Newborn Won’t Stop Crying: What’s Normal and When to Worry
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Crying is normal in newborns, and some babies cry much more than others. Newborns may cry because they are hungry, tired, overstimulated, uncomfortable, or simply having a normal fussy period. What matters most is how your baby acts between crying episodes and whether the crying is different from usual. A newborn who cannot be consoled, seems ill, feeds poorly, has a fever, vomits repeatedly, has trouble breathing, or acts unusually needs medical attention.
- All newborns cry, and crying often increases during the first several weeks.
- Healthy newborns may have periods of crying even when there is no obvious cause.
- Hunger and tiredness are two of the most common reasons newborns cry.
- Some babies develop prolonged periods of crying commonly called colic.
- A baby who is content and behaves normally between crying spells is generally more reassuring.
- A sudden change in crying or an inconsolable newborn deserves closer attention.
- Never shake a baby. If you become overwhelmed, place your baby safely in the crib and step away briefly while you get help.
Few things are harder for a new parent than listening to a newborn cry when nothing seems to make it stop.
You feed the baby. You change the diaper. You hold, rock, burp, and walk around the room—and the crying continues.
That can be exhausting and frightening, especially when you are trying to decide whether something is actually wrong.
The reassuring truth is that crying is a normal part of newborn life. The challenge is learning to recognize the difference between normal newborn fussiness and crying that may signal illness or pain.
How Much Crying Is Normal for a Newborn?
There is a wide range of normal.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, newborns routinely cry for periods throughout the day, and some may cry for several hours in total.
Crying often increases during the first weeks of life. Many babies become particularly fussy in the late afternoon or evening.
A baby may cry intensely for a while and then return to being calm, alert, feeding normally, and sleeping normally.
That return to normal behavior between crying episodes is reassuring.
Why Do Newborns Cry?
Crying is one of the only ways a newborn can communicate.
Common reasons include:
- Hunger
- Tiredness
- A wet or soiled diaper
- Being too warm or too cold
- Overstimulation
- Wanting to be held or comforted
- Difficulty settling to sleep
- Discomfort from clothing or diaper irritation
Sometimes you will check all of these things and still not find an obvious explanation.
That can still be normal.
What Is Colic?
Colic is a term used for frequent, prolonged crying in an otherwise healthy infant who is growing normally and has no identifiable medical cause for the crying.
Traditionally, crying for more than about three hours a day has been used as part of the description of colic.
Colic usually begins during the first few weeks of life, often peaks around 4–6 weeks, and improves as the baby's nervous system matures. For most babies, it has substantially improved or resolved by about 3–4 months.
A baby with colic generally looks and behaves normally between episodes.
Is It Gas?
Parents commonly assume that prolonged crying must be caused by gas.
Crying babies certainly swallow air, pass gas, pull their legs up, and make plenty of intestinal noises. But those observations do not necessarily mean gas is causing the crying.
The AAP's symptom guidance specifically notes that normal intestinal gas is frequently blamed for crying even though it is not usually the underlying cause.
Similarly, routine spitting up is common in newborns and by itself does not usually explain persistent crying.
If your newborn is crying but otherwise appears well, work through the basics first:
- Offer a feeding if your baby is showing hunger cues.
- Check and change the diaper.
- Make sure your baby is not too warm or too cold.
- Try holding your baby close and gently rocking or walking.
- Reduce bright lights, noise, and stimulation.
- Try quiet singing, humming, or steady soothing sounds.
- If your baby seems overtired, create a calm environment and help them settle for sleep.
You may need to try several approaches before finding what works for your baby.
How Can I Tell If My Newborn Is Crying From Hunger?
Hunger is one of the most common reasons newborns cry, but crying itself is actually a late hunger signal.
Earlier hunger cues include rooting, opening the mouth, bringing the hands toward the mouth, lip smacking, sucking movements, and becoming increasingly alert or restless.
If your baby settles and becomes content during or after a good feeding, hunger was probably contributing to the crying.
If your newborn seems hungry after nearly every feeding or is not gaining weight appropriately, discuss the feeding pattern with your pediatrician.
What If My Baby Cries After Feeding?
A little fussiness after feeding can occur for many reasons.
Your baby may be tired, overstimulated, need a diaper change, or simply need help settling.
If crying after feeds is persistent and is accompanied by frequent vomiting, feeding refusal, coughing or choking during feeds, poor weight gain, or other concerning symptoms, talk with your pediatrician.
Those additional findings are more important than simply assuming that every episode of post-feeding crying is caused by reflux or gas.
When Does Crying Become Concerning?
A change from your baby's usual behavior is important.
A baby who normally settles with feeding or holding but suddenly becomes impossible to console deserves more attention than a baby who has a predictable fussy period every evening and is otherwise doing well.
The younger the baby, the lower the threshold should be for contacting your pediatrician when something seems different.
Contact your pediatrician promptly if your newborn:
- Has new or unexplained crying that is different from the usual pattern
- Cannot be consoled despite feeding, holding, changing, and soothing
- Cries continuously for more than about two hours
- Is feeding poorly or refusing feeds
- Has repeated vomiting
- Is not gaining weight appropriately
- Cries when touched, moved, or picked up
- Has a swollen or bulging soft spot
- Looks or acts abnormal in any way, particularly during the first month of life
If you are concerned that your newborn's crying is unusual, you do not need to wait until it fits a particular number of hours before calling.
When Is Crying an Emergency?
Seek urgent medical evaluation if your newborn:
- Is extremely difficult to wake or unusually unresponsive
- Is very weak or not moving normally
- Has trouble breathing or is working hard to breathe
- Has blue or gray lips, tongue, or face
- Has a seizure
- Has a weak, absent, or distinctly abnormal cry
- Is too weak to feed
- Has significant signs of dehydration
- Has a rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher
- Looks seriously ill to you
A fever in a baby younger than 3 months requires prompt medical evaluation even if the baby otherwise appears well.
If the Crying Is Becoming Too Much for You
Persistent newborn crying can overwhelm even a loving, experienced caregiver.
If you feel yourself becoming angry, panicked, or unable to cope, place your baby on their back in a safe crib or bassinet and step away for a few minutes.
Call your partner, family member, friend, or another trusted person and ask for help.
A baby crying safely in a crib for a short period while you regain control is far safer than continuing to hold the baby when you are overwhelmed.
Never shake, hit, throw, slam, or jerk a baby. Shaking can cause catastrophic brain injury or death within seconds.
When parents brought me a crying newborn, I was never interested only in how many hours the baby cried.
I wanted to know what happened between the crying spells. Does the baby feed well? Can the baby be comforted? Are there normal wet diapers? Is the baby alert and content at other times? Is weight gain appropriate?
Those details often tell us much more than the crying itself.
Newborn Questions Can Feel Overwhelming
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Join the Parent Club →References & Medical Sources
- American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org. Responding to Your Baby's Cries
- American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org. How to Calm a Fussy Baby: Tips for Parents & Caregivers
- American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org. Crying Baby — Before 3 Months Old
Related Parent Resources
Find more pediatric guidance about crying, feeding, sleep, diapers, breathing, and other common newborn concerns in our Newborn Care Library →
Medical Disclaimer
This article provides general educational information and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from your child's pediatrician or another qualified healthcare professional. Newborns can become ill quickly, and persistent or unusual crying may sometimes be an early sign of illness or pain. Contact your pediatrician if your baby's crying is new, unusual, persistent, or accompanied by feeding problems, vomiting, fever, breathing difficulty, abnormal behavior, or other concerning symptoms. If your baby appears seriously ill or you believe there is an emergency, seek immediate medical care.