Babies cry for many reasons – most commonly because they are hungry or need a nappy change. You can try these simple comfort methods to see if the crying stops. Sometimes babies cry because they are uncomfortable or are unwell. This may be due to colic, reflux, constipation, or infection amongst other things (see below). Sometimes the crying can feel like it’s become too much, and if this is the case, see parents’ advice from ICON on what you can do.
Below are some things to look out for if your baby is crying that may suggest they are unwell.
When should I worry and what should I do?
Call 999 or go to A&E now if your child:
Becomes pale, mottled and feels abnormally cold to touch
Has pauses in their breathing lasting more than 10 seconds, is grunting or is going blue around the lips
Is stiff or rigid or makes repeated, jerky movements of arms or legs that don’t stop when you hold them (a fit or seizure)
Becomes extremely agitated (crying inconsolably despite distraction), confused or very lethargic (difficult to wake)
Develops a rash that does not disappear with pressure (the ‘Glass Test’)
Is under 3 months of age with a temperature of 38°C / 100.4°F or above (unless fever in the 48 hours following vaccinations and no other red or amber features)
Has fingers or toes that look very red, swollen or painful to touch
Call 111 or ask for an urgent GP appointment if your child:
Has difficulty breathing, including breathing fast all of the time; widening their nostrils or pulling in of the muscles below the ribs when breathing
Is not interested in feeding and/or looks dehydrated (dry mouth, sunken eyes, no tears, drowsy, no wet nappies in the last 8 hours or sunken fontanelle (soft spot on the head)
Is becoming drowsy (excessively sleepy) or irritable (unable to settle them with cuddles, toys, TV, or snacks) – especially if they remain drowsy or irritable despite their fever coming down
Is getting worse or if you are worried
You can also contact your nearest Walk-in Centre.
If your child:
- Continues to feed well
- Has plenty of wet nappies
Your child does not seem to have any symptoms of serious illness or injury:
Continue providing your child’s care at home. If you are still concerned about your child contact your Midwife or Health Visitor or call NHS 111 – dial 111
Additional advice is also available to families for coping with the crying of otherwise well babies
You can get general advice on the NHS conditions or from your local pharmacy.
Early infant crying
Crying behaviours peak from two weeks to four months of age. This is a normal developmental process and is unrelated to the diagnosis of ‘colic’ or ‘wind’.
Why babies might cry
A baby may be unsettled due to:
- Hunger
- Dirty happy
- Tiredness
- Wanting a cuddle / reassurance
- Abdominal wind
- Feeling too hot or too cold
Advice for parents when a baby is crying:
- Try different winding positions
- Skin to skin contact
- Rocking/singing or music
- A warm bath (after the first week)
- Going for a walk or a short drive
(do not encourage long periods in a car seat)
Conditions that can cause a baby to cry excessively
Reflux
- It is normal for babies to have some reflux. This is because the muscle at the end of the food pipe, which keeps food in the stomach, is still developing. Reflux may cause your baby to bring up milk after a feed and can also give them hiccups. If your baby is growing normally and is not showing any marked signs of distress, there is no need to worry
- More severe reflux can cause your baby to cry and be sick, often after feeding. The long name for severe reflux is gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). This means that when your baby’s tummy is full, food and stomach acid flows back up their food pipe causing discomfort and pain
- If you have tried the measures described above and seen no improvement, see your Health Visitor. They will review your child’s symptoms and ask you about the formula you have used and may possibly prescribe an antacid designed for babies
Infection
Your baby may be vomiting because they have an infection. This is usually associated with a temperature above 38°C / 100.4°F. Although the most likely cause is a viral infection, other causes include urinary tract infections or very occasionally a more serious illness such as meningitis or sepsis.
Signs of a serious infection include:
becoming pale and floppy
going blue around the lips
becoming fretful or excessively miserable when touched
becoming difficult to rouse
finding it hard to breathe
develops a rash that does not disappear with pressure (the Glass Test)
If any of these features are present your child needs to be assessed – check your child for the features in the boxes at the top of this page and follow the guidance.
Colic
Colic can cause excessive, frequent crying in a baby who appears to be otherwise healthy. It’s a common problem that affects up to one in five babies. Although the cause is unknown, it is likely to be due to intestinal discomfort like bowel cramping.
Colic tends to begin when a baby is a few weeks old. It normally stops by four months of age, or by six months at the latest.
Looking after a colicky baby can be very frustrating and distressing, but the problem will eventually pass and is usually nothing to worry about.
Signs and symptoms of colic include:
- Your baby often starts crying suddenly. The cry is high-pitched and nothing you do seems to help
- The crying begins at the same time each day, often in the afternoon or evening.
- Your baby might draw their legs up when they cry
- Your baby might clench their hands
- Your baby’s face might flush
- The crying can last for minutes or hours. A baby with colic cries for 3 hours a day or more
- The crying often winds down when your baby is exhausted or when they have passed wind or poo
Constipation
Difficulty having a poo (constipation) can be a cause of excessive crying in babies. However, the crying tends to stop once your baby has had a poo.
Formula fed babies are more prone to constipation because formula can be harder to digest than breastmilk. A breastfed baby is far less likely to get constipated.
Signs of constipation may include:
- Crying and discomfort, irritability, or pain before doing a poo
- Dry, hard, pellet-like poo that is hard to pass
- Foul-smelling wind and poo
- A hard belly
Try not to worry too much if your baby becomes constipated. It’s likely to happen now and then. Simple things you can try at home if your baby is constipated include:
Do
- Gently move your baby’s legs in a bicycling motion to help move the hard poo along.
- If your baby is drinking formula, give them extra water in between feeds, but don’t dilute the formula. Make sure that you are using the recommended amount of milk powder when making up a bottle. Too much powder can dehydrate your baby, causing constipation. For babies under 6 months you will need to use cooled boiled water because tap water is not sterile (you can do this easily by boiling water from your tap and allowing it to cool completely). For babies over 6 months of age you can give drinking water straight out of the tap
If your baby is in significant pain despite doing this, you arrange for them to be reviewed by your GP surgery who may decide to start them on treatment.
Where should you seek help?
- If it is non-urgent, speak to your local pharmacist or health visitor.
- Or contact you GP practice and a qualified member of the clinical team will assess if your child needs to be seen urgently. For an urgent out-of-hours GP appointment, call NHS 111.
- You should only call 999 or go your nearest A&E department in critical or life threatening situations.