How to describe a cry

Write down the sound you heard. Interpretation belongs to the pediatrician.

Observable words

Pitch

Low, middle, high, or changing between them.

Rhythm

Even, uneven, repeated bursts, or single sounds separated by silence.

Pauses

Short, long, frequent, or occasional pauses between sounds.

Loudness

Soft, medium, loud, or changing in loudness.

Duration

When you first heard it and when it stopped or changed.

Changes over time

Whether the pitch, rhythm, pauses, or loudness changed while you listened.

Sound-only examples

Example 1: “At 2:10 p.m., I heard three short high sounds, then a pause, repeating for about five minutes. The sounds became louder near the end.”

Example 2: “At 8:40 p.m., the sound began low and even. There were longer pauses after several sounds, and the pitch rose during the last two minutes.”

Bring this to the visit