Parents have to learn what makes a baby cry.
Parents only understand why babies cry over time
A new study has revealed that humans do not have an innate ability to tell what is causing a baby to wail and only pick up the skill after spending time with children.
Experts from the University of Saint-Etienne played recordings of babies crying for various reasons to participants with a range of childcare backgrounds.
It was discovered that those who are experienced in looking after infants were better at telling the differences between cries.
Professor Nicolas Mathevon, a professor of bioacoustics at the university, said: "We found that the ability to detect pain in cries - that is, to identify a pain from a mere discomfort cry - is modulated experience of caring for babies.
"Current parents of young babies can identify a baby's pain cries even if they have never heard this baby before, whereas inexperienced individuals are typically unable to do so."