My Grandson's Mission To Prove Children Don't Always Need A Reason For Crying.

When I was a parent in the 90s and the early 2000s, every professional who came into contact with me told me that children cry for a reason.

We were told to always listen to our child's cries because they tell us what they need.

I might shock professionals and parents when I say that my grandson disputes this evidence every night!

Every night before bed, he has cuddles, a little television, a drink, a change of clothes, washes, gets his teeth cleaned, and gets plenty of attention from his mum before going to sleep.

He seems to have developed a little routine of tantrums aka screaming at his mum about everything, even when there is nothing to scream about, every single night before going to bed!

This can go on for hours, and it doesn't matter what his mum or we do, there is no consoling him.

The only time that he is consoled is when he has exhausted himself enough to go to sleep!

Some days when he is like this, he won't let you near him even when he wants cuddles. On days like these, all you can do is block your ears and let him scream it out.

Of course, there are times when children scream for a reason, but this isn't all the time.

I have been studying my grandchildren's crying patterns for a few years to get some thoughts for a child psychology course that I am studying at certificate level, and hopefully to degree level at some point in the future.

My evidence has shown that children cry when they don't need anything too.

The routine for my grandson is to have his tea, play for a while, have cuddles, get washed, and have his teeth cleaned, followed by a drink, watch a little television, then it's time for bed. He doesn't watch television all night; the television is off before eight P.M.

However, he has a routine where he will scream and scream, even when he has had all of his needs met, before finally falling asleep, and it happens every night.

The conclusion that I have drawn from this is that he doesn't have any reason other than he cries himself to sleep, to make himself tired enough to be able to go to sleep.

My grandson is a very active child, and he doesn't tire easily. He would play all night if he was left to his own devices!

We have looked into ADHD and Autism, though he can't be diagnosed because he is only three years old.

His behavior is considered normal for his age, and, he may grow out of it due to some behavior traits being considered to be typical child development.

This brought me to ask, do children always cry when they need something?

The answer is no.

Children sometimes cry because they want to cry, and other children can develop crying routines at night; which in my own experience and opinion, could be their way of self-soothing themselves at sleep times, or at times; simply because they want to cry.

From a comical point of view; my grandson likes to be heard all the time, and he loves hearing the sound of his voice, so maybe crying could also be a way for children to also test the limits of their voices!

I will certainly continue my fascinating studies as a way of finding out, although I may need a new set of ears, by the time I am done.

However, I think with all the studying I have done, and thanks to my grandchild's participation, my studies have already concluded that children do not always cry for a reason!