NEWBORN · CRYING & COMFORT

Why won’t my baby stop crying?

When you have fed, changed and cuddled your baby and the crying continues, it can be hard to know what to try next. Start here for gentle ideas, clear signs to get help and support for you, too.

First, check whether your baby needs medical help

Do not wait to finish this guide or watch the video if your baby seems seriously unwell. These signs are not an exhaustive checklist. Trust your instincts.

Call 999 if your baby is struggling to breathe, turns blue or grey, is unresponsive or very difficult to wake, has a seizure, or develops a rash that does not fade under pressure.
Go to A&E or call 999 for a weak, high-pitched or distinctly unusual cry. A baby under 3 months with a temperature below 36°C also needs emergency assessment.
Call your GP or NHS 111 urgently if your baby is under 3 months with a temperature of 38°C or more, or you think they have a fever. At 3 to 6 months, a temperature of 39°C or more needs urgent advice.
Get medical advice today if feeding is much reduced, there has been no wet nappy for 8 hours, your baby cannot be settled, or they are getting worse. Call 999 if they also have emergency signs above.

Why do babies cry so much?

Crying can mean hunger, a wet nappy, tiredness, wind, feeling too hot or cold, wanting closeness or having too much going on around them. Sometimes the reason is not obvious.

Crying often increases from around 2 weeks and eases around 3 months. Evenings can be particularly unsettled. This pattern does not mean you should dismiss signs of illness.

How to comfort a crying baby

Check their nappy, hunger cues and comfort. Then try one gentle approach rather than feeling you must do everything at once.

Offer a feed if your baby seems hungry. If breastfeeding, offering the breast may also comfort them.
Hold them close while gently swaying, talking or singing. A quieter environment may help if they seem overstimulated.
A warm bath soothes some babies but upsets others. Follow your baby’s response rather than persisting with something they dislike.

What about crying during feeds or colic?

If feeding seems uncomfortable, ask your health visitor or feeding-support service to check positioning and attachment. Crying around feeds can also happen with reflux; discuss it with your health visitor or GP.

Colic describes prolonged crying in an otherwise healthy baby without an obvious cause. It usually settles by 3 to 4 months, but crying alone cannot tell you what is wrong. Speak to your GP or NHS 111 if you are worried, nothing helps, weight gain is poor or symptoms continue after 4 months.

The NHS does not recommend anti-colic drops, herbal remedies or probiotic supplements for colic because there is no evidence they help. Do not try spinal manipulation or cranial osteopathy; these may hurt your baby.

If you feel overwhelmed, it is OK to take a short break

Put your baby safely in their cot and step away for a few minutes to calm yourself. Check on them every few minutes and return when you feel able. Ask someone you trust to take over if possible. Never shake your baby.

For sleep, put baby on their back in a clear cot with a firm, flat mattress. Keep pillows and soft toys out. Do not fall asleep with baby on a sofa or armchair.

You deserve support before you reach breaking point. Speak to your health visitor or GP, or call Cry-sis on 0800 448 0737, 9am to 10pm every day. If you think you may hurt your baby, put them somewhere safe and seek immediate help; call 999 if anyone is in immediate danger.

You can ask for help even without a clear explanation

If something feels different, your baby seems unwell or you are finding it hard to cope, contact your health visitor, GP or NHS 111. You do not need to wait for a particular number of hours of crying.

Watch NHS advice on infant crying

Frimley Healthier Together shares NHS information about infant crying.

Watch the demonstration

Related guides

Sources and support

Published by Floreo Baby Hub. Source checks recorded: 2026-10-08. Editorial source-checking, not clinical review.