Health Resources

Crying Baby < 3 Months Old

Symptom Definition

• A newborn or infant < 90 days of age has the sudden onset of unexplained crying.
• The younger the child, the harder it is to identify the cause of the crying.
• Main cause of recurrent crying: colic (excessive normal fussy crying)
• Other common causes: hunger, sleepy, pain, too cold, too hot, clothing too tight

See More Appropriate Topic

• If age > 3 months old (Not colic), see CRYING CHILD > 3 MONTHS OLD 
• If FEVER or any symptoms of an illness, see that topic  

Call Your Doctor Now (night or day) If

• Your child looks or acts very sick
• Newborn (< 1 month old) who looks or acts sick
• Age < 3 months with fever > 100.4^oF (38^oC) rectally
• Low temperature < 96.8^oF (36.0^oC) rectally
• Vomiting
• You are afraid you might hurt your baby or have shaken your baby
• Your baby cannot be comforted after trying for > 2 hours

Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours (between 9 and 4) If

• You think your child needs to be seen
• Not gaining weight or seems hungry
• You are exhausted from all the crying

Call Your Doctor During Weekday Office Hours If

• You have other questions or concerns
• Your baby has never been examined for the colic
• Crying began after 1 month of age
• Crying occurs 3 or more times per day

Parent Care at Home

• Normal colic and you don’t think your child needs to be seen

Home Care Advice for Chest Pain from Sore Muscles

1. Reassurance: Colic is the normal fussy crying seen in healthy babies. It occurs once or twice a day and should respond to comforting. With colic, babies act happy between bouts of crying.
2. Hold and Comfort: Hold and soothe your baby whenever he cries without a reason. The horizontal position is best for helping a baby relax, settle down, and go to sleep.
• Provide a gentle rocking motion in a cradle or rocking chair
• Dance with your baby to some slow music
• Place in a front pack or sling (which frees the hands of the caregiver)
• Place in a wind-up swing or a vibrating chair
• Take for a stroller (or buggy) ride - outdoors or indoors
3. Warm Bath: If crying continues, take a warm bath with your baby.
4. Feedings: Feed your baby, if more than 2 hours since the last feeding (1˝ hours for breast fed).
5. Cry to Sleep: Put your baby down to sleep, if more than 3 hours have passed since the last nap and you have tried quiet holding for more than 30 minutes. Some overtired infants need to cry themselves to sleep.
6. Expected Course: Once you find the right technique, the crying should decrease to 1 hour per day. Colic improves after 2 months of age and is gone by 3 months.
7. Call Your Doctor If
   • Becomes worse or develops any of the “Call Your Doctor” symptoms
   • Cries constantly for > 2 hours, using this advice
   • Cannot be comforted, using this advice

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