All newborns cry, and there’s always a reason. Crying tends to peak between two weeks and four months of age, though things may differ if your baby is colicky or has a health problem. Crying up to three hours a day every day can be completely normal at this stage.

Crying is an important form of communication for your baby, and you can learn a lot from it. As you get to know your new arrival, you will come to understand their cues and even comprehend the sound of each cry. This will help you respond to them more quickly and effectively, and your baby will cry less. So, what are the reasons your baby might cry, and how can you learn to recognise them?

Hungry

Hunger is perhaps the most common reason that a young baby who is not ill will cry. Their tummies are very small, and many first-time mums report feeling suprised and/or tied down by how many times they need to feed them in the early months. They can need feeding eight to twelve times a day in month one. Hungry cries tend to be high-pitched wails, and you can also look out for physical cues—an open mouth (especially when you touch their cheek), gumming their fist, or rooting for the breast or bottle.

Sleepy

Young babies are in a rapid period of development and need lots of rest. It’s normal for a newborn to sleep for anything between eight and 18 hours a day, according to the NHS. A tired baby’s cries may sound lower, slower, and more nasal than a hungry cry as they try to summon the energy to express their frustration. Physical cues include rubbing their eyes, yawning, pulling on their ears (this isn’t dangerous), being generally fussy, and balling up their fists.

Needs to be changed

A baby that needs changing may alert you with screaming cries. Your baby needs lots of changing; a healthy newborn can go through 8 to 12 nappies a day. Nappies need to be changed after every poo, and you should check for wet ones before or after each feed, as well as look out for nappy rash. You can often smell a dirty nappy out as the reason they’re balling. Try to calm them down by making a nappy change a pleasant experience for them. Never grimace (no matter how gross things get), sing songs, and narrate what you’re doing while smiling to get them engaged.

Wants attention

We all need attention sometimes, and until your baby knows how to call your name or work a phone (which may happen sooner than you imagine!), crying is their most effective way to call you. Often your mere presence—your arms, scent, heartbeat, and voice—will be enough to calm a baby in this state.

Abdominal wind

Not all newborn babies need to be winded but when they do, it can be very uncomfortable. This sort of crying may happen during or after feeds and sound like cries of pain. Trapped wind is common in the first three months of life, and signs can include squirming or looking uncomfortable during feeding or when you put them down on their back after feeding (do not put them down on their tummy). Allowing them to continue crying can cause them to swallow more wind. Hold your baby upright so they are looking over your shoulder, then gently pat their back until they produce a burp. You shouldn’t need to spend a long time doing this or use any force. Massaging their tummy and moving their legs in a cycling motion can also make a baby with wind more comfortable.

Too hot or too cold

Many new parents worry about how warm a baby’s sleep environment should be or the number of layers a baby needs to wear, as they tend to heat up faster than we do. Check your baby’s temperature by feeling their neck, never their hands or feet. They may have damp hair or clammy skin if they’re hot. A cold baby is often more likely to cry, as hot babies can become lethargic. As an overheated baby is at increased risk of SIDS, it’s especially important to address their temperature. According to Dr. Su Laurent, Unii’s top consultant paediatrician, a young baby who has a temperature above 38°C. should always see a doctor, regardless of any other symptoms. The ideal room temperature at night for babies is between 16 and 20 °C.

Why might my baby be crying excessively?

Excessive crying is sometimes defined by doctors as crying longer than three hours a day for more than three days a week. However, others define it as any amount of crying that worries the parents, and if something seems unusual for your child, your worries matter. You know them better than anyone. Sometimes excessive crying is a sign your baby is ill, and this should be taken seriously. There is no harm in simply contacting your GP or midwife (if they are still available to you; midwife care provision varies after) if you’re worried, or even taking them to your local hospital’s A&E. Your instincts are very important. You can also look out for symptoms of the following:

Colic

A colicky baby often sounds like they’re in pain. Colic is extended crying that happens for no apparent reason, though it is likely to be because of intestinal distress. It is hard to soothe a colicky baby; they may go red in the face or clench their fists. It can start when a baby is a few days old and tends to stop by three to four months. You can soothe a colicky baby by winding them, walking around with them in your arms, giving them a warm bath, pushing them in their pram, or exposing them to white noise. According to Unii’s top consultant paediatrician, Dr. Su Laurent, over-the-counter remedies tend not to work. Some parents find cranial osteopathy helpful, though this is not an evidence-based practice.

Constipation

Constipation should be easier to sort out than colic. Signs of constipation include a hard tummy, difficulty passing stool, straining during bowel movements, and hard, pellet-like stools in your baby’s nappy. It’s quite common when your baby’s just started on infant formula. Giving a baby boiled, cool water (tap water is not sterile) between feeds may be advised. You should continue to mix the formula exactly as it says to do so on the packaging. It’s important to seek advice from your doctor about giving babies under six months water between feeds. Breastfed babies usually get enough from breast milk, even if they are in hot climates.

Reflux

Reflux is just spitting up feeds, which can happen multiple times a day. Other symptoms besides crying include gagging, hiccups, frequent ear infections and refusing to feed. Reflux is not always a cause for concern but, if accompanied by excessive crying, is certainly a reason to speak to a doctor. Other reflux red flags include vomiting, blood in your baby's poo, and a temperature of over 38°C. As we mentioned, according to Dr. Su Laurent, Unii’s top consultant paediatrician, a young baby who has a temperature should always see a doctor, regardless of the other symptoms. Treatment isn’t usually needed for reflux, but you may be given feeding guidance or, in severe cases, medication for your baby.

What if I’m finding it hard to cope with my baby’s cries?

It’s important to acknowledge when you’re feeling overwhelmed and seek support or take a break when you cannot manage your baby's crying. If you are alone, feeling this way is still a perfectly acceptable reason to call your doctor and explain what is happening. If you are finding it difficult to cope on a regular basis, make note of your symptoms and report them. Postpartum depression can develop up to 12 months of birth in all sorts of ways; it’s not just the stereotypical persistent sadness. You are being the best parent possible by seeking support or time for yourself when you need it.

For more advice on how to support your newborn, watch Unii’s Newborn Journey video course with Dr. Su Laurent.

How can I recognise what my baby's cries mean?

Babies cry all the time and it always means something. Unii has the answers.