Baby Cues Decoded: Why Is My Newborn Crying & What Are They Really Saying?

Alana Taylor
Sep 17
5 min read

BWhy is My Newborn Crying | Affordable Newborn Photoshoot in Officer

Help, What is My Baby Trying To Tell Me?

It’s 3am, your baby is crying, and you’re staring at them thinking: “What on earth do you want?!

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Newborns don’t arrive with instruction manuals, but they do communicate — in their own tiny ways. From hungry grizzles to tired whimpers, every cry and movement means something.

As a Melbourne newborn photographer based in Berwick, I’ve spent over 15 years working with thousands of babies from Cranbourne, Berwick, Pakenham, Officer, Narre Warren, Frankston, and the Mornington Peninsula. I’ve seen every expression, wiggle, stretch, and yes - every cry. Parents often tell me, “I wish I knew what my baby was trying to say.”

This blog is your guide to decoding baby cues. We’ll cover why newborns cry, hunger and sleep cues, early signs of discomfort, and how to respond. And along the way, I’ll remind you that while the newborn stage can feel overwhelming, it’s also fleeting — which is why capturing these little expressions in photographs is so precious.

Why Do Newborns Cry?

Are you Googling "why is my baby crying at night?" or "how do I know if my newborn is hungry or tired?"

Crying is a baby’s main way of communicating. They don’t have words yet, so they use sounds, facial expressions, and body language to tell you what they need.

The Most Common Reasons Babies Cry:

Hunger (the #1 culprit).
Tiredness (they need sleep, but can’t settle).
Discomfort (wind, reflux, nappy rash, temperature).
Overstimulation (too much noise, light, handling).
Loneliness (they just want a cuddle).

Baby Hunger Cues: Signs Your Baby Needs Feeding

One of the biggest challenges new mums face is knowing whether their baby is hungry. Contrary to popular belief, crying is actually a late hunger cue. By the time baby cries, they’re already quite desperate.

Early Hunger Cues (before crying starts):

Rooting (turning head, searching for breast/bottle).
Sucking motions or hands to mouth.
Smacking lips or sticking out tongue.
Restlessness or stirring from sleep.

Mid Hunger Cues:

Fidgeting more.
Small fussing noises.
Wriggling arms and legs.

Late Hunger Cues:

Full-on crying.
Red face, frantic movements.
Harder to calm and latch.

👉 If you respond to early hunger cues, feeding is usually calmer and easier.

Baby Sleep Cues: How to Know When Your Baby Is Tired

Sleep is another huge topic for Melbourne parents. Many mums Google: “How do I know if my baby is overtired?” or “newborn sleep cues vs hunger cues.”

Common Newborn Sleep Cues:

Rubbing eyes or pulling ears.
Staring blankly or glazed eyes.
Turning head away, avoiding eye contact.
Yawning (obvious but often missed).
Fussing or whining quietly.

💡 Babies move from “tired” to “overtired” very quickly. When overtired, they cry harder and are harder to settle. Catching early sleep cues is key.

Discomfort Cues: Is Baby in Pain or Just Fussy?

Sometimes baby isn’t hungry or tired, but something else is bothering them.

Possible Signs of Discomfort:

Pulling legs up → may indicate wind or tummy pain.
Arched back → often linked to reflux or discomfort.
High-pitched cry → sometimes a sign of pain or distress.
Fussy during or after feeding → could be wind, reflux, or overfeeding.

If you’re worried, always check with your GP or maternal child health nurse.

Overstimulation vs Boredom

Babies get overstimulated easily — especially in their first 12 weeks. Too much noise, handling, or light can overwhelm them.

Signs of overstimulation:

Turning head away.
Flailing arms/legs.
Sudden crying after being fine.

On the flip side, babies can also get bored. (Yes, even newborns!) A little grizzle after lying quietly may mean they want interaction — a cuddle, song, or walk.

Local Connection: Baby Cues & Melbourne Parents

In my Clyde Baby Newborn Photography Melbourne Studio, I constantly watch for these cues. A baby starting to yawn? Time to swaddle for sleepy poses. Hands to mouth? We pause for a feed. Tiny whimper? A quick cuddle and gentle rocking does wonders.

Parents from Cranbourne, Berwick, Officer, Pakenham, Narre Warren, Frankston and Mornington Peninsula are often amazed at how quickly I pick up on their baby’s cues. The truth is — I’ve simply had years of practice. And that’s what I bring into newborn photography: not just technical skills, but baby-whispering intuition.

FAQs Parents Ask About Baby Cues

1. Is my baby crying because they’re hungry or tired?

Look for the signs — rooting and sucking = hunger; yawning and avoiding eye contact = tired.

2. How long can newborns stay awake?

Usually 45 minutes to 1 hour in the early weeks before they need sleep.

3. What if I can’t figure out the cue?

Sometimes you won’t — and that’s okay. Try the “Big Three”:

Baby Cue FAQs

1. Is my baby crying because they’re hungry or tired?

Look for the signs — rooting and sucking = hunger; yawning and avoiding eye contact = tired.

2. How long can newborns stay awake?

Usually 45 minutes to 1 hour in the early weeks before they need sleep.

3. What if I can’t figure out the cue?

Sometimes you won’t — and that’s okay. Try the “Big Three”: nappy, feed, cuddle.

4. Do all babies show the same cues?

No. Every baby is different. The key is learning your baby’s unique signals.

5. Why does my baby cry at night more than during the day?

Evenings are “witching hours” for many babies. They’re more tired, often cluster feed, and stimulation builds up from the day.

Local Connection: Baby Cues in My Photography Studio

In my Clyde studio, I constantly watch for baby cues. A baby starting to yawn? Time to swaddle for sleepy poses. Hands to mouth? We pause for a feed. Tiny whimper? A quick cuddle and gentle rocking does wonders.

Parents from Cranbourne, Berwick, Officer, Pakenham, Narre Warren, Frankston and Mornington Peninsula are often amazed at how quickly I pick up on cues. The truth is — I’ve simply had years of practice. And that’s what I bring into newborn photography: not just technical skills, but baby-whispering intuition.

Even if your baby is refluxy, unsettled, or cries often — we’ll still capture the beautiful, fleeting moments you’ll treasure forever.

The Emotional Side of Baby Cues

Learning your baby’s cues can feel like a constant guessing game. Some days you’ll nail it; other days you’ll feel lost. That’s normal.

Remember:

Crying doesn’t mean you’re failing.
Not every cry has an instant solution.
With time, you’ll understand your baby more deeply.

Affordable Newborn Baby Photography Melbourne Pakenham | Newborn Posed in Princess Carriage

Capture Your Baby in All the Perfect And here’s the magic: the very cues that exhaust you now — the yawns, the little cries, the tiny hands reaching up — are the ones you’ll want to remember. That’s why newborn photography is so powerful. It freezes these raw, honest, fleeting cues into art.