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Infants cry a lot, as it is the only form of communication they know. Crying is how they let you know whether they are hungry, sick, in pain, uncomfortable, sad, sleepy or exhausted.
The way your baby cries varies depending on what it is that they are trying to tell you. As a parent, you’ll soon figure out how to tell why your little one is crying by paying attention to the subtle and sometimes more obvious differences in the way they’re crying.
However, as new parents, you’re going to have a hard time figuring out why your baby’s crying, especially when your little one keeps their tiny mouth closed and sort of whimpers, often for longer and more frequently than usual.
If you’re a parent who’s wondering about why your baby’s crying with their mouth closed, read on to figure it out (hopefully!) and act accordingly.
Why Is My Baby Crying With Mouth Closed?
Let’s have a look into the most probable causes of this somewhat unusual-looking crying behavior of your baby.
Teething
It’s a very painful experience for a baby when teeth are starting to push their way out through the gums.
Your baby might be scared to expose the swollen, painful gums. So, instead of letting out the usual cry, they keep their mouth closed and cry.
If your baby is four to six months old, this could probably be the cause. Other tell-tale signs of teething are,
- Excessive drooling
- Constantly biting and chewing on things
- Loose stools
- Mild fever
- Flushed cheek
- Sore and reddish gums
- Cheek rubbing and ear pulling
- Coughing
Remember that not all teething babies show all these signs.
Soothing A Teething Baby
You can try a few things to soothe your baby’s pain if they are teething:
Also Read: Why does baby refuse bottle when hungry
- Clean your hands and gently rub your baby’s gum with your finger. Some gentle pressure on the gum can ease the pain.
- Give a cold, but not frozen, teething ring or washcloth to your baby to chew on. The cold can numb the pain.
- If early weaning has already started, give the baby a little piece of some solid food, but be mindful of the choking hazard.
- There are over-the-counter pain relief syrups intended for infants. Please read the instructions on the bottle or inside the packaging about proper administration before you give it to your baby. The safest thing to do will be to consult a doctor on this.
Being Tired And Sleepy
Sometimes infants get so exhausted and sleepy that they can not even make the effort to cry like they usually do and keep their mouths shut and moan instead.
If you see your newborn rubbing their eyes while moaning like that, it is usually an indication of being tired and sleepy. Simply feed and put them to sleep, and all will be good.
Vocal Experiments
All newborns explore and experiment with their sensory input. That is how they learn about themselves and the world around them. Plus, it’s really fun for them.
Sometimes they cry with their mouths closed as a sensory experiment, feeling the different vibrations and resonations inside the mouth and the throat and hearing different sounds.
Also Read: Baby says mama when crying
If your baby shows no other unusual signs apart from crying in that manner, you don’t need to be concerned.
Ear Infection
Another reason why a baby might cry with the mouth closed is an ear infection. An ear infection is agonizingly painful, even for an adult, and moving your jaw can make the pain even more excruciating.
Look for any discharge from the ear and check the baby’s temperature, an infection could cause the baby to have a fever.
This is a situation where you must seek medical advice immediately.
Being Severely Ill
If your newborn moans with the mouth closed, it can also be due to an illness, too. You need to observe the baby for other associated symptoms to determine if that’s the case.
If baby shows a loss of appetite, lethargy, drowsiness, and is running a fever, seek medical advice at once.
Especially, a high-pitched wail or moaning could be a symptom of meningitis and can have dire consequences if not addressed urgently.
Also Read: Baby moans while eating solids
Bottom Line
If your baby is crying with mouth closed, carefully observe and try to determine whether the little one is just teething, has an ear infection, is simply tired/exhausted, engaging in vocal sensory play, or suffering from a severe illness like meningitis.
While you must immediately seek medical advice in case of an ear infection or some other serious condition, the rest does not call for alarm and is perfectly manageable on your own.