My baby is crying all the time

• Most babies experience some degree of reflux because the muscular valve at the end of the food pipe, which keeps food in the stomach, is still developing. Reflux may cause your baby to bring up milk after a feed, and can also give him/her hiccups. As long as your baby is growing normally and is not showing any marked signs of distress, there is no need to worry.
• More severe reflux can cause your baby to cry and be sick, often after feeding. The long name for severe reflux is gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). This means that when your baby's tummy is full, food and stomach acid flow back up their food pipe causing discomfort and pain.

• If you have tried the measures described above and seen no improvement, see you health visitor or  click here for more information on reflux 

Your baby may be vomiting because they have an infection. This is usually associated with a temperature above 38°C / 100.4°F. Although the most likely cause is a viral infection, other causes include urinary tract infections or very occasionally a more serious illness such as menigitis  or sepsis. Signs of a serious infection include:

• becomes pale and floppy going blue around the lips
• is fretful or excessively miserable when touched
• becomes difficult to rouse
• is finding it hard to breathe
• develops a rash that does not disappear with pressure (the Glass Test)

Your child needs urgent help if any of these features are present - go to the nearest hospital emergency (A&E) department or phone 999.

Colic can cause excessive, frequent crying in a baby who appears to be otherwise healthy. It's a common problem that affects up to one in five babies. Although the cause is unknown, it is likely to be due to intestinal discomfort like bowel cramping.

Colic tends to begin when a baby is a few weeks old. It normally stops by four months of age, or by six months at the latest.

Looking after a colicky baby can be very frustrating and distressing, but the problem will eventually pass and is usually nothing to worry about.

Signs and symptoms of colic include:

· Your baby often starts crying suddenly. The cry is high-pitched and nothing you do seems to help.

· The crying begins at the same time each day, often in the afternoon or evening.

· Your baby might draw their legs up when they cry.

· Your baby might clench their hands.

· Your baby's face might flush.

· The crying can last for minutes or hours. A baby with colic cries for 3 hours a day or more.

· The crying often winds down when your baby is exhausted or when they have passed wind or poo.

For more information click here.

Being constipated is another cause of excessive crying babies. However, the crying tends to stop once your baby has had a poo.

Formula fed babies are more prone to constipation because formula can be harder to digest than breastmilk. A breastfed baby is far less likely to get constipated.

Signs of constipation may include:

· Crying and discomfort, irritability or pain before doing a poo.

· Dry, hard, pellet-like poo that is hard to pass.

· Foul-smelling wind and poo.

· A hard belly.

Try not to worry too much if your baby becomes constipated. It's likely to happen now and then. Simple things you can try at home if your baby is constipated include:

· Gently move your baby’s legs in a bicycling motion to help move the hard poo along.

· If your baby is drinking formula, give them extra water in between feeds, but don’t dilute the formula. Make sure that you are using the recommended amount of milk powder when making up a bottle. Too much powder can dehydrate your baby, causing constipation. For babies under 6 months, use water from the mains tap in the kitchen - you will need to boil then cool the tap water because it is not sterile straight from the tap. Water for babies over 6 months of age doesn't need to be boiled.

If your baby is in significant pain despite doing this, you should take them to see your GP who may decide to start them on treatment.

Comfort methods can sometimes soothe the baby and the crying will stop. Babies can cry for reasons such as if they are hungry, tired, wet/dirty or they are unwell. 

Check these basic needs and try some simple calming techniques: 

• Talk calmly, hum or sing to your baby 
• Let them hear a repeating or soothing sound 
• Hold them close - skin to skin 
• Go for a walk outside with your baby 
• Give them a warm bath

These techniques may not always work. It may take a combination or more than one attempt to soothe your baby. 

If the crying won't stop what should you do? 

• Not every baby is easy to calm but that doesn’t mean that you are doing anything wrong. 
• Don’t get angry with your baby or yourself. Instead, put your baby in a safe place and walk away so that you can calm yourself down by doing something that takes your mind off the crying. Try: 
• Listening to music, doing some exercises or doing something that calms you 
• Call a relative or friend - they may be able to calm your baby or may be able to watch them 

After a few minutes when you are calm, go back and check on the baby. 

• It’s normal for parents to get stressed, especially by their baby crying. Put some time aside for yourself and taker care of your needs as well as your baby’s to help you cope. 
• Handling a baby roughly will make them more upset. Shouting or getting angry with your baby will make things worse. For help and support, take a look at Cry-Sis