In those very first few weeks, you were astounded by your baby’s calm and quiet manner in the evenings. After a big feed, your tiny tot would be all sleepy, which made your own dinner times all the easier. In fact, your evenings were actually relaxing!

But recently, things have taken a turn and now you’re gobbling your food up as fast as you can while your little one cries desperately on your lap. Before long, you’re left wondering, what’s happened? Why have evenings suddenly become more difficult? What’s causing all the tears? Is this normal? What can I do?

Well, to begin with, let’s explore what you should expect of a 3-week-old when it comes to their crying.

What are the crying expectations in week 3?

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

But why does my baby cry more 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. They 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 reason you can discern, the tears last for more than three hours, and/or 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, many believe 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.

So, we’ve put together a few suggestions to help you soothe your colicky baby.

How can I soothe my baby when they’re crying or if they have colic?

Try all of the obvious things first: feeding, nappy-changing and putting them down for a nap. If none seem to work, try one of 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.

Gas-relieving drops or lactose drops. Speak to a pharmacist if you want to try gas-relieving or lactose drops. There’s a lot of discussion as to whether or not these really help, but it may be worth a try.

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 teat 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 do I deal with my baby's crying three weeks after birth?

Another week, another seven days of soothing your baby with Unii's tips..