Learn why your baby may be crying more at night, what colic really means and effective soothing strategies to help your little one —and you — get more rest.

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? 

Nighttime fussiness

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:

• Hunger
• Being too warm or too cool
• Overstimulation
• Wet or dirty diaper
• Digestive issues 
• Illness
• Separation anxiety
• Overtiredness
• Colic

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.”

Understanding the colicky baby 

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:

• There is no obvious reason for excessive crying. With crying, baby may need a diaper change, a feeding or an adjustment in body temperature. A colicky baby will continue crying when all obvious needs have been met.
• Body language changes. The baby may curl up in a tight ball, clench their fists or have a tight belly.
• Crying sounds more high-pitched and like an expression of pain.

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.

Soothing strategies

Every baby is different, so what works for someone else’s child may not work for yours. Here are some things you might try.

• Create a calming environment with dim lights and a white noise machine.
• Establish a bedtime routine.
• Use gentle movement techniques, such as rocking or baby-wearing.
• Swaddle the baby.
• Massage the baby for gas relief.
• Comfort with skin-to-skin contact.
• Note feeding considerations: If baby is breastfed, they may have food sensitivities and may benefit from the mother reducing dairy or caffeine. If baby is formula-fed, they may benefit from a different type of formula.

Bedtime routine tips for fussy babies

“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:

• Use the “ABC” method for sleep: Alone, on their Back, in a Crib.
• The baby should sleep on a firm, flat sleep surface with no incline.
• Share the room, not the bed.
• Stop swaddling your baby when they show signs of rolling.
• Have your baby use a pacifier during sleep.

When to call the pediatrician about a fussy baby

“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:

• Fever (a temperature of or above 100.4F or 38C )
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Changes in behavior, such as sleepiness even after waking or being less alert than usual
• Weight loss or poor weight gain.

Your pediatrician may want to know some of these things in order to help you and baby:

• Frequency and duration of crying: How long and how often is the baby crying/ inconsolable?
• How much and how often does baby eat? Is the baby breastfed or formula-fed or both?
• How long does the baby sleep at a time?
• What soothing techniques have you tried?

Conclusion

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.”