HealthInfo West Coast-Te Tai Poutini
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 pēpi (baby) is not feeding, or they seem to be miserable or unwell.
It is common for pēpi 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 pēpi. You might even feel fed up and angry.
Some pēpi 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 pēpi is growing well, you do not have to worry.
Normal crying
- It is normal for a 6-week-old pēpi to cry for up to 2 hours a day.
- Most pēpi 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 pēpi, and helping your pēpi feed and sleep well.
It is also important to take care of yourself. You cannot help your pēpi if you are stressed and overworked.
Important
If the crying is getting too much for you, put your pēpi in a safe place, such as their cot. Take a few minutes to calm yourself, then go back and check on your pēpi. If you ever feel that you may harm or shake your pēpi, ask for urgent help. Ring a friend, neighbour, partner, whānau (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 on 0800‑933‑922 for child health and parenting questions 24 hours a day.
Parenting support is available through several groups.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- KidsHealth
- Never shake a baby
This page has information about why you should never shake a pēpi. It also talks about how you can cope with situations like a pēpi who will not stop crying.
- What you can do when your baby cries
This page has advice about why pēpi cry, what you should do and when you should seek help.
- Never shake a baby
- PURPLE Crying
This website talks about the Period of PURPLE Crying. This is a way to help parents understand a period in a baby's life when they may cry a lot.
- Plunket – Caring for 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 December 2024.
Sources
See also:
Review key: HIUCB-33560
