A baby's cry can be upsetting and frustrating. It is designed to get your attention and you may be worried that something is wrong with your baby.
Your baby may start to cry more frequently at about 2 weeks of age. The crying may get more frequent and last longer during the next few weeks, hitting a peak at about 6 to 8 weeks.
Every baby is different, but after about 8 weeks, babies start to cry less and less each week.
ICON
ICON is all about helping people who care for babies to cope with crying. It stands for:
- I - Infant crying is normal
- C - Comforting methods can help
- O - It's OK to walk away
- N - Never, ever shake a baby
Sometimes the crying can feel like it’s becoming too much, and if this is the case, click here for advice on what you can do and you can try these simple comfort methods to see if the baby stops crying.
Babies cry for many reasons - most commonly because they are uncomfortable or are unwell. This may be due to colic, reflux, constipation or infection amongst other things.
Below are some things to look out for if your baby is crying that may suggest they are unwell.
This content has been developed by healthcare professionals from across the UK in collaboration with the RCPCH.
Colic
Colic can cause excessive, frequent crying in a baby who appears to be otherwise healthy. It’s a common problem that affects up to one in five babies. Although the cause is unknown, it is likely to be due to intestinal discomfort like bowel cramping.
Colic tends to begin when a baby is a few weeks old. It normally stops by four months of age, or by six months at the latest.
Looking after a colicky baby can be very frustrating and distressing, but the problem will eventually pass and is usually nothing to worry about.
Signs and symptoms of colic include:
- Your baby often starts crying suddenly
- The cry is high-pitched and nothing you do seems to help
- The crying begins at the same time each day, often in the afternoon or evening
- Your baby might draw their legs up when they cry
- Your baby might clench their hands
- Your baby’s face might flush
- The crying can last for minutes or hours. A baby with colic cries for 3 hours a day or more
- The crying often winds down when your baby is exhausted or when they have passed wind or poo
What can you do to help your baby?
Comfort methods can sometimes soothe the baby and the crying will stop. Babies can cry for reasons such as if they are hungry, tired, wet/dirty or they are unwell.
Check these basic needs and try some simple calming techniques:
- Talk calmly, hum or sing to your baby
- Let them hear a repeating or soothing sound
- Hold them close - skin to skin
- Go for a walk outside with your baby
- Give them a warm bath
These techniques may not always work. It may take a combination or more than one attempt to soothe your baby.
If the crying won't stop what should you do?
Not every baby is easy to calm but that doesn’t mean that you are doing anything wrong.
Don’t get angry with your baby or yourself. Instead, put your baby in a safe place and walk away so that you can calm yourself down by doing something that takes your mind off the crying. Try:
- Listening to music, doing some exercises or doing something that calms you
- Call a relative or friend - they may be able to calm your baby or may be able to watch them
After a few minutes when you are calm, go back and check on the baby.
It’s normal for parents to get stressed, especially by their baby crying. Put some time aside for yourself and taker care of your needs as well as your baby’s to help you cope.
Handling a baby roughly will make them more upset. Shouting or getting angry with your baby will make things worse. For help and support, take a look at the ICON website: http://iconcope.org/parentsadvice
What might help
Keeping a sleep diary
A sleep diary can help you understand what may be causing difficulties with sleep. Fill it out every evening and record as much as you can. You can use it to spot patterns and make changes that may help.
The Sleep Charity have templates you can download; one for teenagers and one for younger children.
Seeking advice and help from sleep services
There are organisations that can help you if you are having difficulties with your child’s sleep. There are many national organisations, including those who specialise in sleep for SEND families, and there are also community-based services in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin. Click the link at the bottom of page to visit our support services page.
Understanding sleep cycles
The circadian sleep cycle is a 24-hour cycle that helps govern essential bodily functions especially the sleep-wake cycle. It plays a vital role in a person’s ability to sleep in one consolidated block of time at night and to stay awake during the day. As the sun sets in the evening, the brain begins producing melatonin, a hormone that induces sleepiness. Core body temperature also drops.
As melatonin and tryptophan (an amino acid which helps produce melatonin) are naturally produced in the body, there are things you can do to help their production. Darkness helps to promote the production of melatonin which is why it is a good idea to put your child to sleep in a darkened room, and light emitting devices such as tablets and phones also can destroy Melatonin so should not be used for at least an hour before bed. New research shows that limiting exposure to screens and increasing physical activity levels during the day has a positive effect on children's overall physical, mental health and wellbeing, including sleep.
Setting a waking time consistently even in holiday times, called ‘anchoring’ the wake time, can help to reset the body clock over time. This should be accompanied with exposure to lots of light on waking to support circadian rhythm.
Melatonin and tryptophan occur naturally in some foods and drinks such as milky drinks and cereals which is why having a milky drink before bed can help settling to sleep. For more information visit Diet & Sleep - The Sleep Charity
Prescriptions of melatonin
Behavioural strategies and practical solutions are the best way to address sleep difficulties, but if they are having a significant impact on your child’s ability to function, a drug form of melatonin is sometimes prescribed for neurodivergent children. As the drug’s function is to re-set sleep and wake cycles, it works best combined with good sleep hygiene practices. It is important that is it taken under medical supervision and not purchased on-line so that it is closely monitored for dosage and side effects. It should be prescribed for the shortest period necessary as the long-term effects of the drug on children’s development are not yet known.
In Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin the Community Paediatric Service and the BeeU Service (CAMHS) can prescribe Melatonin for children and young people who meet ALL of the following criteria.
- the child/young person must be open to and being treated by the service due to a neurodevelopmental/mental health need (diagnosis not required)
- sleep issues are causing significant impact on the child/ young person, for example due to daytime sleeping or behavioural problems that are impacting daily functioning or educational attendance
- behavioural approaches have been tried and failed. These may have been offered by the service (where available) or by community sleep support services.
GPs are unable to prescribe Melatonin although they sometimes issue repeat prescriptions when prescribing has been started by a specialist (such as a paediatrician or child psychiatrist).
Further support
Click on the link below to visit a page with information about
- national websites and sleep organisations
- local community services in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin.
