I haven’t met a parent yet who doesn’t feel a tug at their heart strings when their child cries. At the same time, I think most parents understand that crying is part of the language of early childhood. Here’s how to understand crying from baby to toddler. 

Decoding baby cries

Babies often start crying–and just as suddenly stop–for apparently no reason, which can be stressful for parents. But inexplicable tears are really just part of a newborn’s biology and usually peak around the two-month mark.

By the time your baby is about five months old, crying becomes a form of communication, usually signalling that your little one is tired, hungry or over-stimulated. Parents generally get quite skilled at deciphering their own infants’ cries–and tend to know just how to soothe them.

• 1
• 2
• Understanding toddler tears >