Published: June 9, 2025
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
If you’re reading this in the middle of the night with a crying baby nearby, you’ve come to the right place. A screaming child is hard on parents, but a baby fussy at night can be extra overwhelming.
“The mix of fatigue and worry can be very stressful,” said Heather M. Felton, M.D., pediatrician with Norton Children’s Medical Group.
Children have different temperaments, and “fussiness” varies. In general, fussiness is when a baby cries persistently and has difficulty calming or being soothed. Your child being fussy might look very different from what another parent or caregiver experiences. So why is your baby crying more at night, and what can you do about it?
All babies cry and for a variety of reasons, including physical discomfort, unmet emotional needs and developmental stages. That certainly doesn’t make things easier if you’re a sleep-deprived caregiver! Your job is to determine why the baby is fussing. Some of the reasons the baby is fussy at night include:
You may be familiar with the term “witching hour.” Contrary to its name, baby witching hour can last between a few minutes to a few hours and usually happens when the baby should be settling down to sleep — late afternoon to late evening. Witching hour appears two to four weeks after birth and peaks at eight to nine weeks. Your baby also may have colic, which is marked by intense crying for a prolonged period.
“Nighttime fussiness is very normal,” Dr. Felton said. “Starting in the late afternoon until the evening, this crying is common. Babies are learning to self-soothe in these weeks of life; they are developing sleep habits. It may feel like this fussy period will never end, but most babies outgrow evening fussiness.”
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) defines colic as inconsolable crying occurring for three hours or more per day for three or more days per week. The exact cause of colic is not known.
“Having a colicky baby can be very frustrating for parents,” Dr. Felton said. “No one wants to see their little one in distress. You feel helpless, because you can’t do anything to stop that distress. Biologically speaking, a crying child triggers a strong emotional response from the parent. We are wired to take action when we hear a crying infant.”
Colic differs from typical fussiness in these ways:
Although it may seem as though this fussy period will never end, most colic resolves by the third or fourth month of life, according to Dr. Felton.
“Colic is difficult to witness, but it doesn’t have short- or long-term medical issues for baby,” she said.
Every baby is different, so what works for someone else’s child may not work for yours. Here are some things you might try.
“Babies love predictability,” Dr. Felton said. “A solid bedtime routine can go a long way toward soothing young babies. This could include a feeding, bath, rocking, stories — whatever works for your family.”
First, set an age-appropriate bedtime to meet your child’s sleep need. AAP recommends infants (4 to 12 months) get around 12 to 16 hours of sleep per day, including naps. For children ages 1 to 2, 11 to 14 hours of sleep are recommended, and for 3- to 5-year olds, 10 to 13 hours. School-aged children (ages 6 to 12) need 9 to 12 hours, while teenagers (ages 13 to 18) need eight to 10 hours.
It’s important that caregivers adjust their expectations for the baby’s sleep.
“It takes a while to establish those sleep routines,” Dr. Felton said. “Baby is still learning to self-soothe and still adjusting to life outside the womb. You are learning more about baby’s personality and preferences. You can’t take it personally if your baby takes longer to learn these skills than another child.”
Having another trusted caregiver around can help ease your frustration, give you a chance to get rest yourself and allow you to take time to regroup. The stress and overwhelming feelings caused by colic sometimes can lead to a caregiver harming a child who won’t stop crying. If you feel yourself getting to that point, put the baby in a safe place such as their crib. Take time to calm yourself with deep breathing or call a friend or family member.
Safe sleep practices
It may feel good to snuggle baby close while you’re both sleeping, especially when she’s fussy, however, you should still practice safe sleep. Unsafe sleeping arrangements are the leading cause of death in children age 1 month to 1 year. The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommendations for safe sleep including:
“Never feel bad about calling your pediatrician,” Dr. Felton said. “I tell people to not only trust their caregiver instinct, but also to err on the side of caution and just give us a call.”
Call your baby’s doctor if intense crying is accompanied by any of these signs:
Your pediatrician may want to know some of these things in order to help you and baby:
Norton Children’s Hospital has many resources, both for parents-to-be and new parents.“We are here for you. You’re doing an amazing job in one of parenthood’s most difficult seasons,” Dr. Felton said. “This is a phase, and it will pass.”