Crying Is Your Baby's First Language

All babies cry
Crying is your baby's way of communicating.  Crying always means the baby needs or wants something.   The average baby cries about 2-3 hours within a 24 hour period.

Crying can mean that your baby:
bulletis hungry.  Babies don't get hungry on schedule.  If he/she wants food, feed him/her.  Don't be concerned about overfeeding.  Infants stop eating when they've had enough.
bullethas pain from gas bubbles.  All babies must have the opportunity to release trapped air and gas.  Make sure you have burped your baby enough during each feeding.
bulletis too hot or cold.
bulletneeds to be held.  Babies crave physical contact, and they should get it.  You cannot spoil a baby with love!
bulletis startled by strangers.
bulletneeds a diaper change.  Check to make sure that his/her diapers don't need changing, and that he's/she's properly dressed.  He/she may be cold, hot, wet, or in pain.
bulletneeds to suck.  Don't substitute a pacifier for attention, food, or diaper changes.  However, he/she may want to suck, even if he's/she's not hungry.  A pacifier may provide extra sucking satisfaction and be very soothing to the bottle fed baby.  If you are breastfeeding, allow the baby to have some "sucking time" at the breast.  Using a pacifier can lead to nipple confusion.
bulletneeds stimulation.  Even little babies can be bored.  They can see, hear, feel, taste, and smell as soon as they are born.  The baby may want to be played with or propped up in a room where there's a lot going on.  Or, place the baby in front of a running faucet or "snowy" TV station.  Sometimes rhythmic stimulation such as a rocking cradle or windup swing is just what he/she needs.
bulletis overly tired or needs to sleep.  Baby can get stressed-out by too much activity around him/her.  If baby is sleepy, picking him/her up or fussing over him/her may just make him/her cry more.  Try putting him/her down in a dark, quiet room and letting him/her cry for a few minutes.  If the crying quickly becomes a soft whimper, you've probably on the right track.

Does it spoil a baby to pick him/her up where he cries?
NO!  There is no way to spoil a young baby during the first months of life.  Follow your instinct when you hear crying.  Hold your baby close and speak softly.  The sound of your heartbeat and your voice, plus the warmth of your body will give your baby a feeling of security.  Newborn babies have an intense need to be loved and to feel cared for.  Do everything you can to comfort him/her and what him/her respond to you.

* This information is not a substitute for professional medical care.  Diagnosis and treatment should be done only by your health care provider. For more information contact your local health department or physician.