If a baby doesn't cry at birth, medical staff quickly assess them, often stimulating them by drying and clearing airways (mouth/nose) to encourage breathing and crying, which signifies lung function. If breathing, heart rate, or color (bluish/pale) are poor, they may need oxygen, suctioning, or even a breathing tube, potentially moving to a special care nursery, as silence combined with other signs can indicate distress or underlying issues like birth asphyxia requiring immediate resuscitation.
Possible complications:
Difficult or prolonged labor can affect a baby's responsiveness. Oxygen deprivation (birth asphyxia) may prevent the baby from crying due to breathing difficulty. Umbilical cord issues, such as the cord wrapped around the baby's neck, can reduce oxygen supply.
There are several reasons a baby might not cry right away, including prematurity, C-section delivery, sedation, fluid in the lungs, low muscle tone, and birth complications. Sometimes, it's a natural variation and may not be cause for concern.
The 7 key danger signs for newborns, often highlighted by organizations like the WHO, are not feeding well, convulsions, fast breathing, severe chest indrawing, lethargy/unconsciousness (movement only when stimulated), high or low temperature, and jaundice (yellow skin/soles) or signs of local infection like an infected umbilical stump, requiring immediate medical attention.
A very quiet newborn who rarely cries, especially during feeding, may indicate underlying issues such as low energy or illness. While some babies are naturally calm, persistent lack of crying and poor feeding warrant prompt medical assessment.
Seconds After Birth
Seconds after your baby is born, a cry should sound out, kick-starting the lungs. Moments later, amniotic fluid and mucus will be cleared from your newborn's mouth and nose to ensure both nostrils are fully operational.
When a baby doesn't cry immediately after birth, it can be a warning sign of HIE (Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy) – a condition caused by lack of oxygen to the brain.
No bowel movement in the first 48 hours. A rectal temperature over 100.4 degrees F (38 degrees C) or less than 97.5 degrees F (36.5 degrees C). A rapid breathing rate over 60 per minute, or a blue coloring that does not go away. Newborns normally have irregular respirations, so you need to count for a full minute.
The hardest week with a newborn is often considered the first six weeks, especially weeks 2-3, due to extreme sleep deprivation, constant feeding demands, learning baby's cues, postpartum recovery, and a peak in inconsolable crying (the "witching hour"), making parents feel overwhelmed as they adjust to a new, exhausting routine. While the first week is tough, the challenges often intensify as the baby becomes more alert but still fussy, with major developmental hurdles like cluster feeding and increased fussiness peaking around 6-8 weeks.
The newborn 5-5-5 rule is a postpartum guideline for new mothers to focus on healing and bonding in the first 15 days home, dividing rest into 5 days in bed, followed by 5 days on the bed, and then 5 days near the bed, encouraging minimal chores, visitors, and activity to prioritize recovery from childbirth and establishing the new family unit, drawing on traditional postpartum rest practices.
The earliest signs of autism involve the absence of typical behaviors—not the presence of atypical ones—so they can be tough to spot. In some cases, the earliest symptoms of autism are even misinterpreted as signs of a “good baby,” since the infant may seem quiet, independent, and undemanding.
Getting the baby to cry through gentle massage and skin stroking can help move the fluid. This allows it to be suctioned from the nose and mouth.
The good news: Most babies have mild temperaments and good self-calming abilities! If you've got a baby with an easy temperament, you likely already know it. These little ones are mellow from the first days of life.
The 2-hour rule for babies means they shouldn't stay in a car seat (or travel system seat) for more than two hours at a time, whether in or out of the car, because the semi-upright position can strain their developing spine and restrict their breathing, increasing the risk of low oxygen levels, especially for newborns and preemies. For long journeys, parents should take breaks every two hours to take the baby out, allow them to lie flat for a while, stretch, and feed, ensuring they get proper head/neck support and circulation.
Crying or irritability that does not get better with cuddling and comfort. A sleepy baby who cannot be awakened enough to nurse or bottle-feed. Signs of sickness (such as cough, diarrhea, pale skin color) Poor appetite or weak sucking ability.
The 5-3-3 rule is a loose guideline for structuring a baby's sleep schedule: 5 hours of wake time before the first nap, 3 hours of wake time before the second nap, and 3 hours before bedtime.
seek prompt medical care if necessary (danger signs in the infant include feeding problems, reduced activity, difficult breathing, fever, fits or convulsions, and cold skin); register the birth; and.
Check ALL sick children for general danger signs. A general danger sign is present if: ➢ the child is not able to drink or breastfeed ➢ the child vomits everything ➢ the child has had convulsions ➢ the child is lethargic or unconscious. A child with a general danger sign has a serious problem.
If a cry is delayed, it may not necessarily mean that the baby is not healthy. Your doctor may try to stimulate the baby's first cry by drying the baby off or suctioning fluid out of their mouth or nose, if it doesn't occur naturally.
One question that often arises for concerned parents is “Do autistic babies cry a lot?” The answer is more complex than a simple yes or no. Some autistic babies may cry more than others, while some may cry very little.
The first stage is the birth cry. This distinctive cry occurs immediately after birth as the baby's lungs expand.
The 3-minute rule means you should apply moisturizer to your baby's skin within three minutes of taking them out of the bath. After giving your baby a warm bath, gently pat them dry. Be careful not to rub their skin. Then, immediately rub a baby eczema cream onto their slightly damp skin.
You may also experience after-birth pains as your uterus starts to contract to its pre-pregnancy size. These can feel like period pains or even like labour pains. To soothe these, use a hot water bottle or ask your midwife for pain relief. Your perineum may be swollen for the first 24 to 48 hours after giving birth.
As such, neonatal staff massage the skin to stimulate breathing. The vigorous skin rubbing can encourage crying. Likewise, when newborns leave the warm womb to exit into the cold hospital room, they experience discomfort that causes them to cry in order to breathe and expel fluids.