During their first week, your baby is likely to be exhausted and will hardly cry but sleep a lot.

However, once they have recovered from the birth, they are likely to start crying more regularly. Don’t be alarmed by this. Your baby is most probably crying due to hunger, apart from anything else.

However, even though hunger is the primary reason behind your newborn’s crying, it can be helpful to understand more of the science behind this hunger.

What is the reason behind this hunger?

Your baby is probably very hungry at this point because they can't get enough milk. Don’t panic; this is not a dig at your parenting. We’re simply informing you that if you’re breastfeeding, your body produces a lot of a substance called colostrum in the first few days, and by days 2 to 5, it can no longer produce as much (colostrum is a thick milk rich in antibodies and nutrients, which helps your baby fight infection).

By day 3, your body actually replaces colostrum with'real' milk. Although this milk won’t be nearly as thick, it will satisfy your baby’s hunger a lot more and allow them to feel a lot more full.

However, do keep in mind that the timing of your baby's desire ‘for'real’ milk won’t necessarily correlate to when your body is able to produce it. So, when your baby starts to cry between days 2 and 5, they are likely hungry for a type of milk you are not yet able to produce.

Please be assured that by day 5, your milk should start flowing a lot more freely, so this should become a non-issue as time goes on.

What are normal crying expectations during week 1?

It’s very normal for a baby to cry a lot during their very first weeks; after all, there’s rather a lot to get used to. Most babies will cry for between 2 and 4 hours a day, although at times it can feel as if their crying is pretty much nonstop.

Typically, if a baby is a big crier during their first week, they’ll probably follow this trait for a little while, though they should peak at about 6 weeks.

But why on earth do they cry so much? What’s the cause of all their tears?

Why does my baby cry?

Crying is your baby’s only real way of communicating at this point in time, but this can be a little stressful given that you can only really guess what they’re trying to tell you. Though we would say that during this first week, their number one request will be food, it's always worth trying to feed them first. Otherwise, they may need a nappy change, a nap, or simply a cuddle with one of their parents.

Similarly, their crying could be related to their body being bombarded by a lot of body-related signals they don’t understand. As adults, we’re used to the feeling of needing to go to the toilet, burp, or pass wind. However, these are brand new sensations for a newborn baby. So these natural signals will often cause them to feel overwhelmed, as they don’t yet understand them or what they mean.

What are the expectations for crying in week 3?

In week 3, your baby will cry for about 1 to 3 hours a day, but more if they have colic. For 9 out of 10 babies, this will include a random and unexplained crying spell that takes place in the evening and lasts anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour.

But why does my baby cry in the evenings?

We’re not entirely sure why evening crying is so common, though many experts attribute it to a reaction to the day’s excitement. This can also become exacerbated in the evenings because that’s when a mother’s milk production is at its lowest.

It could also be that your baby is suffering from colic. If your baby cries for no seemingly good reason, the tears last for more than 3 hours in 24 hours, and they lift their legs up to their chest or become rigid, they very likely have colic. Though there’s still a great deal of dispute as to the actual cause of colic, most argue that it’s down to digestive issues. Colic isn’t a serious medical condition, and your baby will be fine, but it’s rather stressful to deal with a baby who cries for hours on end.

How do I manage my newborn’s crying?

In the first week, try the following:

Let your baby suckle often. Suckling produces a hormone called prolactin, and this naturally speeds up your milk supply.

Try feeding, burping, rocking, and nappy changing. Follow your instincts; sometimes the simplest and most obvious solution is the right one.

Don’t give in, and give your baby formula milk or a dummy whenever they cry. Doing this runs the risk of your milk production being interfered with even more, and your milk, therefore, becoming further delayed. In addition, if your baby is full of formula milk, then they may not become hungry enough to breastfeed on a regular basis. Instead, try to feed them from your breast.

Speak to your midwife about any worries. If you’re still worried, it’s best to speak to your midwife. She will reassure you that your baby won’t starve, and she will be able to weigh them for you so you can see for yourself.

After your milk starts flowing more freely and the cause of their crying becomes less obvious, try the following:

Have relatives and friends help. Let someone else hold your baby and give you a rest every once in a while, and don’t be upset if your baby immediately stops crying once they’ve been passed on. A new face and a different position can often be just the ticket.

Make sure you get some sleep. It’s really important that you get some rest, so take a nap when you get a chance and share taking care of your little one with others.

Pick your baby up and comfort them. At this incredibly early stage in your baby’s life, they are learning to deal with a whole host of new feelings. What they need more than ever right now is comfort and contact from their primary carer, you. So, take any opportunity that you have to hug them and hold them close.

Always respond to your baby’s crying in any way you can. Studies have shown that responding to a baby’s cries at this early stage will make it much more likely they will cease to cry as they get older. Although some have previously said it’s better to let your baby ‘cry it out’ during this stage, this opinion has since been overruled by experts.

Be as patient as you can for the next few weeks. We know that incessant, relentless crying can be extremely stressful for parents, especially if this is their first time in this role. However, do try to be as patient as you possibly can. Remember that your baby is learning how to process not only the different sensations felt within their own body but also the world around them. Once they have adjusted, the crying is likely to subside.

Try using a baby carrier or sling when you are out. This will make it a lot easier for you to create a womb-like environment for your baby, so they can feel safer and more secure, and therefore less likely to cry.

And when they’re slightly older, around week 3, try the following:

A warm bath and a massage. Colic attacks will usually begin at the same time each day, so it’s a really good idea to give them a bath just beforehand. This will help to relax their tummy muscles. We also recommend that you massage clockwise circles around their belly button to direct the wind through their gut. Again, do this before the attack begins as opposed to when it starts, though you can try that too if you like.

Burping or expelling trapped wind. Burping is essential for all babies (breast and bottle-fed). To wind your baby, sit them up or place them against your chest with their head over your shoulder, and pat their back. You should wind your baby in the middle of a feed for 5 minutes and for up to 40 minutes after a feed if it should take this long. To expel trapped wind, lie your baby on their back and gently draw their knees up to their chest. Just be aware that during a colic attack, this can be rather painful for your baby.

Check your feeding technique. If you are breastfeeding, it’s possible that your baby isn’t quite latching on properly, and as a result, they’re taking in lots of air. Similarly, a certain bottle of tea could cause the same issue. So try a different feeding technique or a new bottle and teat and see if this helps at all.

Take your baby for a walk. A walk in their stroller can distract a colicky baby, and the change in environment will be good for you both.

Rock them. This may seem fairly obvious, but walking and rocking your baby is often the very best thing you can do when they’re crying, and popping them in a sling frees up your hands. You can also try lying down with them resting on your belly while you rub their back. Make sure to let someone else hold your baby for a while, too, so that you get a break and a rest.

Cranial osteopathy. This treatment is intended to release any tension in your baby’s muscles. It’s not a miracle cure by any means, but a lot of parents will tell you it helps.

How about gas-relieving drops or lactase drops? There is very little evidence that these work.

How can I cope with my newborn’s crying in the weeks after birth?

For Unii’s Newborn Journey, we explain how to manage a crying baby.