It’ll be a while before your baby learns to talk — so until she does, it’s up to you to figure out what she’s trying to tell you. Believe it or not, her cries can tell you a lot.
Five types of Newborn Cries:
Neh – The "neh" sound in the secret language of newborn basics means "I'm hungry". Apparently as a baby's sucking reflex kicks in and the tongue is pushed to the roof of the mouth the sound that comes out is a "neh" sound.
Owh – The "owh" sound is made in the reflex of a yawn which means, yep, you guessed it, "I'm sleepy".
Heh – the "heh" sounds (similar to "neh" so be careful that you hear the beginning /h/ sound) means discomfort. This particular of the newborn cries is to let you know that the baby is uncomfortable – cold, itchy, need a new diaper, need a new position in which to lie, etc.
Eair – The "eair" sound means lower gas. It's a deeper sound that comes from the abdomen. It is a bit more difficult to distinguish than the rest but is usually accompanied by a newborn pulling his/her knees up or pushing down and out with his/her legs. Baby's body, not only his/her face, will look uncomfortable.
Eh – The "eh" sound means that a baby needs to burp. It is similar, again, to "neh" and "heh" but remember that you are listening for those beginning sounds, not the ending sounds. When you hear, "Eh, ehhhhh" your newborn is telling you "Burp me, please".
http://www.whattoexpect.com/blogs/motherhoodinthemountains/newborn-cries-the-five-cries-you-need-to-know
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Rc8PZEoqUA
http://www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/week-10/decoding-cries.aspx
It’ll be a while before your baby learns to talk — so until she does, it’s up to you to figure out what she’s trying to tell you. Believe it or not, her cries can tell you a lot.
Five types of Newborn Cries:
Neh – The "neh" sound in the secret language of newborn basics means "I'm hungry". Apparently as a baby's sucking reflex kicks in and the tongue is pushed to the roof of the mouth the sound that comes out is a "neh" sound.
Owh – The "owh" sound is made in the reflex of a yawn which means, yep, you guessed it, "I'm sleepy".
Heh – the "heh" sounds (similar to "neh" so be careful that you hear the beginning /h/ sound) means discomfort. This particular of the newborn cries is to let you know that the baby is uncomfortable – cold, itchy, need a new diaper, need a new position in which to lie, etc.
Eair – The "eair" sound means lower gas. It's a deeper sound that comes from the abdomen. It is a bit more difficult to distinguish than the rest but is usually accompanied by a newborn pulling his/her knees up or pushing down and out with his/her legs. Baby's body, not only his/her face, will look uncomfortable.
Eh – The "eh" sound means that a baby needs to burp. It is similar, again, to "neh" and "heh" but remember that you are listening for those beginning sounds, not the ending sounds. When you hear, "Eh, ehhhhh" your newborn is telling you "Burp me, please".
http://www.whattoexpect.com/blogs/motherhoodinthemountains/newborn-cries-the-five-cries-you-need-to-know
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Rc8PZEoqUA
http://www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/week-10/decoding-cries.aspx
You reminded me of a little story that I saw at Belgrade airport in which 2 children "English & Egyptian" started to shout at each other continuously without saying any word, since I know English & Arabic. After about 15 minutes of crying, the Egyptian mother came to take her child so I told her that I saw a very strange symphony here without any spoken word. She replied : It was anger symphony ! I wish there was an interpreter to tell me what was really going on between the children !
hahaha, dear Nizar ! Can't stop laughing at your story... Didn't anyone ask why those babies were so much in love with oneanother ???
I was taught in Medical School that the baby's first «cry», soon after birth, is not a cry of pain or despair, but the result of the essencial noisy opening of airways, with the first respiration. It's a sign of health...
I hope it corresponds to the real truth, I shouldn't like to think that the first sign of a healthy life would be a note of despair...
Dear Sufia,
I appreciate the interesting answers of @Subhash and @Nizar and @Maria. My will be brief explanation of the reasons. The baby cries when: needs clean diaper, milk, food, mommy's & daddy's hug. Besides also when has: fever, gripes, ear ache. Sometime when wants something special and we cannot decode his/her needs.
Dear Colleagues,
Good Day,
...."Crying Baby Sounds
Infant Communication
The Mayo Clinic lists several triggers that cause babies to cry, and you can decipher the sounds over time.
Hunger
Baby sounds are different for each child, but many babies signal hunger by crying in short bursts. The cries may be almost rhythmic in nature. Another telltale clue is when your baby begins to suck on his fingers or smack his lips.
Overstimulation
Your baby will let you know when she's had too much stimulation when she looks away from you, begins fidgeting, and produces a whiny, fretful cry. Once she begins to do this, stop your playing and comfort her.
Fatigue
When baby becomes tired, he may not be able to settle right off to sleep, especially if he is younger than eight or nine months. He may let you know that he is tired and ready for a nap or bedtime by crying suddenly and in an increasingly louder tone.
Boredom
Babies have rather short attention spans, and while he may love an activity for about five or ten minutes, he may soon tire of it and want some other stimulation.
Pain
Recognizing a cry of pain is probably one of the easiest. If your baby is in pain, she will suddenly cry out at the top of her lungs. The cry will be shrill and loud, and it may be accompanied by a red face. She may stiffen her arms and legs and squeeze her eyes shut. First, determine what is causing the pain, then do what you can to stop it, and comfort your little one the best that you can.
Sickness
If your baby is coming down with some type of illness, you may begin to notice subtle changes in his behavior. Instead of playing quietly on the floor, he may only be satisfied if he is held. He may sleep restlessly. He may cry in a whiny, half-hearted manner, as if he doesn't have enough energy to throw a full-blown fit. If you suspect your child is sick, but you can't see any obvious signs, continue to watch him closely and take his temperature periodically. If you have any doubts at all, notify your pediatrician.
Colic
Colic typically occurs in the first three months of an infant's life. Some colicky babies may cry off and on all day, while others begin their consistent crying every evening. Colicky babies are hard to comfort, and their cries are generally rhythmic and hard to control. Colicky babies are almost impossible to quiet. Sometimes taking your baby for a car ride or using white noise can help soothe her.
When In Doubt Contact Your Doctor
Finally, if you simply can't determine the reason why your baby is crying, you may want to contact your doctor. Be sure to describe how your baby is crying, when she is crying, and whether or not you can comfort her. The doctor may want you to bring her in for an examination. Yes, eventually you'll learn to recognize almost all of your baby's cries, and just remember, this is your first means of communicating with your baby!
Please, the first link for detail, and the rest for more information...
http://baby.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Crying_Baby_Sounds
http://www.parenthood.com/article/deciphering_babys_cries.html#.VpU1jhV97IU
http://dailyparent.com/articles/7-reasons-your-baby-may-be-crying-video/
Dear Colleagues,
Good Day,
"6 different baby cries and what they mean, Written by Eva Benmeleh Roditi, PhD
It can be unnerving to hear an infant cry. As your baby’s caretaker, it’s normal to feel responsible and even inadequate when your baby is crying and you don’t understand why.
However, until your baby learns to talk, crying is his or her first (and one of the only) means of communication. For infants, crying can mean a range of many and equally important feelings. Here’s a guide to baby cries and what they mean:
1. Hungry. Your baby will try to gnaw at his or her hand or peck at mom’s breast. This type of cry is rhythmic and can sound intense—and it should be addressed right away. Waiting for your baby to cry as a sign of hunger can result in a baby who is more difficult to soothe.
2. Tired. The crying tends to be accompanied by rubbing of the eyes; the cry can start out slowly and low and build in intensity and tone. When your baby is exhausted, he or she may be more difficult to soothe and put to sleep. This cry can be misread as hunger cry.
3. Overstimulated. Your baby may look away from the object or person he or she was looking at and start with a fussy cry. Babies need to be taken to a less stimulating environment with dimmed lights and less noise to help calm down.
4. Scared. This cry tends to have a screechy sound and your baby’s face looks startled. Try rocking, holding, and soothing your baby to calm him or her down.
5. Gassy/Colic. This cry is characterized by high intensity, rhythmic patterns, with a high volume and will last until thegas is passed. Body movements include raising of legs to the tummy, arching of the back, and fidgeting.
6. Cuddle. This cry may be softer than those mentioned above, but still with some intensity. Usually, your baby will calm down once held.
Attending and tuning in to your baby’s needs will foster a strong bond and deep sense of comfort between parent and baby. For newborns, parents go through a lot of guesswork until they learn to decipher the meaning of the baby’s cry. A high-pitched, consistent cry can make many parents feel like they need to make it stop immediately.
Though infants should be attended to on demand, both they and the parent will benefit more from taking the time to figure out what the source of the cry is rather than jumping to conclusions."
https://www.bundoo.com/articles/6-different-baby-cries-and-what-they-mean/
It is normal for babies to cry, so try not to blame yourself if your baby simply won't be soothed.
If your baby cries almost constantly she won't do herself lasting harm. But it's likely to put you and your partner under strain. If she's unhappy and resists every effort to calm her down, you may feel rejected and frustrated.
But you are not the cause of her crying. Sometimes, simply accepting that you have a baby who cries a lot can help. If you've met your baby's immediate needs and tried everything you can to calm her, it's time to take care of yourself:
- Put your baby in her cot and let her cry for a few minutes out of your range of hearing. Take deep breaths and let yourself relax for a moment or two.
- If you and your baby are both upset and you've tried everything, call a friend or relative for support. Give yourself a break and let someone else take over for a while.
- Find a local support group or parent-and-baby group. That way you can meet other new parents in the same situation and offer each other moral support.
- Talk to your health visitor or GP about coping strategies before everything gets too much. Don't let things build up, as it could make things harder for you and your baby.
- Call a helpline. Cry-sis offers support seven days a week for parents of babies who have sleep problems or who cry excessively. Contact Cry-sis on 08451 228 669.
This crying is probably just a phase. It is very common and it will pass. As your baby grows, she'll learn new ways of communicating her needs to you. And when this happens, the excessive crying will soon stop.
http://www.babycentre.co.uk/a536698/seven-reasons-babies-cry-and-how-to-soothe-them#section9
I utterly concur with Dr. Subhash C. Kundu. In my opinion, when a baby cries, he/she want to tell something to his/her parent.
The answer furnished by Kundu is pretty interesting.
Obviously, crying is the only language of communication available to the baby.
Can we imagine ourselves to be in the same stage of development as the child and then try to communicate to the adults around us ? What would then be our actions, to draw attention to our requirements ? Answer to these questions might help us in understanding baby's language. A keen observation of the baby and his/her reactions to our actions might also help.
Over and above, the mother's instincts will be the best for understanding the meaning of her child's cry.
Assuming that the parents must accept that the child sometimes cry for nothing, here is a list of the reasons that most often cause tears:
pain caused by digestion (greater if eating in excess or too quickly, as can happen with bottle)
colic (especially between 2 and 12 weeks of age), typical of the evening and now recognized as a normal stage of development in some children
inconvenience to the wet diaper, an uncomfortable position or blankets too tight
extreme heat or cold
too much noise, light or activities around the child
quotas were malaise, fever, sore throat, etc.
want to cuddle or to smell or the mother's heartbeat
hungry babies eat night and day every 2-3 hours
I have another opinion about the first cry as the opening of the airways. The respiration could be opened without a cry. I think it is the disappointment of taking the baby out of the water where it spent the last 9 months. Similar to taking a fish out of the ocean.
Dear Sufia,
Much as we thought we knew why baby cry using all the "proven" researches and tools, they might not work after all.
It is the maternal instinct who knows best what a child needs - the unspoken words!.
Such bond has been forged ever since in the stomach for more than 9 months, how else one would ever know more than mere words to indicate certain connotation even though it helps in identifying the cause.
Eventually, not all children respond the same way as that found in great research or "Dunstan Baby Language"
http://www.parenthood.com/article/deciphering_babys_cries.html#.VpuGfktdNLM
But it is worth to know that it might work, after all.
Best regards - Mariam
A cry with simultaneous shaking of legs means baby is dirty. The shaking would help the baby get rid of poop if it was swimming in water (as it did for 9 months previously).
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