Crying, excessive (0-6 months)

Considerations:
Infants normally cry from 1 to 3 hours a day. It is perfectly normal for an infant to cry when he or she wants to communicate hunger , thirst , discomfort, tiredness , or loneliness. It is also normal for a child to have a fussy period in the evening. However, excessive crying may suggest a disorder that requires treatment.

Common Causes:
  • boredom or loneliness
  • discomfort such as irritation from a wet or dirty diaper, excessive gas, or feeling cold
  • hunger or thirst
  • pain
  • major illness
  • medications
  • minor illness
  • infection (may be likely if the crying is accompanied by irritability, lethargy , poor appetite , or fever . Consult your baby's health care provider.)
  • being awakened by normal muscle jerks and twitches that disturb the process of going to sleep
  • teething
  • colic in infants

Note: There may be other causes of excessive crying in an infant. This list is not all inclusive, and the causes are not presented in order of likelihood. The causes of this symptom can include unlikely diseases and medications. Furthermore, the causes may vary based on age and gender of the affected person, as well as on the specific characteristics of the symptom such as time course, aggravating factors, relieving factors, and associated complaints. Use the Symptom Analysis option to explore the possible explanations for excessive crying in an infant, occurring alone or in combination with other problems.

Home Care:
Follow the health care provider's advice for treatment of the cause.

If the infant seems constantly hungry despite frequent feedings, consult with a health care provider about the normal growth and feeding times.

If crying is due to boredom or loneliness, touch, hold and talk to the infant more and place the infant within sight. Place baby-safe toys where the child can see them. If due to sleep disturbance, wrap the baby firmly in a blanket before putting him or her to bed.

For excessive crying in infants due to cold, dress the infant warmly or adjust the temperature. Typically, if adults are cold, the baby is cold also.

Call Your Healthcare Provider If:

  • excessive crying remains unexplained and unresolved for more than one day, despite attempts at home treatment.
  • excessive crying is accompanied by other symptoms, such as fever .



What to Expect:
The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.

Medical history questions documenting excessive crying in an infant may include:

  • Is the child teething ?
  • Is the child bored, lonely, hungry, thirsty?
  • Does the child seem to have a lot of gas (flatus)?
  • Are the parents nervous or anxious?
  • What other symptoms are also present?

Intervention:
Counseling and advice will be provided on how to deal with the cause of the crying. For bacterial infections, antibiotics may be prescribed. An assessment of growth and development will be made.

After seeing your health care provider:
You may want to add a diagnosis related to excessive crying to your personal medical record. You may also want to monitor the child's growth and development.