Why is my baby crying? Your guide to causes and comfort

Whether you’re a first-time parent or you’ve welcomed a new addition to your family, hearing your baby cry can feel worrying, stressful and overwhelming.

It's completely normal for babies to cry. But it’s also completely normal for you to wonder why they do it, and why they’re crying too much.

Here, we’ll take a look at some of the most common reasons why infants cry, explain some potential causes if your baby keeps crying or cries excessively (like colic), things you can try to soothe your little one and when you need to seek medical attention.

There are lots of reasons why infants cry, so if you’re trying to understand why your baby keeps crying, you’re absolutely not alone.

Remember, crying is the only way your baby can communicate right now. Let’s take a look at what they might be trying to tell you.

Babies get hungry - a lot! 

Whether you’re breastfeeding or bottle feeding, healthcare professionals recommend you feed your baby ‘on demand’ (also known as ‘responsive feeding’)¹, instead of following a set feeding schedule. In those first early days and weeks, they’ll want to feed little and often, and you’ll likely find yourself topping up their tummy every 2 -3 hours when they're under 3 months old.

Signs that your little one might be ready for their next feed include¹:

• Turning their head, opening their mouth and popping out their tongue, known as rooting.
• Sucking on their fingers and hands.
• Opening and closing their mouth, known as lip-smacking.
• Becoming wriggly and moving their eyes around. 

Crying is a very common way for babies to let you know that they’re ready for their next feed, but it’s also a late sign of hunger². If your baby keeps crying you can try to stay one step ahead by keeping an eye out for feeding cues and getting that feed ready before the crying starts!

Of course, it’s not always that easy - especially if you’ve got other children to look after. So don’t worry if you don’t always notice these hunger cues in time to stop your baby from crying for a feed - crying to let you know they’re hungry is completely normal.

Just like us, babies can get cranky when they’re tired. Your baby will probably have several sleepy signals; they’ll often yawn, rub their eyes and ears, look like their eyes are fluttering closed, and maybe be more clingy than usual³.

Babies can get overtired, too, particularly if they miss naptime, don’t sleep long enough, or don't sleep well enough.

Being overtired is a really common reason why infants cry. If you think you may have an overtired little one on your hands, you may also notice³:

• Your baby keeps crying to demand attention
• They can’t be consoled with toys or other distractions
• They’re fussy when you try to feed them 
• Your baby becomes a little clumsy 

To help your baby avoid becoming overtired, look for the signs of tiredness and help them establish good nap time and bedtime routines.

If your baby keeps crying but has recently been fed and had a sound sleep or nap, you might want to check for some common physical discomforts.

Newborns need their nappies changed very frequently (about 10 to 12 times a day - lucky you!). Even as your baby gets older, they’ll still need a nappy change 6 to 8 times a day⁴.

Frequent nappy changes can help prevent nappy rash, too, which can be sore and certainly cause a few tears.

But remember that babies don’t wee and poo on schedule (a wet or dirty nappy might also disrupt your little one during naptime, so this might be why they cry in their sleep if that’s something you’ve noticed). So if your baby keeps crying, even if they’ve had a recent nappy change, it’s always worth checking, as a wet or even wonky-post-wriggle nappy can be uncomfortable for your baby.

Whether you breastfeed or bottle feed your baby, air bubbles can get trapped in their tiny tummy, causing trapped wind⁵.  

If your baby keeps crying after a feed, trapped wind might be the culprit. Other signs of trapped wind include your baby⁵: 

• Arching their back
• Clenching their fists 
• Pulling their legs up to their tummy

If you think your baby might have trapped wind, there are a few things you can do to help relieve it:

• Try winding or burping your baby during and after feeding
• Give them a warm bath and a gentle tummy massage
• Lay them down and gently move their legs like they're riding a bicycle

Young babies aren’t very good at regulating their own body temperature. This means they can get too hot or too cold quickly, which can make them feel uncomfortable. 

If your baby is too hot or cold, they may let you know they feel uncomfortable by crying. Try to keep the room between 16℃ and 20℃, check your baby’s tummy to see if it feels hot or sweaty, and never let your baby sleep with a hot water bottle, an electric blanket, or near any type of fire or heater⁶.

This is definitely one to check if you’re wondering why your baby’s crying in their sleep.

Sometimes, there’s no other reason why infants cry than simply letting you know they’re ready for a cuddle.

And here’s the best part - there’s no such thing as ‘too many cuddles’. Enjoying cuddles and closeness with your little one can help your baby feel more secure and encourage them to become more independent⁷.

As well as baby cuddles being great for strengthening your bond, there are also plenty of other benefits to getting that snuggle time in, including helping your baby’s brain development, managing stress and setting them up for better sleep and social interaction in the future⁸.

So, if your baby keeps crying and you’ve checked for the other common reasons why babies cry, it might be time to cuddle up.

It’s not always easy to find the reason why your baby keeps crying. If you’re worried that your baby cries excessively, and you can’t find the cause, it could be down to colic, PURPLE crying⁹, or reflux. 

If you’ve ruled out everything we’ve discussed above, and your baby keeps crying intensely, it could be a sign of colic.

Colic is when your baby cries for often and for a long time for no apparent reason, with no evidence of illness, fever, or problems with their growth. Colic typically happens in very young babies, with the symptoms starting and stopping before they reach 5 months old¹⁰.

If your baby has colic, it can be a very distressing experience. But please remember that you’re not alone; Colic is estimated to affect 1 in 5 babies, whether they’re breast or formula-fed¹¹.

While crying intensely, your baby may look like they’re in distress with a red face and clenched fists. This type of crying is known as PURPLE crying.

Here’s what PURPLE crying means⁹:

• Peak crying. Your baby’s crying may increase and reach a peak around 2 months old, before decreasing again from around 3 to 5 months.
• Unexpected. Your baby keeps crying for no reason.
• Resists soothing. You feel like you’ve tried everything, but your baby keeps crying.
• Pain-like face. Your baby looks distressed or in pain while crying.
• Long-lasting. Your baby’s crying can continue for hours.
• Evening. The crying tends to start late afternoon into evening, and onwards.

Babies with colic may experience PURPLE crying. However, it’s also thought to be a normal phase of your baby’s development⁹.

Hearing your baby cry for long periods of time can be very distressing and challenging to deal with. Always reach out to friends and family for support if you can, and if you’re really struggling to manage, speak to your doctor or midwife.

Reflux is a common digestive issue in babies that causes milk to come back up from their stomach into their oesophagus¹². Whilst some babies are unphased by this, others can find it very uncomfortable, and it may cause them to cry. 

If your baby has reflux, you may notice that, alongside crying and fussiness, they are¹²:

• Crying intensely during or after feeds.
• Frequently bringing up their milk, typically during or after feeding. 
• Cough or regular hiccupping.
• Swallowing or gulping a lot, especially after feeding.
• Not gaining weight.

If your baby isn’t vomiting but has some other symptoms, they may have what’s known as silent reflux.

Reflux is very common in babies and often gets better on its own. However, you can help your baby with the symptoms by¹²:

• Keeping them as upright as possible during feeding.
• Keeping them as upright for as long as possible after feeding (but not for sleeping!)
• Burp your baby well and regularly during and after feeding.
• Offering smaller feeds more often.

If your baby has severe reflux symptoms, this is sometimes referred to as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which may need treatment¹³. If your baby is not gaining weight or is losing weight, always seek advice from your GP.

If your baby keeps crying, fussing or struggling to settle, there are plenty of things you can try to help soothe your little one.

Not everything will work for your baby, so don’t be disheartened if some of the things you try don’t calm your baby straight away or even at all.

Here are some techniques you can try to get you started¹⁴:

• Hold your baby close to you either in your arms or in a sling. Try some gentle movement like walking, swaying and dancing (it’s also much harder to feel frustrated if you’re having a boogie!).
• Play some music or the radio to give your baby something to listen to – this can sometimes distract them from crying.
• Take your baby for a drive or walk, or rock them back and forth in their pram to help lull them to sleep. (But don’t let your baby sleep in their car seat for longer than 30 minutes for newborns and 2 hours for older babies).
• If you’re breastfeeding, offer your baby a feed. You can’t overfeed a breastfed baby, and it can help soothe them¹⁵
• Try putting your baby in a warm bath – perfect if you’ve got a water baby on your hands!

There are many reasons why infants cry, and illness could be one of them. You should contact your GP or call 111 if your baby¹⁶:

• Shows no interest in eating 
• Isn’t drinking and showing signs of dehydration (look out for a dry mouth, sunken fontanelle (soft spot) on the top of their head, no wet nappies)
• Is irritable or drowsy 

You should dial 999 for your baby if¹⁴:

• Your baby stops breathing, is breathing rapidly or appears to be struggling to take in air
• Is being sick violently 
• Their hands and feet are cold, but their temperature is high 
• Your baby is making a throaty noise while breathing, breathing rapidly or struggling to breathe
• Your baby has a seizure (a fit)
• Your baby has mottled, blotchy, blue or very pale skin.
• Your baby has a spotty red rash that does not fade under the pressure of a glass tumbler.
• Your baby is very lethargic or difficult to wake.

This article is for informational purposes only and should not be used as medical advice. Always consult a doctor or health visitor if you are concerned about your baby's health.

Watching your little one cry for what can be hours on end can be worrying, stressful and frustrating. Ben’s mum says, ‘I just didn’t know what to do. I thought it was me, and that there was something wrong with my baby and my parenting. As soon as I started talking to other parents, I realised so many of them were going through the same thing. I felt so much better - it’s good to talk.’

Remember, it’s completely normal for babies to cry - and to cry a lot - and it doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong.

It’s really important to give yourself a break. If you feel like you’ve tried everything, and your baby keeps crying, take a moment. If you don’t have anyone around you, it’s OK to put your little one in a safe place like their cot while you take a few minutes in another room.

If you need additional support, you can contact your doctor or other healthcare professional. In addition, the Cry-sis helpline can talk to you about your crying or sleepless baby. You can also take a look at the ICON Cope programme for more information about coping with a crying baby.