The baby is crying - what's going on?

First of all, you have to realise this: In the first few months of life, a child really only has one means of expressing itself and that is its voice or crying. So it cries when it is hungry, when it is tired, when its nappy is full, when it is in pain, etc. There are countless reasons.

The important message is that parents should give themselves time and learn to categorise the crying, to distinguish between the subtle nuances of crying and thus gradually find out what the reason is.

A second important point: if parents feel very unsure about the issue or if a child - and this is difficult to define - cries a conspicuous amount, then we paediatricians are of course there to clarify the situation.

The most important point, however, is that many babies cry simply because they are unable to regulate themselves and find inner peace. And the younger a baby is, the more normal this state is.

That's why the most important piece of advice is: in the vast majority of cases, a crying, screaming baby simply needs so-called co-regulation, i.e. support from outside. Someone who is there and signals to the baby "everything is fine, the world is safe, I'll look after you". Someone who provides closeness and speaks in a calm voice.

The aim doesn't have to be for the baby to stop crying - it can cry for a while - it just needs to not be left alone. Parents should try to give the child as much closeness and calm as possible. And this is not so easy in everyday life.

Normal crying or "cry baby"? Find out more here.