Why Babies Cry In Their Sleep & Tips On How To Soothe Them

Most parents panic and get extremely worried when their child begins to suddenly crying in their sleep. Unknown to many parents it is a normal occurrence for a baby to cry especially in their sleep at night. This is because crying is how a baby communicates. Since infants cannot speak or use gestures, crying is there only mode of communication. Every time your baby cries, it is for a specific reason since crying is how a baby reaches out to parents for help.

Since infants cannot speak or use gestures, crying is there only mode of communication

No parent should get excessively alarmed because there is no way of getting around it; a baby will cry and must cry at some point. The only way to remedy this frustrating situation is taking the prerogative to understand why babies cry then take the time to master effective baby-soothing techniques. This can be tricky particularly for new patents.

Here is a brief but detailed outline of main reasons babies cry in their sleep accompanied by effective baby-soothing techniques that seldom disappoint.

Babies cry when they are hungry

A major reason why babies suddenly cry in their sleep is hunger. Although most parents know this most have a hard time determining and recognising the signs of hunger in a crying baby. Some signs that the reason your baby is crying is hunger include; consistently lip smacking, fussing uncomfortably and sometimes putting their hands on their mouth.

If you notice that your baby is crying and displaying any of these signs then you are in luck, simply feed them and the cries will be gone.

Gas, colic and stomach problems cause babies to cry especially when they are sleeping at night

Any knowledgeable and experienced pediatrician will tell you that stomach issues associated with colic and gas can lead to lots of cries from a baby. Colic is rather mysterious condition that most babies go through; when a baby is suffering from colic, they can cry consistently and inconsolably for at least three hours daily. This can happen for at least three days in a week and has been known to go on for up to three weeks.

The easiest way to recognise stomach related issues in a crying baby is when they fuss especially immediately after being fed. Although there is no one soothing technique that works for all babies, there are several soothing techniques that parents swear by. While some parents prefer over-the-counter anti gas drops, others swear by gripe water which is made from sodium bicarbonate and herbs.

It is advisable to inform your doctor before you attempt any of these DIY remedies for gas, colic and stomach issues that make babies cry.

Even if your baby is suffering from colic and has never had the problem of being fussy after easting, an occasional bout of gas pain can make a baby uncomfortable and miserable until the gas passes. If you suspect that the stomach issue your baby is facing is gas accumulation then the remedy is quite straight forward. Simply put the baby on their back, gasp their feet gently then proceed to moving the legs smoothly in a bicycling motion.

When a baby desperately needs to burp

Although a baby burping is not mandatory or compulsory sometimes all your baby needs to be comfortable after feeding is a good burp.

Why is burping necessary? Burping is necessary to keep a baby comfortable because most babies swallow air when breastfeeding or sucking from a bottle. This causes discomfort that can only be relieved when the air is released. The trick is know your baby because every infant is different; while others are extremely bothered by air in their tummy, others are not bothered and don’t need to be burped at all.

Babies cry when they are feeling either too hot or too cold

Most new parents are worried about their baby feeling cold and most end up bundling the baby too warmly and babies end up feeling uncomfortable. The golden rule that every parent should follow is ensure the baby is always wearing one more layer than what you (an adult) needs to be comfortable. As a general rule most babies rarely complain about being too warm, most actually complain about being too cold . Babies cry more vigorously about being cold than about being warm.