My newborn cries for hours in the evening and nothing helps. Is that normal?
Crying is how newborns communicate, and many healthy babies have long crying spells, often in the late afternoon or evening. Crying typically increases over the first weeks, peaks around six weeks and then gradually eases, usually becoming much calmer by three to four months. In many cases there is no clear cause, and it is not a sign that you are doing something wrong or that your baby does not feel loved. Things that often help: holding your baby close, gentle rhythmic movement, a carrier, swaddling as shown by your midwife, a dim and quiet room, steady shushing or white noise, and checking the basics such as hunger, a dirty diaper or being too warm or cold. Some evenings nothing works, and that is incredibly hard on parents. If you feel your patience running out, it is completely okay to put your baby down safely on their back in the crib, close the door and take a few minutes to breathe. Never shake a baby: it can cause severe brain injury in seconds. Take turns with your partner, ask friends or family for an evening of help, and talk openly with each other about how draining this is.
When to get help
Call your pediatrician or midwife promptly if your baby has a fever (especially under three months), vomits forcefully or vomits green, feeds poorly, has fewer wet diapers, seems unusually floppy, sleepy or hard to wake, has a high-pitched or very different cry, or if crying started suddenly. Also call for help if you feel you might lose control.
This answer is general information and does not replace medical or psychological advice. Updated:
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