Cries are your baby’s first words: she communicates her needs by crying. On average, newborns cry for about 2 hours each day. Although the crying is spread out through the day, all that wailing adds up to more than you probably expected. Usually, crying increases at 2 or 3 weeks of age, peaks between 6 and 8 weeks, and then hitting its lowest level by around 4 months (about 1 hour a day). Babies also cry more often during late afternoons and early evenings, when they need to release tension after a long day.
When your baby is crying, just check that your baby’s basic needs are met. She may need a diaper change, she can be cold or warm, or she may be hungry. If she’s comfortable, dry, and fed and she’s still crying, she may be lonely or blowing off steam. All of these reasons are normal and healthy ways for your baby to communicate with you.
Some babies like to be rocked and cuddled, others prefer lying in their crib and listen to music. Or, she may just want to go to sleep. Find out what soothes your baby along the way and don’t panic.
What may help
If you put your baby in an infant carrier on the floor with her head gently propped up with a small blanket or a diaper on each side, she gets a better view of you and her surroundings. As you move in and out of her field of vision and talk to her, she comes to understand that sometimes mommy’s right in front of me and sometimes she’s not, but either way I’m safe.
For more info:
Some babies may cry for hours without apparent reason. They are often called colicky, to read more on this topic, read About… Infant Colic
