5 Possible Reasons Why Your Child May Be Crying

It’s normal for children to shed tears and it’s also normal for a parent to be frustrated by a child who cries often. That’s particularly true when you can’t quite figure out why your little one is crying.

Before your child learns how to talk, it can be quite tricky to figure out why your child is crying. Even when kids do begin to verbalize, the reason a kid is crying might not be rational.

So, your goal doesn’t always need to be to get your child to stop crying. Shedding a few tears may be good for kids. But, before you can decide how to best respond, it’s important to ask yourself, "Why is my child crying?" to get to the bottom of it.

* Your Child Is Overtired

When your child is having a meltdown because you gave him the wrong color bowl or you asked him to put on his shoes, too little sleep could be the true cause of his tears. One of the most frequent reasons kids cry is because they’re overtired and it can lead to some irrational behavior.

* Your Child Is Hungry

Even adults get “hangry.” Luckily, a toddler or young child will (probably) tell you when she wants a snack unless she’s having too much fun playing but it’s harder to tell when a non-verbal child is hungry.

For the real little ones, hunger might be the crying culprit if she just woke up from a nap or if it’s been three to four hours since she last ate.

* Your Child Is Overstimulated

It seems like wild and crazy play places, like bounce houses or birthday parties, are just where a child wants to be. At some point, however, the hustle and bustle can become too much for kids. And often, they aren’t able to express what is wrong.

So you might see tears when your child is overstimulated. If your little one is crying, seemingly for no reason, and you’re in a location that’s very loud or busy, try giving him a break. Take him outside or to a quieter room and let him sit down for a few minutes to collect his bearings.

* Your Child Is Stressed

Stress is a big reason for tears, particularly in slightly older children. But, as a parent who has to pay bills and run a busy household, you might wonder what a child has to be stressed about.

The answer is, a lot of things! Kids who are overscheduled perhaps going from soccer to piano to play practice to playdates can get very stressed. They need free time to play creatively, as well as relax.

* Your Child Wants Attention

It seems to come out of nowhere your child is playing happily, then you turn your back, and she’s sobbing. She knows crying is a great way to get your attention.

Attention even when it’s negative reinforces behavior. So saying, “Stop screaming,” or “Why are you crying now?” may encourage your child’s temper tantrums to continue.