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Babies cry for the same reason adults talk - to communicate. Babies are communicating different things when they cry, from hunger to loneliness. It is important that parents always respond to the baby's cries in order to establish a positive relationship and reassure baby that his needs will be met. It will also teach the baby that he doesn't have to become hysterical in order for his needs to be met, and hopefully, over time, the baby's cries will become more communicative and less ear-piercing since he knows that a parent will answer. My own four-month-old rarely ever gets to what I call "the boiling point." I respond as quickly as I can to her cries, and I have since she was born. This has allowed her to develop a confidence in both her ability to communicate and my ability to respond. Therefore, she doesn't need to get to the ear-piercing, neighbors-complaining, dogs-howling point. Her needs are met long before she gets there (unless we're in the car, but that's another story).
The most important need is being fed, and any baby will definitely cry if he is hungry. If he won't eat, it may be that his diaper needs to be changed. Sometimes there is something in his clothing that is bothering him, so try changing his outfit. I know of a baby that had a small pin in the side of her shirt - it was not visible before it was put on, but it soon worked its way out and began poking her. Believe me, she let her parents know!
Sometimes the baby just wants to be held and will calm down in a parent's arms. Walking or rocking often helps. If the baby is tired, this will usually help him to fall asleep, which also may be the cause of the crying.
The baby may be in some type of pain. It could be gas, the bane of a parent's existence in the early weeks. Acid reflux could also be causing discomfort. It is hard to pinpoint an infant's source of distress if it is related to pain. It may be helpful to talk with your pediatrician if the crying continues.
Finally, the cause could be the elusive colic-- the crying that most babies seem to go through that doesn't have a specific cause or a specific fix. The good news is that the crying won't last forever. You just have to survive the time that it does. The best advice for doing so is simply sharing the burden. Let Daddy and Grandma help rock the baby. Any loving arms that give Mom's a rest will work if the crying just won't stop.
A baby's cry is known as a perfect signal. It is just distressing enough to warrant a response but not so distressing that it will be avoided entirely. It is automatic - the baby does not have to think about it. Finally, and most fascinating, is that each baby's cry is unique. Voice researchers call this a "cry print." Your baby's cry is as special as he is, so try to just regard it as one of those things that he will soon outgrow and you may even miss.
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