Explained crying
Unexplained crying
Support strategies for crying
During the first 1 - 3 weeks after being born, many babies will generally feed and sleep, with their crying periods being reasonably easy to resolve. After this time, babies can change dramatically (or 'wake up' in a sense), tending to have more frequent wakeful, fussy and crying periods.
Sometimes the reasons for crying are obvious (and easily resolved). At other times it may not be clear, and this can cause great concern for many parents, particularly when their baby's crying increases in intensity and duration. For parents who have had their second or subsequent baby, a comparatively unsettled baby can be a real shock to the system, especially if their first baby was a born sleeper, and one who settled easily.
Newborn baby crying periods can relate to:
Explained crying
OR
Unexplained crying
Explained crying means the reasons why your baby may be crying are generally obvious. This may be because they are hungry, have a wet or soiled nappy, are feeling 'over-stimulated' and overtired, too hot or too cold, or feeling lonely. Other causes can include them being frightened by a sudden or loud noise, disliking being undressed or changed, being unwell, or having their nappy pin coming open and poking into them (Grandma's favourite suggestion), or other sources of pain.
Often your responses of feeding, changing, cuddling, talking, rocking or wrapping them (or taking the nappy pin out!) resolves the crying fairly readily. However, if your baby becomes overtired (or overstimulated) their crying can become more intense and last longer. This is because it can take longer for them to calm and wind down.
Unexplained crying is when your baby cries for no apparent reason. Many parents will try to stop unexplained crying by using the 'explained crying' interventions (such as feeding, changing, cuddling etc.