How to Decode Your Baby's Cry

Everyone knows that babies cry. A lot. We have to cut them some slack because crying is pretty much their only means of communication. But what are they trying to say? It’s not like a dog who goes to the door and scratches to go out. Nope. They just cry, hoping that you’ll get the picture.

There are about a million reasons why a baby is crying. Some days, they all sound the same and you’ll have to do some trial and error work to figure out exactly what she wants. Other times, she’ll give you extra cues -- an expression or extra noises, for instance. Here are just a few of the reasons why babies cry -- and how to know what they're trying to tell you.

Tired -- She may build up to a full-fledged cry over the course of a few minutes when she’s sleepy. Watch for yawns as a precursor to the crying. They’ll help you know that the crying is about exhaustion and not colic.

Hungry -- Sometimes the hungry cry is a wail, and other times it’s a rhythmic and repetitive wail. If your baby has also been rooting, smacking her lips, and been fussy, she’s probably crying out of hunger.

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