We all know that the baby can not tell his needs or problems in words. The only way for him to communicate with other is crying.Babies show other signs like feet kicking, hand waving and head turning etc. But the best way to take the attention of others is crying.

Excessive crying may not have a firm definition because the crying habit changes from baby to baby and some babies can be calmed easily but some are difficult to sooth. If crying is distressing for the mother and home nurse it can be called excessive. Many times baby is silent by giving breast milk or by carrying with a gentle rocking. Sudden onset of excessive crying means baby is distressed and needs attention. The causes of crying extends from simple reasons to life threatening conditions. Hence crying of a baby should not be ignored.

Most of the time, it is difficult to find the cause of crying. The causes are discussed here for awareness.

The most common reasons why babies cry include:

1. Hunger: A hungry baby will cry until he gets his milk. Here comes the old saying true’crying baby gets the milk.
2. Wetting:  Urination and defecation causes some discomfort and results in crying till its parts are cleaned and dry.
3. Company: Majority of the kids need someone close. If they feel lonely, they cry.When their favorite doll slip away from the grip they cry for help.
4. Tired: When the baby is tired after a journey and unable to sleep just cry simply.They feel tired and uncomfortable due to unhealthy climate sourroundings.
5. Heat and cold: If they feel too hot or too cold they become restless and cry. The child is comfortable in a ventilated room.
6. Tight clothing: Tight clothes, especially during warm climate, is intolerable for kids.Tight elastic coat of pain can also occur in the hip region.
7. Dark room: When the baby wakes up from sleep he needs some dim light. If there is darkness, he will disturb the sleep of parents by crying. Of course, he will be irritated by strong light resulting in cry.
8. Mosquito: Yes, these creatures disturb the sleep by their blood sucking and make the baby crying.
9. Nasal blocking: A child may not be able to sleep when there is cold and go on crying till the passage is open.
10. Phlegm in throat: This also causes difficult breathing resulting in a cry.Often a typical sound can be heard at each breath.
11. General aching: Generalised body pain with restlessness is seen in flu and prodromal stages of some infectious diseases can result in continuous cry.
12. Habitual cry: Some babies cry without any real cause ending the parents in agony.Many times doctor is called for help.
13. Diaper rash: If a tight and wet diaper is kept for a long period results in this condition.  Rash may also be due to an allergic reaction to the elastic material in diapers. When the rash appears, it causes pain and child become sleepless and cry. All other skin lesions such as eczema, ecthyma, candidiasis, etc. also cause problems.
14. Ear ache: Ear infection is common in wet climate. The infection may spread from the throat. Ear infection can result in rapture of ear drum causing discharge of pus. Ear ache usually becomes worse at night when lying down. Child will become restless with cry and may not allow you to touch the ear. Some children with earache rub the affected ear frequently.
15. Colic: When the baby cry continuously most of us as diagnosed it as colic.This diagnosis is still a subject of debate because exact cause for colic is unknown and diagnosis is also difficult to confirm.Colic may  be associated with distention of abdomen.Child often feels better when the child lying on abdomen.Some children may not allow you to touch the abdomen. I the child cries continuously, doctors help is needed.
16. Infections: All cases of infection type of pain or irritation resulting in cry. Infection may be anywhere in the body.  Usually is associated with fever, redness and swelling.
17. Reactions to certain foods:  It is said that one man’s food of man is another man’s poison. Some foods can produce allergic reactions. Allergy is manifested in the form of redness, breathlessness, gastric symptoms and continuous cry.
18. Hard stool: Constipated babies with hard stools may cry when they get the urge to stool.Some children hesitate to pass stool because of pain.
19. Gastro esophagial reflex:  Here baby cries with spilling of food after feeding. If this continuous it may be due to gastroesophageal reflex. This is due to failure of the lower part of esophagus to close after food causing regurgitation from the stomach. It is difficult to diagnose this condition and can be confirmed by antireflex medicines.
20. Dentition: During dentition child becomes restless with crying.Often associated with stomach upset and diarrhea.

Less common reasons why babies cry include:

• Bowel obstruction: Bowel obstruction is associated with pain and vomiting. Abdomen is distended with rumbling sound. Baby is constipated with absence of flatus.
• Sepsis: Invasion of pathogenic micro-organisms in the blood is called septicemia.Fever is associated with this condition.
• Torsion of the testes of male children: When a male baby cries continuously scrotum must be examined.Torsion testes produce pain that is aggravated by touching affected testes.When testes is pressed upwards pain is relieved. If  it is not treated properly, it can damage the affected testes due to lack of blood.
• Meningitis:  Initially, there may not be a  fever, hence crying baby with alternate vacant stare and irritability should not be ignored.Fontanel is bulging. Neck rigidity and seizures may appear later.
• Retention of urine:  Children with retention of urine will have agonizing pain be making them restless.
• Major injuries:  Major injury to any parts of the body causes pain. Occasionally children will fall while arrying and results in head injuries. Head injury is associated with reflex vomiting and convulsions.