Hunger cries vs Other cries?

SomersIsles

Maybe it's because I focus on the clock too much or something but Robert is 8 weeks already and I still can't differentiate the sound of his cries. Typically when he's fussy I'll look at the time and just assume he's hungry. I think he'd take a boob whether he was hungry or not now that I think of if. I've been trying to tune into his cries for weeks but I don't recognize anything unique that would suggest hunger as opposed to something else.

Now he's been going through a weird week (sleeping/napping/eating VERY inconsistent) and it's making me feel especially incompetent....

Advice??

SomersIsles

For example... He only napped for 30 minutes after being awake for 90 after his last feed. I picked him up thinking I should feed him and by the time I got into the room (had to pause dinner cooking on the stove so it took a bit) he's passed out... So apparently he wasn't hungry... And I had no clue ...

mfarmer0811

I feel the same way!! Some days we do great on the eat wake sleep cycle, but other days I have no clue what to expect!! The only reason I can differentiate the cries is because if he's hungry, he cries like he's "hangry!!" He does this high pitch scream-cry if he's gassy, and just a fuss if he wants to be picked up.

This boy is so unpredictable, and it makes it REALLY hard to go anywhere without him, I just left him today for the first time, and was gone 3.5 hours.

Eta: you asked for advice and I didn't give you any...I would try and track maybe even record his cries, and write down what you did to make him stop, and then go back and listen to see if you can tell a difference.

fish8412

NorthernLghts said:

Years ago there was a lady on Oprah, Priscella Dunstan, who talked about interpreting baby cries. I googled the video right after DD was born and so far the only one I can clearly tell right now is her hunger cry. "Neh" is hunger. The rest I just kind of guess at. But heres the video if it helps at all.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PgkZf6jVdVg

Yes we watched this. We can tell the hunger cry and burp cry.

desertmouse39

DD #2 has the same hunger cry as DD#1 had (which I think is strange, idk) - it sounds like a bleating billy goat and goes from quiet to inconsolable in literally about 20 seconds.  If she is awake before hand, I can get some non-vebal cues but she often awakes from sleeping starving and ready to eat.

Her other cries sound all the same and are generally just 'discontent' - I'm tired, I'm wet, I want out of the car seat, I want more attention, etc...

We bottle feed, both breast milk and formula, and it helps me to keep an eye on when she last ate because sometimes if it was just, like, an hour ago then I know she is going to eat less than her usual 3 oz and if she has been sleeping for hours then I can assume she will probably eat closer to 4.  I think 'logging' the different cries and what they end up meaning is a good idea, you will likely recognize hunger pretty quickly.

SurpriseAt39

I can't explain the differences, but there's definitely different cries for the following;

- I've gotta poop, but need a boob in my mouth to help me get it out
- I've gotta fart, but need a boob in my mouth to accomplish my goal
- I'm hungry, feed me, feed me quick!! I need a booby nooooow!!!
- I'm tired, give me a boob to help me sleep
- I'm tired, pick me up and pat my back so I can pass out on you
- I need to burp, pick me up
- I'm lonely, entertain me

Mafernj

I feel the same way so what I do is start w burping if she is kicking too and then I stick the boob and if she doesn't latch I try burping again and if she still doesn't latch I do a bouncy dance w her upright on my shoulder then boob again . So far I can distinguish a "burp me " cry . I don't know what "feed me right now!!!!" Sounds like cuz I'm always offering her the boob. I would just go down the line see what sticks and next time baby cries like that just so what you did and see if it fixes it. Hope this helps ... I'm bf ing as I type

Sanibel21

Sometimes I think I know what she wants and other days I'm way off. Im just going down the list of baby needs until she stops and then trying to remember if there was anything remarkable about the cry.

SomersIsles

Thanks for the link! I'll definitely check it out

jennbaylor12

So far I know his hungry cry and his tired cry, they are very different. I'm starting to think I know his I need to be changed cry. Otherwise, I offer him the boob. He always accepts :-)

lazyreader

For us:
Tired is more wimpery.
Hungry is angry and when I give her a binky or finger it gets worse (tired gets better)
Gas is like hungry but not so urgent. I can hear discomfort in it. More like "ehhh this does nooott feel ok". Same for dirty diaps.

There's a half ass wimper she does when she wants to be held or played with. Lasts a min. Stops. Pouts again. Stops. Lol.

twinlove314

Kacie said:

For us:
Tired is more wimpery.
Hungry is angry and when I give her a binky or finger it gets worse (tired gets better)
Gas is like hungry but not so urgent. I can hear discomfort in it. More like "ehhh this does nooott feel ok". Same for dirty diaps.

There's a half ass wimper she does when she wants to be held or played with. Lasts a min. Stops. Pouts again. Stops. Lol.

This. It's mostly the same with my boys

MK1550

I feel the same way as op - I feel like I should have a better idea about what's going on by 2 months! I can tell a tired cry so far, but nothing else. I swear she doesn't do any hunger cues. Either that or I'm totally oblivious. She will get upset & I just try troubleshooting to see what will fix it. I need to watch this video!

Khope87

I feel a bit late to the game with this one..... But, I spent a good while watching that clip this afternoon and noting down the sounds and meanings. Every time my baby has started to stir I've tried to see which of them it is and try that.... It worked!!!!!! If she needed something else too, then her cry would alter to signify her next need. It's so hard to distinguish the "neh" from the "heh" but her "eh" to me, is really quite different. And obviously the "owh" is very different along with the unmistakable "eair" (which is fairly obvious what's going on there)

I will work so hard this week to try to distinguish them quicker, but at the moment it seems to be working. Anyone having similar success?

bumpuser1282882

Khope87 said:

I feel a bit late to the game with this one..... But, I spent a good while watching that clip this afternoon and noting down the sounds and meanings. Every time my baby has started to stir I've tried to see which of them it is and try that.... It worked!!!!!! If she needed something else too, then her cry would alter to signify her next need. It's so hard to distinguish the "neh" from the "heh" but her "eh" to me, is really quite different. And obviously the "owh" is very different along with the unmistakable "eair" (which is fairly obvious what's going on there) I will work so hard this week to try to distinguish them quicker, but at the moment it seems to be working. Anyone having similar success?

I've been trying this today too. I'm having trouble distinguishing "eair" from "eh" but both are gas, so I just try to help him through it. Thanks @northernlghts for posting!

Khope87

For me, her "eh" is quite quiet, shorter and higher pitched than her lower "eair" which is deeper and more like a grunt(?!) I guess all babies sound slightly different! The babies on the clip were all slightly different. I hope it pays off and I am able to better help her needs quicker. It does seeeem to be adding up so far, but it's hard to know if it's just me wanting it to work?! Haha! I hope you have success! And ditto, thanks @NorthernLghts‌ for posting!

kaking78

I tried this today too and I was definitely able to hear some of them! Hunger is clearly "neh" and dirty diaper is "eh eh eh". Pretty cool!

ETA: This just made getting J to sleep so much easier! I fed, burped, changed, and put down based on the pre-cries and he went down without a fuss. I'm definitely making my husband watch this video tomorrow.

The only thing I've seen that's different is for him "neh" means suck in general, not just eat.

Sanibel21

Thanks for the link! Just watched it and looking forward to listening a little deeper. Of course LO is sleeping right now, hah.