Moms- do you know your baby's cry?

Question

When your baby cries, do you know what the cry is asking for? Does this work?
And if so, did you research before you had the baby or did you just learn by instinct and observation after the birth?

Answer 1

I can tell the difference between my sons sleepy cry, his hungry cry, and his please pay attention to me cry and his my butt is dirty mom cry. I did resesarch when I was pregnant but I pretty learned the difference just by listening to him and giving him the correct thing.

Answer 2

I have three children (20, 19 and 14). I had a lot of trouble figuring out their different cries (especially my oldest) when they were infants.

I recently read a great book called "What Babies Say Before They Can Talk: The Nine Signals Infants Use To Express Their Feeling." by Paul Holinger and Kalia Doner. I wish I'd had this book when my children were younger.

Answer 3

I think instinct plays a big part. Reasearch may help some but only a mother really knows her baby.

Answer 4

Yes I always knew what my daughter's cries were for from about the first week on. All I did was LISTEN there are differences in each cry, those who say they can't tell the differences usually aren't listening well enough.

Answer 5

well im not a mom but i saw this thing on OPRAH where this lady could determine a babies cry. maybe you could send a letter to oprah requesting that lady on the show again or to give you the ladys adress. I forget the lady's name. Sorry.

My mom said she "learned by instinct".

Answer 6

with my daughter who is now almost 5 it was and is instinct. granted my child doesn't cry like a baby anymore. but when she gets hurt or anything that makes her cry or whine. i can tell whether its real pain, emotional pain, or sleepiness, etc. you just get to know your child, it comes naturally. good question though.

Answer 7

With my first child, I had no clue what her cries meant. But my second child, I knew what each cry was and its meaning. I don't know. Maybe I was more relaxed or my "Mommy skills" were perfected by then.

Answer 8

Instinct and observation.

Answer 9

You just figure it out... trial and error.
I can definately tell when she wants a bottle, or she is tired, or she is trying to get attention.

Answer 10

Babies cry, it's in their nature. If you stress yourself worrying about why they are crying you will drive yourself insane, and you will make your baby very needy. If you've fed them, burped them, and changed them, just cuddle them for a while...it's very relaxing for both you and the baby!!!