Crying
Crying is one of the primary ways that infants communicate their needs before they are able to speak. Infants have at least six different cries—hunger, pain, discomfort, fatigue, boredom, and tension discharge—to communicate their needs for holding, snuggling, talking/singing, changing a diaper, etc. Crying often follows a pattern. Most babies get fussier and cry more in the late afternoon or evening during a period sometimes referred to as “the witching hour.” Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, M.D., noted developmental pediatrician, has done studies indicating that for average babies, “[this] fussy end-of-the-day crying peaks at eight weeks, decreases gradually over the next few weeks, and is usually gone by twelve weeks” (Touchpoints, p. 71).
Learning the meaning of your child's cries and how to respond to each cry can take some time. If you are a first-time parent, having someone around you who is comfortable with infants can be helpful as you learn how to soothe and respond to your infant. Crying, however, can be upsetting and can stimulate strong feelings of helplessness, sadness, and frustration in a parent. It is impossible to always know what your baby is feeling and how to respond contingently. A mother’s “best guess” response is often good enough, as this communicates to the baby that he or she is important and special to you. and that someone is attentive to his or her needs.
See also:
Child Development
Mutual Regulation/Co-regulation
Sleep
For further reading:
www.dunstanbaby.com