What Does It Mean When My Baby Wakes Up Crying Hysterically?

One of the most common pieces of advice new parents hear is "sleep when the baby sleeps." Seasoned parents often fail to mention that you'll also be up when the baby is up—even if the baby is crying in the middle of the night.

It's jarring when your baby wakes up crying hysterically, and it can be difficult to problem solve when you're half-awake and running on empty. There are many reasons a baby might cry, but not all are negative. Often, a baby crying at night is experiencing a developmentally appropriate period of sleep regression.

Can you tell the difference between developmentally typical late-night crying and a problem?

We've created this guide to help you understand why your baby wakes up crying and how to soothe your baby when they seem uncharacteristically hysterical. We'll detail five reasons your little one might be waking up and share techniques to calm them down.

Read on to pick up some parenting tips to help you and your sweet baby get back to sleep.

Adjust Your Feeding Schedule

Busy babies have needs that change day to day. Just as activity impacts a baby's sleep schedule, it can also affect their caloric needs. These changes can impact feeding and change how much milk your baby needs.

It takes time to fall into a new routine. Sometimes active babies wake up in the middle of the night because they're hungry. You'll need to give them more during the day to avoid this uncomfortable wake-up call.

Solving this problem requires some experimentation. You might need to supplement your baby's milk intake, even if they have started eating some solids. You might also consider adding another snack during the day.

Work On Self-Soothing

Everyone wakes up during the night on occasion. The difference between an adult and a baby is that an adult knows how to put themselves back to sleep. If your infant cannot yet self-soothe, their normal sleep cycle might lead to distress.

In this instance, your baby is crying because they think they need you to fall back asleep. They don't have the skills necessary to soothe themselves and settle down. These are skills that babies learn over time, often during sleep training.

If your baby is crying for you to hold, rock, or nurse them in the middle of the night, you might consider giving sleep training a try. Many gentle techniques can help your baby learn to calm themselves. Your little one will become more independent, and you'll benefit from a complete night of rest.

See the Pediatrician

Sometimes sudden hysterical crying has a physical cause. Your baby might cry due to pain or discomfort from illness or an injury. Pain from teething is a common culprit.

Babies can't talk, so crying is the only way they can communicate that something is wrong in their world. Furthermore, babies can't tell the difference between discomfort and an emergency. A baby with a head cold might cry because their nose is stuffy.

Parents know best, so if you suspect your baby's discomfort has a medical cause, always see the pediatrician. They can give you advice about pain medication for teething or other ailments.

Consider Separation Anxiety

A baby's cognitive abilities grow and improve every day. One of the most significant changes is the development of object permanence. At approximately eight months old, your baby will begin to comprehend the idea that objects and people continue to exist, even when they are out of sight.

This milestone means that your little one is becoming capable of abstract thought. Object permanence is a precursor for learning to read and understand mathematical concepts. In the meantime, however, it often means lots of separation anxiety as your baby gets used to their shifting understanding of the world.

Learn more about separation anxiety in babies

Thus, your baby's late-night shrieks might be due to the realization that you're gone. They may be crying because they miss you! Your best bet is to encourage the development of object permanence during waking hours by playing peek-a-boo or hiding and finding toys.

Notice Development and New Milestones

Has your baby started moving and grooving recently? A mobile baby has different needs than a mostly stationary one. They use more energy during the day, which impacts their sleep needs over time.

A rapidly growing brain requires a lot of energy, too. So much change and development happens while your baby is sleeping. Babies occasionally wake up having learned an entirely new skill overnight.

Sometimes all that change is exciting and makes it harder for babies to fall and stay asleep. Other times, your baby may be eager to practice new skills in the middle of the night.

Babies who can pull themselves up cannot always sit down from a standing position. Your baby may be screaming because their development has created new problems in their world. The only thing to do is wait for the new milestones to pass and offer help when your baby needs it.

See Why Your Baby Is Crying With Pixsee

It can be painful to listen to your sweet baby's cries, especially if they are difficult to soothe. There are many possible reasons why your baby is crying, and it takes patience to find the underlying cause behind their hysterical outburst. Often, the reason is innocent and developmentally appropriate, and you can get to the bottom of the change with a little focused observation.

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