Babies cry for many reasons – most commonly because they are hungry or need a nappy change. 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).
What is normal?
Crying behaviours peak from 2 weeks to 4 months of age. This is a normal developmental process and is unrelated to the diagnosis of 'colic' or 'wind'. There is lots more on this here.
Why baby's might cry?
Baby may be unsettled due to:
hunger
dirty nappy
tiredness
wanting a cuddle / reassurance
abdominal wind
feeling too hot or too cold
Advice for parents:
try different winding positions
skin to skin contact
rocking / singing or music
a warm bath (after the first week)
going for a walk or short drive (do not encourage long periods in a car seat)
ICON is all about helping people who care for babies to cope with crying. It stands for:
I - Infant crying is normal
C - Comforting methods can help
O - It's OK to walk away
N - Never, ever shake a baby
Sometimes the crying can feel like it’s becoming too much, and if this is the case, click here for advice on what you can do and you can try these simple comfort methods to see if the baby stops crying.
Below are some things to look out for if your baby is crying that may suggest they are unwell.
When should you worry?
If your child has any of the following:
Breathing very fast, too breathless to talk, eat or drink
Is pale, blue, mottled or feels unusually cold to touch
Difficult to wake up or very sleepy
Weak, high-pitched cry or can’t be settled
Has a fit (seizure)
Has a rash that does not disappear with pressure (the glass test)
Has a temperature more than 38°C or under 36°C (unless fever in the 48 hours following vaccinations and no other red or amber features
You need urgent help
Go to the nearest Hospital Emergency (A&E) Department or phone 999-consider using ‘What 3 words’ to best describe location to ambulance service
If your child has any of the following:
Breathing a bit faster than normal or working a bit harder to breathe
Dry skin, lips or tongue
Not had a wee or wet nappy in last 8 hours
Poor feeding (less than half of their usual amount)
Irritable (Unable to settle them with cuddles, toys or feeding)
Getting worse and I am still worried
You need to contact a doctor or nurse today
Please ring your GP surgery or call NHS 111 - dial 111
If symptoms persist for 4 hours or more and you have not been able to speak to either a member of staff from your GP practice or to NHS 111 staff, recheck that your child has not developed any red features.
None of the above are present
Continues to feed well
Has plenty of wet nappies
Additional advice is also available for families to help cope with crying in otherwise well babies – click here
Self care
Continue providing your child’s care at home. If you are still concerned about your child contact your Health Visitor or call NHS 111 – dial 111
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This guidance was last reviewed 27/06/2025.
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
What can you do to help your baby?
Baby may be unsettled due to:
hunger
dirty nappy
tiredness
wanting a cuddle / reassurance
abdominal wind
feeling too hot or too cold
Advice for parents:
try different winding positions
skin to skin contact
rocking / singing or music
a warm bath (after the first week)
going for a walk or short drive (do not encourage long periods in a car seat)
Crying behaviours peak from 2 weeks to 4 months of age. This is a normal developmental process and is unrelated to the diagnosis of 'colic' or 'wind'. There is lots more on this here.
Comfort methods can sometimes soothe the baby and the crying will stop. Babies can cry for reasons such as if they are hungry, tired, wet/dirty or they are unwell.
Check these basic needs and try some simple calming techniques:
Talk calmly, hum or sing to your baby
Let them hear a repeating or soothing sound
Hold them close - skin to skin
Go for a walk outside with your baby
Give them a warm bath
These techniques may not always work. It may take a combination or more than one attempt to soothe your baby.
If the crying won't stop what should you do?
Not every baby is easy to calm but that doesn’t mean that you are doing anything wrong.
Don’t get angry with your baby or yourself. Instead, put your baby in a safe place and walk away so that you can calm yourself down by doing something that takes your mind off the crying. Try:
Listening to music, doing some exercises or doing something that calms you
Call a relative or friend - they may be able to calm your baby or may be able to watch them
After a few minutes when you are calm, go back and check on the baby.
It’s normal for parents to get stressed, especially by their baby crying. Put some time aside for yourself and taker care of your needs as well as your baby’s to help you cope.
Handling a baby roughly will make them more upset. Shouting or getting angry with your baby will make things worse. For help and support, take a look at the ICON website: http://iconcope.org/parentsadvice
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