I believe the answer Sam is by being a parent and figuring shit out. Babies do very few things: eat, pee, burp, shit and sleep. If they have done all those things within a reasonable timeframe then it is likely they are hot, cold or otherwise uncomfortable. And some babies just want you to talk to them and hold them. After spending time raising your child you’ll develop a sixth sense for what a cry is for so first you have to spend time with them.

Now, if you are filthy rich you shove the screaming sack of skin into the nearest nanny and GTFO. Later in life you’ll wonder why your relationship is business like at best and transactional at worst with your kid, which you will lament to your therapist about, but still fail to have the self realization that it’s because you were never a parent.