A baby’s first cry is a major milestone that is eagerly awaited by new parents. Hearing a baby’s first cry indicates the baby is breathing and their lungs are functioning. It also signals the start of their life outside the womb. A baby’s first cry is an exciting and emotional moment for parents and medical staff.
What does a baby’s first cry sound like?
A newborn’s first cry is typically loud and strong. It may sound more like a wail or a scream than a soft, gentle cry. Their cry is usually high-pitched and piercing. This is because their vocal cords are very short and tight at birth. The cry may sound jarring to new parents who are not accustomed to such a loud, screechy sound! But this is completely normal for a newborn. With time, as their vocal cords lengthen and relax, their cry will mellow out and have a softer tone.
Why do babies cry at birth?
Babies cry at birth for several important reasons:
- To inflate their lungs – When babies emerge from the womb, their lungs are filled with fluid. Their first cries help push this fluid out to inflate their lungs for the first time.
- To stimulate breathing – The action of crying and breathing go hand-in-hand. The rhythmic breaths that happen during crying help establish a regular breathing pattern.
- To open the airways – Crying also helps expand and open all the tissues of the chest and airways that were compressed pre-birth.
- Stress response – The birthing process is intense and stressful for babies. Crying helps them transition and release that stress.
- Change in environment – Moving from the warm, dark, liquid-filled womb to cold, bright, air-filled room is an enormous change. Crying helps them adjust.
How soon after birth will a baby cry?
Most healthy newborns will cry immediately or within the first minute after birth. Usually, the baby is placed directly onto the mother’s chest, dried off, and stimulated by touch. Within seconds, most babies will take their first breath and let out a cry. This quick response is reassuring that the baby has made the transition to life outside the womb smoothly.
However, it can sometimes take slightly longer – up to 5 minutes – for a newborn to cry. If the baby is not breathing or crying after 60 seconds, additional medical steps will be taken to help prompt that first breath and cry. But there is no need to worry if it takes 2-5 minutes for crying to start as long as the baby is pink and responding well otherwise.
What if a baby doesn’t cry at birth?
It is very rare, but some babies do not cry immediately at birth. There can be several reasons for this:
- Difficult birth – If a birth was complicated or involved oxygen deprivation it may take longer to respond.
- Medications given to the mother – These can make the baby slower to respond and breathe.
- Respiratory problems – Some babies have difficulty transitioning their lungs and airways after birth.
- Defects in ability to cry – Very rarely a baby is born with vocal cord or neurological problems impacting crying.
If a newborn does not cry within the first minute after birth, doctors will immediately begin neonatal resuscitation procedures. These involve drying and stimulating the baby, clearing the airways, providing oxygen, and assisting with breaths. This urgent response is critical to prompt that first breath and cry which gets oxygen circulating. Within 5-10 minutes of concentrated effort, most non-breathing babies will respond with their first cry. However, the longer it takes for them to cry, the higher the risk of brain damage from oxygen deprivation. Thankfully, with modern medical care, the rates of non-crying newborns have declined.
How does a baby’s first cry impact bonding?
Hearing their newborn’s first cry is an incredibly emotional and bonding moment for parents. That loud, lusty cry is a signal to the parents that their baby has arrived safe and sound. It is often accompanied by tears of happiness and relief. Other key bonding behaviors like immediate skin-to-skin contact, eye contact, and breastfeeding will quickly follow the first cry. This helps forge a strong connection between parents and baby right from birth.
Additionally, some research suggests a mother’s own oxytocin levels spike in response to hearing her baby’s first cry. Oxytocin is a hormone strongly associated with bonding, maternal behavior, and feelings of love. So a baby’s first cries seem to trigger a neurochemical response in the mother’s brain, priming her for developing a close attachment.
What newborn reflexes can be seen in a first cry?
A few primitive newborn reflexes associated with crying and breathing may be observable right after birth:
- Startle reflex – The loud sudden cry can cause baby to fling out arms and legs which were previously curled inward in the womb.
- Suck reflex – Baby may make sucking motions with their mouth and tongue when crying.
- Rooting reflex – If cheek is stroked baby will turn mouth toward the touch seeking to suck.
- Grasp reflex – Pressing baby’s palm causes the fingers to curl tightly around yours.
These reflexes are all survival-oriented and help the newborn root for food, grasp for security, and signal needs through crying. They fade after the first 2-3 months once voluntary movements take over.
What changes can be seen after the first cry?
Immediately after their first loud cry, the baby’s oxygen saturation climbs thanks to those newly inflated lungs. Their blood oxygen levels should quickly reach normal levels (above 92%). The baby’s color will also improve, with increased pinkness, moving away from the blueish tone some babies have immediately after delivery.
Doctors and nurses keep a close eye on these recovery markers, as well as the baby’s muscle tone, reflexes, heart rate, and breathing. Any concerns are quickly addressed with additional medical care for the baby. But in most cases, the baby’s first cry is the critical turning point marking the start of healthy post-birth transition.
What comes next after the first cry?
The exciting moments after birth go by quickly. What happens next?
- The baby may be placed skin-to-skin with the mother and covered with a blanket.
- Nursing staff quickly dry baby further, clear any fluid from airways, and monitor breathing.
- The umbilical cord will be clamped and cut.
- Routine assessments including the APGAR score will check the baby’s health.
- Vaccinations and medications may be administered drop by drop into the baby’s mouth.
- Footprints and fingerprints may be taken to identify the baby.
- Baby will be weighed, measured, and any required tests or treatments given.
Throughout this process, baby will likely continue crying on and off, until eventually soothed by the familiar sounds and scents of their parents.
When do babies stop crying continuously?
While babies cry sporadically from birth, they typically don’t develop long bouts of persistent, inconsolable crying until around 2 weeks of age. This intense, continual crying peaks from weeks 2-8 and then gradually lessens. By 3-4 months, babies spend much less time crying daily.
There are several reasons why newborns have a period of frequent, inconsolable crying:
- Immature nervous system – They cannot yet self-soothe or regulate their own states well.
- Communication – Crying is their only means to signal needs and discomforts.
- Dislikes stimuli – Lights, noises, touch may overstimulate them.
- Physical discomforts – Hunger, gas, wet diaper, etc. can cause crying.
- Normal development – Crying exercises and develops their lungs, vocal cords, and connections between brain and body.
With time, parent familiarity, and growing baby resilience, the frequency and duration of crying slowly improves. By 5-6 months, babies develop more regular sleep-wake cycles, enjoy social smiled, laughs, and longer calm alert periods.
How many minutes per day is it normal for newborns to cry?
Newborns cry for an average of 2 hours per day during the first 2 weeks after birth. By 6 weeks of age, babies average a whopping 6 hours of crying per day! This demonstrates the period of peak crying typically seen around 6 weeks.
Crying generally decreases after that:
- 3 months old – 3 hours per day
- 4 months old – 2 hours per day
- 5 months old – 1.5 hours per day
However, there is a wide range of normal when it comes to crying. Some colicky babies may cry far more than average while other calm babies cry less. Excessive crying beyond the average baselines should be discussed with your pediatrician to identify any possible causes or interventions to try.
Average Hours of Crying Per Day for Newborns
| Age | Average Hours of Crying Per Day |
|---|---|
| 2 weeks | 2 hours |
| 6 weeks | 6 hours |
| 3 months | 3 hours |
| 4 months | 2 hours |
| 5 months | 1.5 hours |
When is crying concerning in newborns?
While crying is very normal for newborns, excessive crying or unusual cries can be signs of a medical problem needing attention. Red flags to watch for include:
- Crying that persists 3+ hours per day without soothing, multiple days a week.
- High pitched cry or one that sounds strained or in pain.
- Inconsolable crying for long periods.
- Crying that seems related to certain positions or touching specific spots.
- Associated symptoms like fever, vomiting, poor feeding, or lethargy.
Discuss any concerning crying patterns with your pediatrician. They can help determine if issues like reflux, allergies, infection, or other problems are causing the baby distress and may recommend changes or medication if needed. Rarely, colic or neurological disorders may be investigated.
Conclusion
A baby’s first cry is an exciting milestone that signals the start of their life outside the womb. Those loud, lusty newborn cries are reassuring that the baby has opened their airways, inflated their lungs, and is breathing well on their own. While new parents may be surprised by the volume, pitch, and amount of crying, it is generally quite normal. With time and growing resilience, babies cry less and socialize more. But that intense first cry remains an unforgettable moment for parents, doctors, and nurses welcoming a new little one into the world.