Excessive crying

If you’re experiencing what the experts term excessive crying – that is, if your baby cries for long periods of time without respite – you should seek some help.

It’s extremely wearying, not to mention upsetting, for you as a parent to have to cope with a baby that cries relentlessly. It’s important that you have the support of a partner, relative or healthcare professional, if you’re dealing with this situation. In the meantime, here are some reasons why your baby might be crying all the time…

• Fussy temperament It could be that your baby is ‘just one of those babies’: some children do seem to cry more than others, for inexplicable reasons. This is often put down to the relative trauma of being alive! No joke. The mystifying array of new sights, smells, sounds, and people filling your baby’s eyes, nose and ears may possibly contribute to sensory overload. Think about how overwhelming it can be to visit a new country in which you don’t speak the language and how exhausted you can feel at the end of a day spent exploring, and you might be able to empathize more with what your baby is going through as she adapts to the world around her.

• Oversensitivity Some babies are extremely sensitive to changes in their environment. It is worth asking yourself if these extended crying periods are brought on during a bath or after being taken out of warm water, for example? Try to establish a link between your baby’s tears and altering situations, like temperature changes or being undressed. There are often good reasons for his tears.

• ColicColic is often pinpointed as a reason for excessive crying periods. Most experts believe that a stomach upset of some description causes colic, and if your baby is prone to wind this could be the case.

• Reflux Gastroesophageal reflux is different from spitting up in that a baby with the condition brings up large quantities of their feed. It occurs when the muscle at the top of your baby’s stomach isn’t yet strong enough to prevent some milk, and irritating digestive juices, from flowing back out. In cases that seem to greatly upset your baby, you should seek medical advice.

• Parental stress If you are experiencing additional stresses – postpartum depression, bereavement, moving house, a relationship break-up – it’s likely that your baby is picking up on your tension. Of course, it then becomes a vicious circle: you’re upset and tense because your baby is crying and she is upset and tense because she can feel that you are. It’s important that you seek help in these situations – check out our features on mental wellbeing with a new baby and support from your partner.

Why not chat to other moms about this, or other topics, by leaving a message on our chat forum? Alternately, if you want to meet other moms in your area with similar age babies, visit our people section to find out what’s happening in your area, or join or start one of our groups. If you have any unanswered questions, use our questions page to get tips from other moms or our resident experts for all those pregnancy or baby-related niggles.

The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.