Excessive Crying in Infants: Understanding Why Babies Cry

None of us likes to see those we love crying, and it’s particularly distressing for new parents because infants do cry a lot. This is something that you probably expected, but it can still be hard to deal with when you actually see your precious baby sobbing bitterly. Unfortunately, it’s the only way in which infants can communicate their needs, as they can’t use any form of spoken or sign language to tell us what they’re feeling. In most cases, your baby is likely to be crying to tell you that he or she is hungry, sleepy, wants cuddles, or needs a diaper change. This peaks in the first three months and then declines as babies learn other ways to communicate. However, it’s important to be able to distinguish between normal and excessive crying in infants so that you can quickly deal with any possible newborn health issue.

Newborn excessive crying: What is considered normal?

Newborns begin to cry with increased frequency from about the second week of birth, and when you add it all up, this can account for about one to three hours of crying each day. This may sound excessive and can give you plenty of sleepless nights, but it is considered perfectly normal at this age. During the first three months of age, infants are still undergoing brain development, particularly in regions that regulate emotions, understanding, and self-control. As a result, infants cry frequently to communicate their needs for feeding, changing their clothing, comfort, and so on. However, at times, there may be no underlying reason for the crying, and it should eventually stop.

Persistent crying in infants is considered problematic or excessive when it extends beyond three hours a day for more than three days a week. If it continues for more than three weeks, colic is the most likely explanation. While there is little that parents can do about colic, it’s important to be able to recognise excessive crying in infants in case there’s a need for medical attention. A pooled review of crying diaries from several studies found that infants fuss or cry for about 117–133 minutes daily in the first six weeks, decreasing to roughly 68 minutes per day by 10–12 weeks of age.

Causes of excessive crying in infants: Common triggers

There are various possible causes of excessive crying in newborns, and some common triggers include:

• Needing attention as they feel bored and lonely.
• Needing to be fed because of thirst or hunger.
• Needing to be bathed or changed because of irritation and discomfort caused by a soiled diaper.
• Discomfort caused by a buildup of gas that often results from swallowing air.
• Needing an appropriate change of clothing or linen because of feeling hot or cold.
• Colic or infections can also cause other symptoms.
• Ear infections are especially associated with pain, for which the babies might be cranky.
• Maternal medications that pass into breast milk may cause distressing symptoms in a breastfed infant.
• Diaper rashes are also one of the causes that lead a baby to cry relentlessly.
• You might also want to check for insect bites or any other skin irritation if you child is crying non-stop.

Newborn crying excessively: How parents can respond

To deal with a newborn crying excessively, it’s important to identify the underlying cause as far as possible. This can be challenging as it takes time to identify and read your baby’s cues, but some basic practices help:

• Discuss feeding schedules with your paediatrician if it seems like your baby is constantly hungry despite frequent nursing.
• When crying for attention, touch, carry, or talk to your baby, and keep them within sight.
• Change diapers frequently to avoid irritation and discomfort from wet diapers, and to lower the risk of diaper rash.
• Burp your baby and offer belly rubs to relieve excessive crying that may be caused by gas or acid reflux.
• Regulate the room temperature if excessive newborn crying is related to heat or cold, while also providing appropriate layers of clothing. Ideal temperature is 25 to 28° C.
• If there is no apparent cause, leave your baby in a safe crib and give him or her at least 10 minutes to fall asleep before intervening.
• Look for possible causes of pain and discomfort, such as diaper pins and loose, entangled hair or threads.
• Check your baby for other symptoms such as fever, inflammation, or skin irritation and keep track of them. Having a thermometer at home is a must. It ensures that the home is babyproofed.

Persistent crying in infants: When to seek help from doctors

It’s important to seek medical care if you notice any of the following:

• Excessive crying in infants does not resolve within a day despite following home care recommendations and has no known explanation.
• If excessive crying is accompanied by a fever (in babies, this would be a temperature of 100.4°F or higher).
• When there are other symptoms such as forceful vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, lethargy, and abnormal movements.

If you feel overwhelmed, talk to your child’s paediatrician or join parenting support groups for help.

Summary and key takeaways for parents

No matter how good a parent you may be, it’s not always possible to prevent or stop your baby from crying excessively. In such cases, assess the situation and try home care, as excessive crying usually resolves with simple interventions. If this does not work, seek medical assistance and inform your doctor about details such as the frequency of crying, duration, time of day, and other relevant details. With this information, your doctor may be able to identify a pattern and the underlying causes, providing an effective solution. Most importantly, pause, ask for help, and get enough rest — caring for a newborn is hard, and you don’t have to do it alone.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When is crying in an infant considered excessive?

Crying is considered excessive when it exceeds three hours a day for more than three days a week, and if it does not resolve within three weeks. Colic is the most likely cause.

2. How can parents respond to excessive crying in newborns at home?

Discuss feeding with a paediatrician if constantly hungry, provide comfort through cuddles and talk, change diapers often, burp and rub the belly for gas, regulate room temperature and clothing, check for pain or irritants, and if no cause is found, let the baby try to settle in a safe crib for at least ten minutes.

3. When should I seek medical help for persistent crying?

Seek medical care if excessive crying doesn’t improve within a day despite home measures or if it’s accompanied by symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, lethargy, abnormal movements, or less urine and stool output