Unnecessary crying in babies, often called excessive or inconsolable crying, stems from basic needs like hunger, dirty diapers, tiredness, or discomfort (gas, temperature, being overtired), but also from overstimulation, colic, food sensitivities (like dairy), illness (infections, reflux, teething), frustration, loneliness, or even stranger anxiety, with colic being a common cause for seemingly no reason after basic needs are met.
Discomfort or irritation from a wet or dirty diaper, excessive gas, or feeling cold. Hunger or thirst. Illness. Infection (a likely cause if the crying is accompanied by irritability, lethargy, poor appetite, or fever.
Babies cry for many reasons, including to tell you that they're tired, or hungry, or have a wet diaper. Sometimes your baby cries because they want to be held or played with – or, sometimes, they're simply overstimulated and need a little quiet time.
Colic is when a healthy baby cries for more than 3 hours each day for 3 or more days in one week. All babies cry, but some cry more than others. Healthy newborns start to cry more around 2 weeks of age. They will cry even more until they're about 6 weeks old.
Uncontrollable crying can be a sign of a neurological disorder called pseudobulbar affect (PBA) or a mental health issue like depression.
Depression is a well-recognized cause of frequent and uncontrollable crying spells in adults. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a mood condition that affects the feelings, thoughts, and day-to-day functioning of a person. One of its key emotional symptoms is persistent sadness and tearfulness without a clear reason.
Strong emotions.
People commonly cry because of sadness or happiness. But you can also cry because of intense laughter, deep frustration, sudden anger or extreme fear. Emotional events and memories can also trigger emotional crying.
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.
Babies with neurological impairment may have high-pitched, fussy cries that sound like pain cries. Children with brain damage are more sensitive to stimuli, resulting in increased fussiness.
Seem overly fussy or be difficult to soothe. Children at risk for autism might cry or tantrum more often than other children. They might also begin to cry or fuss without an obvious trigger and/or not be soothed by common calming practices.
Colicky crying is louder, more high-pitched, and more urgent sounding than regular crying. Colicky babies can be very hard to calm down.
To soothe a crying baby:
Crying is one way babies communicate. Excessive crying is a normal phase in infant development. Most babies who cry a great deal are healthy and stop crying spontaneously. Prolonged, inconsolable crying peaks when the baby is between 2 and 4 months of age and generally lessens when babies are around 5 months old.
How do I recognize pain in my newborn?
The babies who may be at risk for ADHD are the ones who cry constantly and have trouble self-soothing; who are angry, fussy, and difficult to control; who have problems feeding and falling and/or staying asleep; or who are intolerant of frustration.
The first three months with your baby often seem the hardest. Sleep-deprived parents can feel overwhelmed, but that is normal and you will quickly learn how to read your baby's cues and personality. Don't worry about “spoiling” your baby at this stage.
SIDS is less common after 8 months of age, but parents and caregivers should continue to follow safe sleep practices to reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related causes of infant death until baby's first birthday. More than 90% of all SIDS deaths occur before 6 months of age.
If your baby is crying a lot (more than three hours a day, three days a week for at least one week), colic could be the issue. The precise causes of colic are unknown, but it's common in many newborn babies. It can start when a baby is a few weeks old and usually will go away by six months.
Infant irritability ('colic') is an extremely common phenomenon, with most babies having some periods of irritability. Physiological irritability of infancy peaks at 6-8 weeks of age and is deemed 'excessive' if the infant cries for more than 3 hours per day for 3 days per week for 3 consecutive weeks.
Features of colic may include:
Cries From Overstimulation or Boredom
If your baby is overstimulated, the cry can turn into shrieking, and if your baby is bored, it can turn into laughter. Some babies get overstimulated if they're around too much activity or noise. You may notice that the baby looks tired and is irritable.
Pseudobulbar affect (PBA) is a neurological condition that causes outbursts of uncontrolled or inappropriate laughing or crying. These episodes don't match your internal emotional state. PBA develops as the result of a brain injury or underlying neurological condition, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
What is Neuro-crying? Crying and agitation for no apparent reason in children with severe neurologic impairment is a common and frustrating problem for care providers and parents.
Understanding why you have strong emotions, whether it's hormonal changes, mental health conditions, or something else, is essential for addressing the issue. Crying excessively for unknown reasons can be a symptom of depression, and consulting a mental health professional can provide valuable support.