Why Is My Baby Crying? A Practical Guide to Decoding the Cues

Why is my baby crying? It is one of the first questions almost every new parent asks.

Sometimes the answer is obvious. Your baby is hungry, their nappy is wet or they are ready to sleep. Other times, you have fed, changed, burped and cuddled them—and the crying continues.

That does not mean you are doing something wrong.

Crying is your baby’s earliest form of communication. It can mean hunger, tiredness, discomfort, overstimulation, pain, illness or simply a need to feel close to you. Babies also have periods of crying that do not have one clear cause.

This guide helps you work through the most common reasons for baby crying, recognise the cues that appear before a full cry, try safe calming techniques and understand when crying needs medical attention.

The quick answer: When asking “why is my baby crying?”, first check feeding, nappy, temperature, tiredness, wind and the need for closeness. Then consider overstimulation, reflux, colic, teething or illness. A cry that sounds different from normal, cannot be soothed or appears with breathing problems, poor feeding, fewer wet nappies, unusual sleepiness, fever or colour changes needs medical advice.

This article provides general UK guidance and cannot diagnose your baby. Trust your instincts and contact your health visitor, GP or NHS 111 whenever you are worried.

Why Do Babies Cry?

Babies cry because they cannot yet explain what they need.

The NHS describes crying as a baby’s way of communicating rather than an attempt to punish or manipulate a parent. The official NHS guide to understanding your baby explains how babies move between sleepy, alert, fussy and crying states.

Early cues often appear before intense crying.

Your baby may:

• Turn their head and open their mouth when hungry
• Look away when they need a break
• Become quieter when tired
• Squirm when uncomfortable
• Bring their hands towards their mouth
• Become more active or fussy
• Seek your face, voice or touch

Learning these patterns takes time. Even experienced parents cannot identify every cry immediately.

When you are thinking, “Why is my baby crying when I have checked everything?”, remember that some crying is part of normal development and may not have one simple explanation.

Is It Normal for a Baby to Cry a Lot?

Yes. Newborn crying commonly increases during the early weeks.

NHS ICON guidance explains that crying may increase from around two weeks, often peak at approximately six to eight weeks and then gradually reduce. Every baby is different, and some cry considerably more than others.

Normal crying can still feel intense.

It may:

• Happen more in the late afternoon or evening
• Come in waves
• Continue despite comfort attempts
• Make your baby look red or tense
• Leave you feeling helpless
• Stop as suddenly as it started

“Normal” does not mean easy.

It also does not mean you should ignore your instincts when something feels different or wrong.

Why Is My Baby Crying? 15 Common Reasons

The following causes can overlap.

Your baby may be hungry and tired, windy and overstimulated, or uncomfortable and seeking contact at the same time.

1. Hunger

Hunger is one of the most common answers to “why is my baby crying?”

Crying is usually a later hunger cue. Earlier cues may include:

• Stirring
• Turning the head
• Rooting
• Opening the mouth
• Sucking their hands
• Moving the tongue
• Becoming increasingly alert

Offer breast milk or first infant formula responsively.

Do not delay a feed to protect a sleep schedule, and do not force your baby to finish a bottle after they show signs of fullness.

Newborns may feed very frequently, particularly during cluster-feeding periods.

Continue on MyBoo: Breastfeeding vs Formula: An Honest, Judgment-Free Guide

2. A Wet or Dirty Nappy

Some babies tolerate a wet nappy without complaint. Others treat it as a personal emergency.

Check whether:

• The nappy is wet or soiled
• Their clothing is damp
• The nappy feels too tight
• A tab is rubbing their skin
• There is redness or nappy rash
• A crease is pressing uncomfortably

If you are asking “why is my baby crying after a nappy change?”, they may be cold, startled or already upset, so give them a moment to settle.

3. Tiredness

Tiredness is a common reason for newborn crying, but the earliest signs can be subtle.

Your baby may:

• Look away
• Become quieter
• Stare into the distance
• Yawn
• Rub their face
• Lose interest in play
• Become jerky or fussy
• Seek sucking or feeding
• Arch and cry when already overtired

You do not need to force an exact wake window. Use approximate timing alongside your baby’s cues.

If you regularly ask “why is my baby crying before sleep?”, begin the wind-down slightly earlier and keep it simple.

Continue on MyBoo: The Complete Newborn Sleep Guide: Wake Windows, Routines and What Actually Works

4. Too Hot or Too Cold

Babies may cry when they feel uncomfortably warm or cold.

Check their chest or the back of the neck rather than their hands and feet, which can naturally feel cooler.

Look for:

• Sweating
• Damp hair
• A hot chest or back
• Flushed skin
• A cool chest
• Wet clothing
• Too many or too few layers

For sleep, The Lullaby Trust recommends a room temperature of approximately 16–20°C.

Remove hats indoors and avoid overheating.

5. A Need for Closeness

Sometimes the answer to “why is my baby crying?” is simply that they need you.

Newborns are accustomed to warmth, movement, sound and constant physical contact. Wanting to be held is not manipulation.

Try:

• Skin-to-skin contact
• Holding your baby against your chest
• Gentle rocking
• Speaking softly
• Singing or humming
• Walking while holding them safely

Responding to a young baby’s cry does not spoil them.

6. Trapped Wind

Babies can swallow air while feeding or crying.

Possible signs include:

• Squirming during or after feeds
• Pulling their knees towards the tummy
• Clenching their fists
• Briefly arching
• Becoming unsettled partway through a feed
• Settling after a burp or passing wind

Try pausing during feeds, reviewing the feeding position and holding your baby upright while supporting their head and neck.

When “why is my baby crying after feeding?” is the concern, wind is one possibility, but do not spend a very long time forcing a burp that may not be there.

7. Reflux or Feeding Discomfort

Reflux occurs when milk moves back from the stomach into the food pipe or mouth.

Your baby may:

• Bring up milk
• Gulp or swallow after feeds
• Hiccup or cough
• Arch their back
• Pull away while feeding
• Cry during or after feeds
• Become unsettled when placed down
• Feed briefly and then stop

Many babies have uncomplicated reflux and still feed and grow well.

Persistent feeding distress, refusal or poor weight gain needs professional assessment.

Continue on MyBoo: Colic, Reflux or Just Wind? How to Tell the Difference

8. Overstimulation

Babies can become overwhelmed by:

• Bright lights
• Television or music
• Several people speaking
• Repeated passing between visitors
• Busy toys
• Long periods awake
• Too much rocking, singing or handling

Signs may include:

• Looking away
• Closing their eyes
• Spreading their fingers
• Jerky movements
• Turning their head
• Fussing
• Arching
• Escalating crying

Move to a calmer space, lower the lights and use one repetitive soothing method rather than rapidly trying ten different things.

When “why is my baby crying in a busy room?” becomes a pattern, overstimulation is worth considering.

The NHS notes that babies in a fussy or crying state may need a slower pace and less stimulation.

9. Boredom or a Change of Scene

A baby who has been in the same position for a while may want movement, interaction or a different view.

Try:

• Talking face-to-face
• Moving to another room
• Taking a short walk outside
• Offering supervised floor time
• Looking at a simple high-contrast image
• Singing a familiar song

Keep activities appropriate for your baby’s age.

Young babies need interaction, but they do not need constant entertainment.

10. Colic or Prolonged Unexplained Crying

Colic describes frequent, prolonged crying in an otherwise healthy young baby without an obvious cause.

The crying may:

• Happen at a similar time each day
• Be worse in the afternoon or evening
• Continue for hours
• Be difficult to soothe
• Come with clenched fists
• Include knees drawn up or arching
• Leave the baby appearing windy

If “why is my baby crying at the same time every evening?” is your repeated question, colic may be one possible explanation.

The exact cause is not fully understood, and colic usually improves by around three to four months.

A baby who feeds poorly, gains weight slowly, seems unwell or has a cry that sounds different should not simply be labelled “colicky”.

11. Teething

Teething can cause discomfort, although not every difficult day is caused by teeth.

Possible signs include:

• Sore or red gums
• Increased dribbling
• Chewing objects
• Rubbing the face
• Increased fussiness
• Disturbed sleep

A high temperature, severe diarrhoea, marked lethargy or a very unwell baby should not be dismissed as teething.

Ask a pharmacist, health visitor or GP for age-appropriate advice when your baby appears to be in pain.

12. Constipation or Difficulty Passing Stool

Your baby may strain, grunt or turn red when passing a normal soft stool. This does not always mean constipation.

Constipation is more likely when stools are:

• Hard
• Dry
• Pellet-like
• Difficult or painful to pass

Your baby may also have:

• A firm tummy
• Reduced appetite
• Unusual irritability
• Fewer bowel movements than their normal pattern

Speak to your health visitor or GP, particularly for a young baby, rather than changing feeds or giving remedies without advice.

13. Illness

When asking “why is my baby crying?”, always consider whether the crying appears alongside a change in health or behaviour.

Possible warning signs include:

• A cry that sounds weak, high-pitched or different
• Difficulty waking
• Feeding much less than usual
• Fewer wet nappies
• Fever
• Breathing changes
• A rash
• Repeated vomiting
• Unusual paleness, blueness or mottling
• Extreme irritability
• Being floppy or unusually stiff

The NHS guide to serious illness in babies and toddlers advises parents to trust their instincts because they know what is unusual for their child.

14. Something Is Pinching, Rubbing or Wrapped Around Them

Sudden unexplained crying can occasionally come from a small physical problem.

Check:

• Fingers
• Toes
• Inside socks
• Clothing labels
• Waistbands
• Nappy tabs
• Zips
• Car-seat straps
• Sling position
• Skin folds

A strand of hair can wrap tightly around a finger, toe or genital area and restrict circulation. This is called a hair tourniquet and needs prompt attention.

Seek medical help when you cannot remove it easily or the area looks swollen, red, blue or painful.

15. A Developmental Change

Growth, new awareness and developing skills can temporarily increase fussiness.

Your baby may be:

• More alert
• Practising rolling
• Becoming distracted during feeds
• Experiencing separation anxiety
• Learning to sit, crawl or stand
• Sleeping differently
• Seeking more reassurance

Developmental changes do not follow a perfect calendar, and not every unsettled phase is a formal “leap” or regression.

Continue on MyBoo: Baby Milestones Month by Month: What to Expect in the First Year

The 10-Minute “Why Is My Baby Crying?” Check

When you feel overwhelmed, work through the same order instead of guessing.

Step 1: Look Before Acting

Ask:

• Is my baby breathing normally?
• Is their colour normal?
• Are they alert or easy to wake?
• Does the cry sound familiar?
• Is anything obviously wrong?

If an answer concerns you, seek medical advice rather than continuing through a soothing checklist.

Step 2: Check Feeding

Look for hunger cues and consider when the last effective feed happened.

Offer a feed when appropriate.

Step 3: Check the Nappy and Clothing

Change a wet or dirty nappy and remove anything tight, twisted, damp or irritating.

Step 4: Check Temperature

Feel the chest or back of the neck and adjust one layer at a time.

Step 5: Try Burping or a Position Change

Hold your baby upright and support their head and neck.

Step 6: Reduce Stimulation

Lower the lights, reduce noise and move away from visitors or screens.

Step 7: Offer Closeness

Try skin-to-skin contact, cuddling or slow rhythmic movement.

Step 8: Consider Sleep

If your baby has been awake for a while or shows tired cues, begin a calm sleep routine.

Step 9: Check the Whole Body

Look at fingers, toes, skin, clothing, straps and the abdomen.

Step 10: Reassess

Ask again:

• Is the cry becoming worse?
• Is my baby feeding?
• Are wet nappies normal?
• Are there signs of illness?
• Does something feel wrong?

The “why is my baby crying?” check cannot diagnose every cause, but it helps you slow down and notice important information.

How to Soothe a Crying Baby

The NHS suggests several safe calming approaches, including holding, gentle stroking, singing, sucking, walking and a warm bath. You can review the official NHS advice on soothing a crying baby.

Try one technique for several minutes before switching.

Hold Your Baby Close

Use:

• Chest-to-chest holding
• Skin-to-skin contact
• A secure cradle hold
• A properly fitted sling while awake

Keep their face visible and airway clear.

Use Slow, Repetitive Movement

Try:

• Gentle rocking
• Walking
• Swaying
• A pram walk
• Slow rhythmic patting

Never shake, toss or bounce a baby forcefully.

Use a Calm, Repetitive Sound

Try:

• Humming
• Singing
• Quiet shushing
• Low-level white noise
• A familiar phrase

Keep sound at a safe volume and away from your baby’s ears.

Offer Sucking

Feeding may be appropriate when your baby shows hunger cues.

Some babies also find a dummy soothing. You do not have to use one, and it should never be forced or attached around the neck.

Try a Warm Bath

A bath calms some babies and energises others.

Stay beside your baby throughout the bath and prepare everything before beginning.

Change the Environment

Try moving:

• From a bright room to a dimmer one
• From a noisy room to a quiet one
• From indoors to a short walk outside
• From a restrictive seat to supervised floor space
• From active play to a calm cuddle

Stop When More Soothing Becomes More Stimulation

If every new technique increases the crying, reduce your input.

Hold your baby safely, keep the environment calm and give them time.

Sometimes your baby needs your presence more than another solution.

Why Is My Baby Crying During Feeding?

Crying during feeds may relate to:

• Hunger becoming too intense before the feed
• Positioning or attachment
• Milk flow that is too fast or too slow
• Swallowed air
• Reflux
• Tiredness
• Nasal congestion
• Distraction
• Pain or illness
• A teat flow that does not suit the baby

For breastfeeding, ask a midwife, health visitor or trained feeding specialist to observe a complete feed.

For bottle feeding, hold your baby semi-upright, keep the bottle more horizontal and allow pauses.

Do not repeatedly pressure a distressed baby to continue feeding.

If “why is my baby crying during feeds?” is becoming a daily question, arrange a feeding assessment rather than cycling through bottles, formulas or remedies without guidance.

Why Is My Baby Crying at Night?

If you are asking “why is my baby crying at night?”, the answer is often linked to normal feeding and sleep patterns.

Young babies wake because they:

• Need milk
• Need a nappy change
• Want closeness
• Are moving between sleep stages
• Feel too hot or cold
• Need help with wind
• Are unwell
• Have not yet developed a strong day-and-night rhythm

Keep night feeds calm and lights low, but respond to genuine needs.

A bedtime routine can provide familiar cues, but it cannot remove hunger, illness or normal night waking.

Continue on MyBoo: How to Create a Baby Sleep Routine That Actually Sticks

When placing your baby down, follow safer-sleep guidance: on their back, in a clear cot or Moses basket, on a firm, flat mattress.

The Lullaby Trust’s sleep-deprivation guidance explains why tired parents should plan ahead and avoid falling asleep with a baby on a sofa or armchair.

Why Is My Baby Crying When I Put Them Down?

Your arms provide:

• Warmth
• Movement
• Smell
• Familiar sound
• Pressure
• Closeness

The mattress feels still, cooler and separate.

Your baby may also startle during the transfer or notice the change in position.

Try:

• Waiting until their body feels relaxed
• Lowering their bottom before their head
• Keeping your baby close to your body during the transfer
• Resting a hand gently on their chest for a moment
• Moving slowly
• Using the same short sleep cue

Always place your baby on their back.

If the transfer fails, it does not prove that you created a bad habit.

When Baby Crying Needs Medical Advice

When “why is my baby crying?” is accompanied by illness signs or a major change from normal, contact your GP, health visitor or NHS 111.

Seek advice when:

• Your baby cries constantly and cannot be consoled
• The cry sounds different from normal
• Feeding has reduced significantly
• Your baby repeatedly refuses feeds
• Wet nappies are fewer or drier than usual
• Your baby is difficult to wake
• They seem unusually sleepy, floppy or irritable
• There is repeated or forceful vomiting
• Vomit is green or contains blood
• There is blood in the stool
• Breathing looks or sounds different
• Your baby appears to be in pain
• There is a rash
• You are worried for any reason

A temperature of 38°C or above in a baby under three months needs urgent medical advice. The NHS explains the current thresholds in its guide to taking a baby’s temperature.

Call 999 Now if Your Baby:

• Stops breathing
• Will not wake
• Becomes unresponsive or floppy
• Has a seizure
• Is struggling to breathe
• Is grunting or sucking in under the ribs
• Develops blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue
• Has a rash that does not fade under pressure
• Appears to have a severe allergic reaction
• Is under eight weeks old and you are extremely worried

Do not let a checklist overrule your instincts.

What to Do When Your Baby Won’t Stop Crying

A baby’s cry is designed to demand attention.

Prolonged crying can trigger panic, anger, guilt or the feeling that you cannot take another minute.

That does not make you a bad parent.

If you feel overwhelmed:

1. Check that your baby is fed, appropriately dressed and not showing signs of illness.
2. Place them on their back in a clear, safe cot or Moses basket.
3. Leave the room for a few minutes.
4. Breathe, drink water and contact someone.
5. Return when you feel calmer.

It is safer for a baby to cry briefly in a safe place than to be held by someone who feels close to losing control.

Never shake, shout at or handle a baby roughly.

NHS ICON guidance emphasises that infant crying is normal, it will stop, it is acceptable to walk away briefly once the baby is safe, and parents must never shake a baby.

Continue on MyBoo: The Parent’s Guide to Asking for Help Without Feeling Guilty

If crying, sleep loss or anxiety is affecting your wellbeing, also read Postnatal Anxiety and Depression: What It Really Feels Like and What Helps.

Keep a Short Crying Record

When “why is my baby crying?” has become a repeated daily concern, a short record can help reveal patterns.

For three to five days, note:

• Start and finish time
• What happened before the crying
• Feed timing
• Breast or bottle
• Spit-up or vomiting
• Wet and dirty nappies
• Sleep
• Temperature when relevant
• Skin or stool changes
• What helped
• Anything that felt unusual

This can help your health visitor or GP identify links with feeding, evening crying, reflux, sleep or illness.

Do not track every sound indefinitely if recording increases your anxiety.

Baby Crying FAQs

Why Is My Baby Crying for No Reason?

There may be no obvious reason, but the crying is still communication.

Your baby may be tired, overstimulated, seeking closeness or going through a normal period of increased crying.

Continue checking for illness and seek advice when the cry is unusual or persistent.

Why Is My Newborn Crying After Feeding?

Possible reasons include wind, reflux, milk flow, an uncomfortable feeding position, tiredness, continued hunger or a need for closeness.

Persistent distress during or after feeds deserves a feeding review.

Why Is My Baby Crying Every Evening?

Crying often increases in the late afternoon and evening during the early weeks.

It may relate to accumulated tiredness, stimulation, cluster feeding or colic-like crying.

Check basic needs and speak to your health visitor when it is severe or concerning.

Why Is My Baby Crying in Their Sleep?

Babies may make brief cries or fussy sounds during light sleep.

Pause briefly and observe before fully waking them, provided they are breathing normally, have normal colour and do not appear distressed.

Why Is My Baby Crying When I Put Them Down?

They notice the loss of warmth, movement and contact.

Try a slower transfer and consistent sleep cue. Wanting contact is normal and does not mean you have spoiled your baby.

Why Is My Baby Crying During Tummy Time?

Tummy time requires effort, and some babies dislike the position at first.

Use shorter sessions, try your chest or lap, and stop when your baby becomes distressed.

Continue on MyBoo: Tummy Time: Why It Matters and How to Make Baby Love It

How Can I Tell if My Baby Is in Pain?

Possible signs include:

• An unfamiliar or high-pitched cry
• Grimacing
• Repeated arching
• Guarding part of the body
• Feeding refusal
• Unusual sleepiness
• A sudden major change in behaviour

You cannot always tell from crying alone. Seek medical advice when concerned.

Is It Normal for a Baby to Cry More at Six Weeks?

Yes. Crying commonly increases during the early weeks and may peak around six to eight weeks before gradually reducing.

Every baby is different, and medical advice is still appropriate when the pattern or symptoms worry you.

Can I Pick Up My Baby Every Time They Cry?

Yes. Responding to a young baby’s need for comfort does not spoil them.

Over time, you will learn when they need feeding, sleep, a quieter environment or simple closeness.

Should I Let My Newborn Cry It Out?

A newborn depends on caregivers for feeding, regulation, comfort and safety.

Respond to their needs. When you are overwhelmed, place your baby safely in their cot and step away briefly to calm yourself.

Can Teething Cause Constant Crying?

Teething may cause discomfort and fussiness.

Constant inconsolable crying, marked lethargy, breathing problems, poor feeding or a very unwell baby should not be attributed to teething.

When Should I Call NHS 111 About Baby Crying?

Call NHS 111 when your baby cries constantly, cannot be consoled, has a cry that sounds different, is feeding poorly, has fewer wet nappies, seems unusually sleepy or has other signs of illness.

Call 999 for severe breathing difficulty, unresponsiveness, seizures or serious colour changes.

A Final Word From MyBoo

“Why is my baby crying?” does not always have an immediate answer.

Sometimes you will recognise hunger before the first proper cry.

Sometimes one burp will solve the entire situation.

Sometimes you will feed, change, cuddle, rock and sing—and your baby will still need to cry while you stay close.

Your job is not to silence every cry instantly.

Your job is to notice, check, respond and ask for help when something feels wrong.

Crying does not mean your baby dislikes you.

It does not mean you are failing.

It means your baby is communicating with the only tool they currently have.

Work through the basics. Trust the patterns you learn. Protect your own limits. Seek advice when you are concerned.

And remember: you do not have to decode every cry alone.

Continue with MyBoo: Colic, Reflux or Just Wind? How to Tell the Difference

Still wondering “why is my baby crying?” Ask Boo, MyBoo’s 24/7 parenting guide for general guidance, and contact your health visitor, GP or NHS 111 for medical concerns.