Sometimes it seems that babies cry for absolutely no reason. You’ve fed, burped, changed and clothed the baby properly. You’ve ruled out illness. And if you have to play that Barney song one more time to get the baby to calm down, then you’re the one who’ll be crying. What could possibly be wrong with a baby who will just not stop crying? There are a whole lot of reasons why babies cry — starting with the fact that they can’t talk, so crying is how they communicate. Crying picks up in newborns at about 6 to 8 weeks of age and peaks at 4 months. Coincidentally, this may be about the time your child starts cutting his first tooth, so run your clean finger around his mouth — you may be surprised to find a hard nub in the gums. Teething babies do a lot of drooling, which may cause discomfort and chafing around the mouth. Other sneaky physical problems might include gas. If you suspect gas pains, try bicycling the baby’s legs and rocking him gently from side to side on his back. Check the baby’s pants if he wears them — a snug waistband may be hurting his tummy. And if you find nothing helps, check the baby’s environment. He could be too hot or cold, or he may feel itchy from a clothing tag. One surprising source of discomfort in crying babies is a hair wrapped around an appendage, such as a finger or toe. Check those and the diaper areas to be sure a wayward hair isn’t causing the crying. If all else fails, then consider your baby’s personality. He may just need extra attention. Some babies are content to sleep in a crib all alone all night. But some babies crave having someone close by — that sensation reminds them of being in the womb. It’s important to remember, regardless of what Grandma or anyone else says, that you can’t “spoil” a young baby. He is simply crying in order to communicate until cooing, babbling and eventually words can do the job.