What Can I Do If My Child Cries About Every Little Thing?

Crying is one of the main forms of expression for babies and young children. When your child cries, it’s usually a way for them to get your attention and receive care when needed.

During this stage, many parents ask themselves why their child cries for seemingly no reason.

Below, we’ll discuss a series of ideas, tips and easily identifiable situations.

Main causes of crying

Babies and young children often complain and cry when they’re hungry and sleepy because they’re especially sensitive to these stimuli.

But there are additional causes, such as:

• When the child notices that he only receives attention when he cries.
• When crying becomes the perfect way to get what he wants at any time. Parents tend to soften when tears appear and end up giving the child anything he wants.
• If the child is physically uncomfortable. Changing the baby’s position frequently is essential in order to avoid bothersome irritations, and to help keep him clean and make hygienic tasks more pleasant.
• Pain. At this time, the baby is in a stage of continuous adaptation, and on more than one occasion he will feel pain. In particular, babies tend to cry when suffering gastrointestinal pain, whether due to gas, constipation or colic.
• Loneliness. Although the child may be physically fine, he may demand more time, affection and protection from those around him, in particular from his parents.

Guidelines for what to do when your child cries about everything

In the beginning, it’s normal not to know what to do when faced with a baby that cries about every little thing.

Here’s a list of tips and guidelines that you can follow so these moments don’t become uncomfortable for both of you.

• Try to identify your child’s cries and the causes by associating them with different contexts and situations.
• If you can’t tend to him at that very moment, try to let him know you’re aware that he needs you and you’ll be with him as soon as possible.
• If your child is learning to speak, ask him to tell you what is happening with words.
• Respond to his crying in various ways: with loving gestures, kisses, hugs or motivating phrases.

Crying and the imitation stage

Every child, at a certain moment in his development, experiences a stage in which he manifests a greater capacity to imitate others.

It usually occurs at a very early age, still in infancy, and lasts until the age of 2 or even 3.

During this period, children tend to mimic others when they cry or laugh. It could be described as a contagious effect in the sense that it can only be stopped by one’s own maturity.

This is a predictable type of behavior for certain ages. Therefore, don’t worry, as it will dissipate as the child grows and matures.

Crying and the start of school

However, if this attitude continues longer than normal, including well into the school stage, we should be very observant.

At this stage, there are various causes that lead to crying: a problem at school, a fight with siblings or friends, or just something they don’t like.

In this case, you must have patience and know what situations bother your child for a short period of time.

In other words, it’s important to assess situations related to crying, as well as the degree to which they occur.

Crying and hypersensitivity

Last and most extreme is hypersensitivity. Hypersensitive children tend to be very observant, so much so that they can become excited about any stimuli. 

Therefore, they develop a great imagination and creative capacity.

The most effective advice for helping children with these characteristics is to allow them to express their inner feelings.

The essential thing is for them to show their feelings to the world. To help them do that, we must clear the way of any barrier.

The stage in which a child cries about everything is truly transient. During this period, parental figures become fundamental pillars in order to prevent uncomfortable and unpleasant situations for the family and, above all, for the child.

The behavior parents show when handling a crying child is paramount. It’s essential to follow the correct procedure to help the child overcome this stage.