Babies, like adults, need to communicate with others in order to have their needs met and be able to interact with their environment.  Unlike adults, however, babies have not yet developed advanced verbal skills to effectively make their needs and desires known.  The only way they can accomplish this is by crying.

When a newborn cries, he does so in a reflexive way.  He generally cries the same way in response to every need or problem, because he is simply reacting to his internal state.  His cries are automatic and designed to get the immediate attention of his parent or caretaker.  As your baby gets older, he begins to understand cause and effect and his cries become more varied.  He develops distinct cries for each of his needs as a means to better communicate those needs to you.

It can often be upsetting and confusing to hear your baby crying and not understand the reasons behind those cries.  With attention and practice, you will soon be able to distinguish one cry from another for your particular baby.  Responding to your baby's cries quickly will build trust.  Every baby is different, but most babies share a basic crying vocabulary.

The Uncomfortable Cry:

This cry is generally nasal and continuous, and will often build in intensity if ignored.  This is your baby's way of telling you that he is tired, uncomfortable, or in need of a diaper change.

The Bored Cry:

This cry usually sounds more like a moan, and is intended to get the attention of a parent.  Sometimes your baby will even stop mid-cry to see if anyone is watching.  Your baby is either bored or lonely, and this cry will cease when he is picked up or otherwise attended to.  You might be amazed to find that this cry can turn into an instant smile when you approach your baby.

The Hunger Cry:

This cry is a low-pitched cry that can escalate quickly if your baby is not fed.  The cry is rhythmic, with a repeating pattern of a cry followed by a short pause, and then followed by another cry.  Your baby may stop crying for a moment to suck on his hands or fingers. 

The Angry Cry:

This cry sounds just like its name - angry.  It is a sustained cry of lower-pitch that can leave your baby sounding hoarse if it continues for too long.  Distraction will sometimes cause an angry baby to stop crying.

The Sick Cry:

This weepy and prolonged cry sounds nasal and whiny.  A cry of this sort combined with any symptoms of illness, such as refusal to eat, diarrhea, or listlessness, should be promptly reported to your pediatrician.

The Pain Cry:

This cry is impossible to ignore and is the most distinct cry in a baby's vocabulary.  It is usually piercing and begins suddenly.  The cry is very prolonged, sometimes lasting four or five seconds, and is then followed by a long pause during which your baby will catch his breath.  This cry involves the entire body, including tensing of the arms and legs, arching of the torso, and an open mouth.  If there is no obvious cause for this cry, call your pediatrician immediately.  A cry of this type signals serious pain.