Isn't it true that babies don't cry actual tears for about the first year of life?

Question

I'm pretty sure thats what my doctor said. My sister in law told my daughter to "knock it off." when she was crying. She was only like 6 months old at the time, so it really ticked me off. Sis in law was like "come on, shes faking it, shes not even crying tears!" I wanted to smack her and say "shut up idiot, shes hungry and tired, she had every right to cry, its not like she can talk." dont you hate it when people are like that? Anyway, isnt the whole thing about them not being able to cry tears for quite a while true?

ps, she now has a newborn of her own. im sure its been quite a reality check for her. lol

I know they produce "tears" to moisten their eyes, but I mean like... crying actual tears that fall. I guess my daughter took a bit longer than most kids, because even if she was really hurt, she didnt have tears falling until a year old, or almost there. I pity her poor baby if she still thinks that tearful cries are the only ones that should be heeded.

Answer 1

Not true,I have a 6 month old and he has been crying real tears for about a month now.If your sister inlaw talk s to her baby like that she is not a very nice mom.

Answer 2

You should have smacked your sis in law. If someone talked to MY daughter like that, it would be the last thing they ever utter.

Babies can cry real tears in the first year. I know because my baby has gone through 2 major surgeries within her first 4 months of life. And not only her, but mommy, daddy, and both sets of grandparents have cry so many real tears that we could have filled the Chicago River 4 times over again.

Answer 3

Babies usually do not cry for many weeks, but sometimes for up to a year... although later crying is uncommon it is so sometimes, just dependson the child. However, I have only 1 times seen a baby cry tears that was younger. Your sister-in-law is not someone that I would ever leave my child alone with. She obviously has no patience either. This sounds like a self-centered person that does not have any understanding, compassion, or concern for this baby. Also, as the parent, like it or not, you are this child's defender. You need to speak up on it's behalf. If not, then who else will?... and what if some day you need to leave your child with this woman?... why would she change her ways in dealing with our baby if you never voice that her behavior with this helpless baby is not o.k.? My advice, talk to her calmly about what is and what is not expected at this age, your expectations of how your child is to be treated, and point out that these are your wishes as to her upbringing. And if she cannot respect them then let her know that she will not be allowed around the child. The child is young now but as it grows it will know more and more of what is going on and what is being said. To have her feelings in this matter dismissed and thrown back at her will definitely hurt her feelings when she is older as it is a way of dis-valuing her. But, in the future as she is a bit older, it will be even worse if you do not make her feel safe and come to her defense. This is also probably why it is so upsetting to you as well (and any sane person with a heart)... your sister- in -l aw is not even acknowledging her existance as a person with feelings, rather an annoyance when she expresses herself the only way a baby knows how. It is normal and unfortunately there are just some really ignorant people that cannot handle life as it is so they complain and make other miserable. My advice: Tell her what is normal for your child's age (the fact that she would suggest that the baby is so intelligent at this age as to be able to try to fake and manipulater you is a sure sign that she does not "get it"), how she is to behave around you r child or she is not to be around the child, but be ready to defend your child so as not to set a pattern at a young age for this woman to mistreat your child or for your child to feel in the future that it is o.k. to be treated this way.

FYI: My 1st was crying tears at 3 months, my 2nd was at 7 or 8 months, my cousin's daughter cried at just 2 months though. I hope it helps.

Answer 4

i don't know. but my baby girl is almost 2 months old and whenever she starts really wailing i notice that there aren't "tears" but it's moist around her little eyes. in any case, if my kiddo is crying, tears or not, she's got my attention! and you're totally right, babies have no other way of communicating. although i've heard they can learn sign language faster than they can learn to speak. it's gotta be stressful being a baby-every necessity is there for you in the womb and it's warm, mom's there all the time, you never get hungry and then after you're born, mom's somewhere else all the time, you get cold, you go to the bathroom and have to lay in it til someone figures out what happened and then somehow you have to tell people you're hungry! when a baby cries, they're saying something, even if it's just hey, i'm here!

Answer 5

You are correct in tending to your baby's crying promptly. Your sister-in-law is way off base to think a baby fakes it. Your baby wanted or needed something, whether tears came out or not...it may have just been a frustrated cry. I know newborns don't make tears right away, but I do think it's prior to a year. In either case, you did and said the right thing, I'm glad you didn't listen to your sister-in-law. I hope she takes parenting classes before she ever has kids.

Answer 6

i think it might not be a full year but for a while, yes. their tear ducts need to develop. i have trouble remembering all the details of last year (my son't first year of life) so much happened. but i'm sure i saw tears at some point. probably around 8-9 months. and he didn't cry tears all the time. if something happened to him, like when he got his pacifier stuck in his mouth and got scared..(that was interesting) he cried tears. but when he was tired, hungry or whatever, no tears. and...if anyone said that to my kid, faking or not, i think i'd be a little ticked. that's a little harsh...

Answer 7

Newborns start making tears when they are about two weeks old, but often it is just enough to keep their eyes moist and not enough to make real tears that you can see when they cry. Infants often don't develop real tears that you can see until they are much older and about seven or eight months old.
If your baby truly wasn't making any tears, then her eyes would likely be very red, dry, and irritated.
Many kids cry with no tears.. it doesn't mean that their feelings aren't hurt. I am glad that your SIL is getting her just dues!lol

Answer 8

For the first couple of weeks, maybe 3-5 weeks they won't tear up, maybe less. My three month old cries buckets of tears now with no problem; but I guess it depends of the development of the child, everyone one is different. And no child fakes crying, that is how they communicate weather they tear up or not.

Answer 9

You know i'm not 100% sure but i have heard that too cause their tears ducts aren't developed yet... but i also think it depends on the kid, i have 3 and pregnant with my 4th and i remember them as newborns not having tears when they cried, but at about 5-6 months i remember 1 of them having huge tears lol.
As far as your sister saying that about you kid, yes that makes me mad when someone who doesn't have kids tries to tell you what is best or what to do with your kid, ugghhh.
LOL well she will learn soon enough lol.

Answer 10

You won't see tears running down the cheeks of most infants until they're about 7 or 8 months old. And yes thats awful your sister has a lot of growing up to do.