If a baby cries excessively for too long, it can signal underlying issues like illness or severe colic, but prolonged stress from being left to cry can also negatively impact brain development, stress regulation, and attachment, potentially leading to long-term behavioral problems, difficulty self-soothing, and insecure relationships, emphasizing the need for responsive care and professional help.
Not responding repeatedly to a crying baby may have negative long-term effects. Research has in fact shown that excessive crying in the first stages of life doubles the risk of emotional and behavioural problems at age 5-6, such as behavioural problems, hyperactivity/inattention and mood disorders.
Short-term emotional responses and crying are part of healthy pregnancy and won't negatively impact fetal development. Prolonged, severe stress or depression may affect pregnancy outcomes, so professional support should be sought when needed.
It's OK to let your baby cry if the baby doesn't seem sick and you've tried everything to soothe your baby. You can try to leave your baby alone in a safe place, such as a crib, for about 10 to 15 minutes. Many babies need to cry before they can fall asleep. And they'll nod off faster if you leave them to cry.
After 3 hours, contact your doctor. Crying nonstop for too long likely means there's something wrong. If no amount of soothing seems to work and they aren't crying it out, your doctor can provide guidance.
Crying can last 30 to 40 minutes or longer. Even otherwise healthy infants may spend up to 4 or 5 hours a day crying. Sometimes your baby may need to cry to relieve stress. If you've checked all the usual suspects—diaper, hunger, comfort—it's OK to let them cry.
What are the symptoms?
How Much Crying Is Too Much Crying? On average, most families with which we work who do Cry It Out have babies who cry 30-45 minutes in one stretch. However, it's not uncommon for some babies to cry 1-2 hours during the height of sleep training. In some cases, babies become hoarse from crying.
High pitched crying. Difficulty calming. Facial grimacing. Difficulty with feeding or taking a pacifier.
The main result of this study indicated that “ignoring the crying baby,” unlike “leaving the baby alone at home,” had a long-lasting suppressive effect on multiple aspects of neuropsychological development, particularly communication development, in early childhood (i.e., six months to three years).
For younger infants, the focus is often on practicing foundational self-soothing skills. Short-term crying is expected, but not harmful: Studies show no long-term adverse effects from CIO. In fact, many babies show improved security, predictability, and reduced fussiness after sleep training.
Bad Effects of Crying on Health
But for some, the act of crying can cause medical complications. It can lead to fits or can cause acute shortness of breath. For those with severe heart conditions, there can be a cardiac pain. Crying can take a toll on your body if you have certain medical conditions.
High levels of stress that continue for a long time may cause health problems, like high blood pressure and heart disease. During pregnancy, stress can increase the chances of having a baby who is preterm (born before 37 weeks of pregnancy) or a low-birthweight baby (weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces).
The 7 key danger signs for newborns, often highlighted by organizations like the WHO, are not feeding well, convulsions, fast breathing, severe chest indrawing, lethargy/unconsciousness (movement only when stimulated), high or low temperature, and jaundice (yellow skin/soles) or signs of local infection like an infected umbilical stump, requiring immediate medical attention.
Infants normally cry about 1 to 3 hours a day. It is perfectly normal for an infant to cry when hungry, thirsty, tired, lonely, or in pain. It is also normal for a baby to have a fussy period in the evening. But, if an infant cries too often, there might be a health problem that needs attention.
In infants, signs of pain include: Facial grimacing, frequent frowning, clenched jaw. Legs move restlessly or are drawn up, tensed or kicking. Squirming, shifting, arching; rigid or jerking movements.
The 2-hour rule for babies means they shouldn't stay in a car seat (or travel system seat) for more than two hours at a time, whether in or out of the car, because the semi-upright position can strain their developing spine and restrict their breathing, increasing the risk of low oxygen levels, especially for newborns and preemies. For long journeys, parents should take breaks every two hours to take the baby out, allow them to lie flat for a while, stretch, and feed, ensuring they get proper head/neck support and circulation.
Colicky crying is louder, more high-pitched, and more urgent sounding than regular crying. Colicky babies can be very hard to calm down.
The 5-3-3 rule is a baby sleep training method for night weaning and fostering independent sleep, involving a baby sleeping 5 hours, staying awake for 3 (for a feed if needed), then sleeping another 3 hours, and continuing in 3-hour increments, teaching them to self-soothe after the initial long stretch, though it's a flexible guideline, not strict; it aims to create longer stretches for parents while meeting the baby's needs, often used around 4-6 months.
Self-soothing
Many parents begin to pause before responding, or allow children to cry during bedtime without running to their sides around this age to teach children to sleep on their own. Even using this method, many suggest that babies should not be allowed to cry for more than 10 minutes without your attention.
If your baby's crying constantly and you cannot console or distract them, or the cry does not sound like their normal cry, it can be a sign they're ill. Or they may be ill if they're crying and have other symptoms, such as a high temperature. If this is the case, contact your health visitor, GP or call NHS 111.
Infants may not express their feelings in words, but they communicate through behaviors. Observing these signs can be crucial for parents. One common indicator of anxiety is excessive crying. If your baby cries more than usual and seems inconsolable, it might signal distress.
Colic usually starts when babies are about 3 weeks old. It gets worse when they are between 4 and 6 weeks old. Most of the time, colicky babies get better after they are 6 weeks old, and are crying for less than 1 hour per day by the time they are 12 weeks old.
Signs of Respiratory Distress