HealthInfo Waitaha Canterbury
Overview of unsettled & crying babies
Ngā pēpi e hurihuri ana, e tangi ana hoki
Important
If you are worried about your baby's crying or general health, or you are finding it hard to cope yourself, make an appointment with your general practice team or WellChild provider. For example, if the sound of the crying changes, your baby is not feeding, or they seem to be miserable or unwell.
It's common for babies to be unsettled. For example, they might have long periods of crying and fussing, not wanting to be soothed, or spilling up milk. They might have problems with getting to sleep or wake frequently in the night.
Although this is normal behaviour, it can make you feel worried or anxious that you cannot soothe or comfort your baby. You might even feel fed up and angry.
Some babies spill up a lot, some get unhappy when they spill and will cry and take time to settle afterwards. This is normal too.
As long as your baby is growing well, you do not have to worry.
Normal crying
- It's normal for a 6-week-old baby to cry for up to two hours a day.
- Most babies start crying more after 2 weeks of age, but this should improve by about 4 to 5 months.
- Crying is usually worse in the late afternoon or evening.
- Most crying is not caused by tummy problems, wind, or pain.
For more information about normal crying, see What can you do when your baby cries?
Helping your baby get settled
There are some things you can do to help settle and comfort your baby. They include being smokefree, soothing and settling your baby, and helping your baby feed and sleep well. It's also important to take care of yourself – you cannot help your baby if you are stressed and overworked.
Important
If the crying is getting too much for you, put your baby in a safe place, such as their cot, take a few minutes to calm yourself and go back and check on your baby. If you ever feel that you may harm or shake your baby, ask for urgent help. Ring a friend, neighbour, partner, family member, or health professional urgently.
Getting help with an unsettled baby
Talk to your general practice team, Well Child provider, or midwife for advice.
Plunket can provide support and assistance. You can call PlunketLine 0800‑933‑922 free 24 hours a day, for child health and parenting questions.
Parenting support is available through several groups.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- KidsHealth
- Crying
This page has advice about why babies cry, what you should do, and when you should seek help.
- Shaken baby syndrome
This page has information about why you should never shake a baby. It also talks about how you can cope with situations like a baby who will not stop crying.
- Crying
- PURPLE Crying
This website talks about the Period of PURPLE Crying, which is a way to help parents understand a period in a baby's life when they may cry a lot.
- Plunket – You & your child
This section of Plunket's website has articles on crying and what to do.
On the next page: Helping your baby get settled
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed October 2021.
See also:
Review key: HIUCB-33560
