One of the most important thing to parents, aside from their children (obviously) is getting enough sleep. So a crying baby can drive parents to distraction and in extreme cases, seperation, so we are delighted to have this guest post from Jemima Lopez on ways to understand the crying.

Everyone knows that babies cry — a lot.  While it can be taxing at times, it's just their way ofcommunicating with the people around them. Quite often cries are a clear indicator that something is wrong. But until your child develops his or her verbal skills, it can become quite frustrating trying to figure out the source of the issue. What's even more frustrating is that if you don't quickly pacify your child's cries by tending to his or her wants/needs, it can put a heavy strain on the entire family. That said, you need to learn what your child's cries could mean so you can quickly fix the problem. Below is a list of cry-triggers as well as some soothing mechanisms to try whenever traditional techniques like rocking and lullabies don't work.

Hungry Hippo: Let's get the most obvious one out of the way first. Babies need to eat around the clock. But sometimes when hunger strikes, they suffer from so much distress that when they do finally get to feed they simultaneously gulp in air and milk—which ironically can make him or her cry even harder. To prevent your child from reaching a crying state of no return, respond quickly to early stages of hunger. Change your child's diaper just as often since babies cry when they're wet and uncomfortable.

Too Tired: Ok, here's the second most obvious. Babies need tons of sleep. In fact, most newborns need more than 16 hours of sleep a day. But for some reason, some babies don't know that it's fine (and encouraged) to sleep all day. So they fight it. Put your fussy baby to ease by getting him or her to take frequent naps.

Overly Stimulated: People always gravitate to newborns and try to give them as much love and attention as possible. But sometimes babies can get overwhelmed, especially if they're used to only being around two/three people on a daily basis.  If you think your child's cries are the result of over stimulation, take him or her to a much quieter/calmer environment—either to a separate room or walk outside for a moment. To soothe your baby even faster, you could try these pacifying techniques:

• Play White Noise—In a nutshell, white noise is a monotonous constant "humming" sound that quite frankly hypnotizes babies.  While there are white noise CDs available for purchase, there are some clips available on YouTube for free. Other appliances that have the same effect on babies include hair dryers, vacuum cleaners, fans, and drying machines.
• Let the Wind Chimes Blow—Many mothers claim that taking their child outside briefly to catch some fresh air with the wind chimes blowing instantly soothes their babies.
• Whisper Ever so Slightly—Another way to comfort your child is by whispering in his or her ear. Babies aren't familiar with this low-tone and sometimes stop crying just to tune-in to what is being said.

Has a Belly Ache: Babies get belly aches more often than one may think, especially those that are breast fed. This is because your diet may change the chemistry in your milk which may have a negative effect on your child's gastrointestinal system. If you've been eating something new, this may be the key to your child's abnormal fussiness.

Wants to be Held: Lastly, your little love bug might just want to be held. Wrap him or her up snuggly and cradle them close to your heart—a constant beating heart reminds babies of the time they spent in your nice, comfy womb and can bring them back to a tranquil state.

By-line:

Jemima Lopez is a freelance blogger and writer who writes for Zen College Life, the directory of higher education, distance learning, and best online schools. She welcomes your comments at her email:  [email protected].