a parent with a newborn baby is no easy feat. From changing nappies to understanding what your baby needs, there’s a plethora of things you need to know. One of the most important things you need to know as a new parent is what the different baby cries are, what they mean, and what you can do to help. Written by BYY.
Paediatrician Dr Enrico Marashin says, ‘In my experience, parents do learn what their baby’s different cries mean. Parents generally are able to distinguish between hunger, sleepiness and frustration.’
So, if your baby won’t stop crying, stick around to find out what type of cry they are doing and how to resolve the issue.
Do different types of baby cries mean different things?
An interesting study was conducted by Australian mother Priscilla Dunstan, and her findings are now referred to as The Dunstan Method.
Over an eight-year period, she studied a number of babies from different cultures and concluded that there were five basic sounds that a baby makes just before he or she cries. By identifying these sounds, she said you can understand what your child is trying to communicate.
ALSO READ: Why babies cry and how to soothe them
5 different baby cry meanings + quick fixes for each issue
Here’s a quick look at each of the baby crying sounds, what they mean, and how you can respond to them.
Hunger — The ‘Neh’ baby cry
What it means: If your baby’s cry starts with the sound ‘neh’, this usually indicates that they are hungry. The sound is often made when they touch their tongue to the roof of their mouth and suck.
What to do: Listen out for the common signs of hunger. This may include sucking, clenched fists, touching their mouth, and, of course, the hunger cry. If your baby’s crying already, either bring them to boob or offer them a bottle of formula. Be sure to do so gently, as gulping during eating can result in trapped gas or spitting up, which can result in more crying.
Tired — The ‘Owh’ baby cry
What it means: Feeling tired is one of the main reasons babies cry, and they’re likely to make an ‘owh’ sound when they’re sleepy. Another indicator is that they’ll be rubbing her eyes or yawning. They may also make this sound if they’ve had enough or are overstimulated — which you’ll know is the case if they try to turn their body away from sounds or sights.
What to do: There are a few simple techniques to help soothe your baby during their crying sessions. These include gentle movement, skin-to-skin contact, singing or humming (they’ll find comfort in their mom or dad’s voice), and swaddling them to provide complete comfort and freedom. These techniques can help your newborn calm down and fall asleep.
Physical Discomfort — The ‘Heh’ baby cry
What it means: Does your baby have a wet or soiled diaper? Or are they overheating? If your baby’s uncomfortable, you’ll hear a ‘heh’ sound — although it can be easily confused with the ‘eh’ sound. Other signs that can cause this type of crying include a diaper rash, a runny or blocked nose, and other physical discomforts like these.
What to do: First, try to identify why your baby is uncomfortable. Check they don’t have a dirty nappy, a rash, a blocked nose, or any other things that might be making them agitated. After remedying the cause, swaddle your baby to help them calm down.
Pain — The ‘Eair’ baby cry
What it means: If your baby cries out with an ‘eair’ sound, they’ll probably be experiencing pain of some kind. If they are also kicking her legs or pulling them towards her stomach, she likely has gas or abdomen pain. Other causes include rashes, ear infections, and illnesses like a fever.
What to do: Look for any external factors that may be causing pain, such as a rash, tight clothing, etc. If you cannot see any issues and your baby won’t stop crying after changing their diaper and swaddling them, consider reaching out to your paediatrician — your baby may be sick.
ALSO READ: Eczema in babies: causes, symptoms, and treatments
I need to be burped — The ‘Eh’ baby cry
What it means: You’ve probably heard the ‘eh’ sound a million times already — it’s your baby’s way of communicating that they need to be burped. Most babies will accompany this cry with squirming, a pained facial expression, shaking, and kicking.
What to do: Try holding your baby over your shoulder with their head on your shoulder and gently pat their back. You can also try sitting your baby on your lap or lying them flat and gently rubbing or patting their back.
ALSO READ: Managing regurgitation and reflux in your baby
How to use the Dunstan baby language method:
In an Oprah show, Priscilla Dunstan showed a group of mothers how to interpret cries. While it’s fascinating to watch, a mother should never underestimate her own intuition when it comes to her baby. You can use the five basic baby sounds identified above as a guide but always trust your gut.
If you want to learn more about the Dunstan baby language, here is Priscilla Dunstan’s interview on the Oprah Winfrey Show: :
FAQs
What does colic cry sound like?
A colicky baby cry is far more intense than your usual episode, as they are often louder and higher pitched than a normal cry. Colic in babies generally comes about due to heightened sensitivity, the inability to self-soothe, being overly sensitive to gas or wind, and an intolerance to their food.
When to worry about baby crying?
If you can’t console or distract your baby and their cry isn’t like it normally is, they may be ill. There are other ways to tell if your baby is sick, like taking their temperature. That said, if the crying gets worse and they don’t have a fever, it may be a good idea to call your doctor.
How do I calm a crying baby?
There are plenty of ways to calm a crying baby. These include:
- Consoling/swaddling them
- Checking they don’t have a soiled diaper
- Checking if they are hungry
- Sing or hum to your baby
- Provide gentle movement
- Offer your baby a pacifier
Bear in mind that there are also times when you should just let your baby cry it out, which the Mayo Clinic outlines here.
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