How to Determine Why a Child Under Two is Crying

One of the most frustrating parts of parenting a young child is figuring out her needs. Until around the age of two, a child's only communication is through crying. It’s up to the caregiver to determine why. Complicating this task is the fact that crying is not the most relaxing thing to listen to. So, the faster you can determine the reason behind the crying, the happier everyone involved will be.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Respond quickly. Some say that responding too much or too quickly to a baby’s crying can spoil them or give them too much control. But the fact of the matter is that the child is trying to communicate with the caregiver. Responding to a child’s needs won’t spoil the child and may actually result in less crying because he's more relaxed.
2. Learn the different cries for different needs. A more laid back and whining cry usually indicates a more generalized need, such as hunger, or being tired. A more intense, shrill cry usually indicates a more specific need, such as pain or anger. Every child is different and it may take time to learn their cries, but knowing them gives you a head start on fixing the issue at hand.
3. Look for injury or source of pain. Buttons can pinch; fingers can get stuck. Pick the child up and look her over from head to toe for any sign of possible pain. Burp her to relieve gas pains and gently press on her stomach to determine if constipation pain may be a culprit.
4. Check his diaper. If it's dirty or wet, change it.
5. Feed the baby if she's hungry. If the baby is especially young, you should feed her on demand. A baby of about 4 or 5 months and older can wait a bit longer, but may still be hungry or thirsty before a scheduled feeding time. If she's on solid foods, a small snack of cereal or fruit may solve her issue. Even a cup or bottle of water can take the edge off until the next meal.
6. Comfort the baby. If none of the above problems seem to be the issue, the child may be lonely, bored or overstimulated. Gently rocking or bouncing him while softly talking or singing can usually calm a child that needs comforting. If he's overstimulated, you may need to move him to a darker or quieter area so he can calm down.
7. Be willing to try and fail. Every baby is an individual with an individual personality and habits. You may need to go through a lot of trial and error before you can learn what works for your particular baby. Always be aware of your own mood. If you feel you're becoming overwhelmed, hand the baby to someone else or place her in a secure area such as a crib and take a breather. Sometimes babies just need to cry as a release and for no other reason.

Tips & Warnings

• Never ever shake a baby. A crying baby can be frustrating, especially when the crying accompanies a lack of sleep for both baby and caretaker. It's important to step away from the baby if you feel you're becoming angry or overly frustrated. It's much better to leave a baby crying in a crib for a few minutes and regroup than to be pushed over the edge and harm the child.