Excessive crying (infants 0-6 months)

Infants normally cry a total of 1 - 3 hours a day. It is perfectly normal for an infant to cry in an attempt to communicate hunger, thirst, discomfort, tiredness, or loneliness. It is also normal for a baby to have a fussy period in the evening.

However, if an infant cries too often it may suggest a disorder that requires treatment.

• Boredom or loneliness
• Colic
• Discomfort or irritation from a wet or dirty diaper, excessive gas, or feeling cold
• Hunger or thirst
• Illness
• Infection (a likely cause if the crying is accompanied by irritability, lethargy, poor appetite, or fever -- consult your baby's health care provider)
• Medications
• Normal muscle jerks and twitches that disturb the sleep
• Pain
• Teething

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Crying, excessive (0-6 months)

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Crying Treatment

Review Date: 11/12/2010
Reviewed By: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)