Baby Crying Excessively for No Apparent Reason
The short answer
All babies cry, and some babies cry a lot more than others. The PURPLE crying period (Peak of Unreasonable Crying) describes normal crying that peaks around 2 months, can last for hours, occurs in the late afternoon/evening, and resists soothing. Excessive crying (more than 3 hours per day, more than 3 days per week, for more than 3 weeks) was historically called "colic." While most excessive crying is a normal developmental phase that resolves by 3-4 months, it is important to rule out medical causes and to protect yourself from caregiver burnout.
By Age
What to expect by age
Newborns cry to communicate hunger, discomfort, and need for closeness. Crying that seems constant in the first 2 weeks is often related to feeding challenges, hunger, or difficulty adjusting to life outside the womb. Ensure your baby is feeding well (8-12 times per day for breastfed babies), having adequate wet and dirty diapers, and being held skin-to-skin. If crying is high-pitched, inconsolable, or your baby seems unwell (fever, poor feeding, lethargy between crying episodes), contact your pediatrician.
The peak of crying. Healthy babies may cry 2-3 hours per day, and some cry even more. The PURPLE crying period is characterized by: a peak pattern, unexpected episodes, resistance to soothing, a pain-like face, long-lasting episodes, and evening clustering. This is not your fault and does not mean something is wrong. The 5 S's (swaddle, side/stomach position while held, shush, swing, suck) may help. If you feel overwhelmed, put the baby in a safe place (crib) and take a 5-10 minute break.
Excessive crying typically resolves by 3-4 months. If your baby continues to cry excessively beyond 4 months, evaluate for: reflux, food sensitivities (especially cow's milk protein in breastfed babies or formula), sleep deprivation, overstimulation, or other medical causes. A "high-needs" baby temperament is also a possibility - some babies are more intense, more sensitive, and need more holding and movement. This is not a disorder but can be exhausting for caregivers.
Babies over 6 months who cry excessively should be evaluated for specific causes rather than attributed to "colic." Consider: teething pain, ear infections, constipation, illness, separation anxiety, sleep problems, and overstimulation. If your baby had excessive crying as a younger infant and it resolved, you can feel confident that you weathered one of parenting's hardest phases. If excessive crying is new at this age, something is likely causing it.
What Should You Do?
When to take action
- Your baby under 3 months cries intensely in the evening but is happy, feeding, and growing well at other times
- Crying peaks around 2 months and is gradually decreasing
- Your baby can be partially soothed with holding, rocking, and white noise even if they don't fully stop crying
- Crying episodes last 1-3 hours and then resolve, and the baby is fine between episodes
- Your baby cries more than 3 hours per day, more than 3 days per week, and it has been going on for more than 3 weeks
- Crying has not decreased by 4 months
- Your baby seems to be in pain during crying - arching, pulling legs up, refusing to eat
- You are struggling to cope with the crying and need support
- Your baby's cry is high-pitched, shrill, or sounds different from normal crying
- Your baby has a fever, is vomiting, has a rash, or seems unwell alongside excessive crying
- You feel you might shake or harm your baby - put them in a safe place and call for help immediately (1-800-4-A-CHILD or 988)
- Your baby is inconsolable AND lethargic, limp, or unresponsive between crying episodes
Sources
Related Resources
Related Physical Concerns
Baby High-Pitched Screaming
A high-pitched scream can have many causes, ranging from completely normal (excitement, frustration, experimentation with voice) to potentially concerning (pain, illness, or neurological issues). Many babies go through a "screaming phase" around 4-8 months when they discover they can make loud, high-pitched sounds - this is a normal vocal development milestone. However, a sudden, persistent, inconsolable high-pitched cry that is different from your baby's usual cry, especially when accompanied by other symptoms, should be evaluated by a doctor.
Toddler Having Constant Meltdowns
Tantrums are a normal part of toddler development - most 2-3 year olds have at least one tantrum per day. Meltdowns happen because toddlers feel big emotions (frustration, disappointment, overwhelm) but their prefrontal cortex is far too immature to regulate those emotions. However, when tantrums happen many times per day, last more than 25 minutes, are violent (self-injury, destruction), or persist beyond age 4 without decreasing, it may indicate that your child needs additional support for emotional regulation.
Baby Too Quiet and Never Cries - When to Worry
While most parents worry about babies crying too much, having a very quiet baby can also raise questions. Some babies are genuinely calm, easy-going, and cry less than average - this is a normal temperament variation. However, a baby who rarely or never cries, is unusually quiet and still, does not signal hunger, and seems disconnected from their environment may need evaluation. The key difference is between a calm but engaged baby (makes eye contact, responds to voices, signals needs) versus a quiet and unresponsive baby.
My Baby Seems to Use One Side More Than the Other
Babies should use both sides of their body fairly equally during the first 18 months of life. While slight preferences can be normal, a consistent pattern of favoring one side - using one arm much more than the other, crawling with one leg dragging, or turning the head predominantly one way - should always be discussed with your pediatrician. Early identification of asymmetry leads to the best outcomes.
Baby or Toddler Body Odor - When Is It Normal?
Babies and toddlers can develop body odor from several benign causes: sour milk caught in skin folds, sweating, diaper area odor, strong-smelling foods in the diet, and certain medications or vitamins. True body odor (like adult BO from apocrine glands) should not occur before puberty. If your baby or young toddler has a persistent unusual body odor that is not explained by skin folds, diaper, or diet, it could indicate a metabolic condition, infection, or foreign body (especially in the nose or vaginal area). Unusual persistent odor warrants a doctor visit.
Baby Born with Teeth - Natal Teeth
Natal teeth (teeth present at birth) occur in about 1 in 2,000-3,000 births. In most cases, these are actual primary (baby) teeth that erupted early, not extra teeth. Most natal teeth are the lower front incisors. While natal teeth can sometimes cause breastfeeding difficulties or have a risk of becoming loose and being a choking hazard, many can be left in place and monitored. The decision to keep or remove a natal tooth depends on how firmly it is attached and whether it is causing problems.