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Why is my baby crying?

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Pregnancy & First Days First few days

All babies cry – it’s perfectly normal. It’s their way of communicating with you. 

Babies usually cry because they’re trying to tell you something – for example “I’m hungry”, “I’m sleepy”, “I want a cuddle!”. Your baby’s cry might even be: “I’m just crying because I feel like crying!”. 

It sounds simple, but when you’re getting to know your baby and everything is so new, it can be anything but. 

So we’ve put together our top tips for why your baby may be crying and some tricks you can use to help soothe them. A crying baby is stressful for any parent – so check out advice from parents and professionals for getting through those first few weeks.

When will things get better?

Babies start to cry more frequently from around 2 weeks of age. The crying may get more frequent and last longer. But the good news is, after around 8 weeks babies generally start to cry less each week. So if you're still in the early weeks, hang in there! 

After about 5 months, your baby is more likely to be crying for a reason – because they’re hungry, tired or too hot or cold, for example. 

Excessive crying and colic

Some babies develop excessive crying due to colic, which often happens late in the afternoon or evening, just when you (and they) are at your most tired. Your baby may pull up their legs, go red in the face and seem to have a lot of wind. A warm bath, baby massage and just being there can help. Ask your health visitor about baby massage classes near you. Massage their belly clockwise, as that is the direction of the digestive system. Sometimes it helps to hold your baby face-down resting along your arm.

If your baby has colic regularly, and other children need to have their tea about the same time, plan meals that can be prepared ahead or made quickly, so you’re not doubly stressed – or ask someone else to step in as cook. The good news is that babies seem to grow out of the colicky phase, after about 12 weeks. 

Helping your baby

It's normal for babies to get upset, sometimes very upset! And there will be times when nothing you do seems to help soothe them. As hard as this can be, try not to doubt yourself. This is part of parenting. You’re not doing anything wrong – this is a normal phase and it will pass eventually. All you can do is persevere and help your baby become used to you trying to calm them down and understand them.

This is an important part of your baby’s development and is called “rupture and repair”. Over time your baby will get used to the pattern of being upset, you soothing them, and them feeling better. This also helps their brain to grow so they can deal with stress more effectively as they get older.

What the parents say

You pick it up as you go along

"Those first few days, I found myself wondering why anyone had let me leave the hospital with this little baby – I had no idea what I was doing! I would panic when he cried, and was worried I’d forget everything I’d been told at the hospital.

"After a week or so, we started to get into a rhythm where I felt like I knew the signs he was hungry, or it was time to change his nappy. Every day it’s different but now we’re in the swing of things."

Kathy - Edinburgh


Sometimes you both just need a few minutes of time out

“One day, he kept crying and crying. I had done everything I could think of, and nothing helped. I was exhausted, and I just didn’t know what to do.

"I rang mum, she said just to take a wee time out. I felt so guilty, but I was at the end of my tether. I put him down in his cot where I knew he was safe, and told him I’d be back soon.

"I went to the kitchen to splash my face and took a couple of deep breaths. It was only a minute or so, but it made such a difference – when I came back, I felt so much more calm. It was much easier to settle him once I’d had a little break."

Julia – Dalkeith

What the professionals say

If you’re worried about your baby’s crying, ask your health visitor, family nurse or GP to check them over so you know everything is fine. If nothing is wrong, that’s likely just how your baby is at the moment.

You’re not doing anything wrong, it’s not your fault, and it happens to lots of people. Over time, they’ll become more settled.

Crying is stressful for any parent, and it’s that much harder when you’re exhausted. Talking to new parents and family and friends who’ve been there can really help. You can also find local support groups to meet other parents going through the same thing.

Never shake a baby. It can cause serious damage to their eyes and brain or even be fatal. If you’re really struggling, put the baby somewhere safe and ask for help from friends, family or the Cry-sis Helpline (08451 228 669).

Last updated: 26 Jun, 2023