Some infants cry very little while others cry a great deal. Some are easy to calm, while others can be more dificult to soothe. Some babies cry very intensely while others whimper. Babies cry when they are hungry or sick. They cry when they feel uncomfortable, like when they are wet or too hot or too cold.
Babies cry if they are lonely, bored, or tired, and when they are in pain.
You can learn to recognize many of these cries and give the baby prompt attention. Situations make it harder for you to understand what the baby is trying to tell you. For example, the cries of a baby who was born several months too early are sometimes harder to figure out than those of full-term babies. A baby who is sick may have a cry that is harder to understand than the cry of a healthy baby. Still, even in these circumstances, you can learn to understand what the baby needs.