5 Tips For Deciphering Your Baby’s Cries

Crying is your baby’s way of communicating! The five “universal needs” of babies are as follows: sleep, food, burping assistance, gas release assistance, and comfort. It will take awhile to learn what each cry means, but fear not, as you will get the hang of it. Remember that babies never cry for no reason and use the following tips to learn your infant’s language.

Neh”

The “neh” cry generally indicates hunger. It is a very specific sound created by the sucking reflect. Listen for a distinct “n” right before the cry and look for other hunger-specific indications such as rooting noises, hand sucking, and head movements.

Eh”

Your baby needs to be burped pronto when you hear this sound. The “eh, eh, eh” sound means your baby is trying to get rid of the gas but cannot do it without assistance. Burp your baby whenever necessary to lessen spit-ups.

Owh”

Sleepy and tired feelings are connected with this sound, which often happens in conjunction with yawning or opening the mouth. Arching the back, rubbing the eyes, and an oval-shaped mouth also let you know it’s time for the baby’s bedtime or nap.

Heh”

The “heh” sound indicates discomfort, whether from a soiled diaper, temperature issue, or other problem. The “heh” sound is breathy and often “said” over and over again until the issue is resolved.

Eairh”

Eairh” means gas pain or lower abdominal discomfort is happening. Your baby will probably move his or her legs more than usual and otherwise looks uncomfortable. You will also notice the urgency in your baby’s voice. “Eairh” is a grunting sound that is one of the easiest baby cries to translate.

Don’t worry if you don’t pick up on your baby’s cries right away—just be proactive about finding the cause! Good luck!