The baby won't stop crying

Work the list — hungry, wind, nappy, too hot or cold, overtired, overstimulated, wanting contact — then try motion, sound and skin-to-skin. If none of it works, know that a stretch of unexplained, inconsolable crying peaking at around six to eight weeks is a normal developmental pattern. If you feel yourself losing control, put the baby down somewhere safe and walk away. Never shake a baby.

DadPrep editorial · Updated 29 July 2026 · Health page — sources listed below

The run-through

Hungry? Offer a feed even if it seems too soon. Newborn feeding is not on a schedule.
Wind? Upright against your shoulder, firm pats, five minutes of patience.
Nappy? Including the ones that look clean.
Temperature? Feel the chest or the back of the neck, not the hands or feet — babies' extremities run cold normally. One more layer than you're wearing is the usual rule.
Overtired? Very common and counter-intuitive. Newborns can only manage short windows awake before they tip over.
Overstimulated? Lights down, noise off, one calm person in a quiet room.
Just wants contact? Also a real, legitimate need. You cannot spoil a newborn by holding it.

What actually works when the list doesn't

Skin-to-skin on your chest. Shirt off, blanket over both of you.
Motion. Walking, a sling, a bumpy pram ride. Sustained movement beats jiggling.
Sound. Steady white noise — a fan, a tap, an app — at a modest volume.
A swaddle, if the baby likes it and it's done safely.
Go outside. A change of air settles a startling number of babies, and it resets you as well.

The crying with no cause

Infant crying follows a well-documented curve: it increases from about two weeks, peaks somewhere around six to eight weeks, and eases from around three to four months. It's often worse in the late afternoon and evening, it can be resistant to everything you try, and the baby can look in pain without being in pain. Clinicians call this the period of PURPLE crying, and the whole point of naming it is so parents know it's a phase with an end date, not evidence that they're failing.

The rule that matters more than any of the above

Shaking a baby, even briefly, even in a moment of desperation, can cause catastrophic and permanent brain injury. It is most commonly triggered by exactly this situation — a good parent, at the end of their rope, in the middle of the night. Knowing in advance that you will put the baby down is the single most useful thing on this page.

When to call a doctor

Quick answers

Can I spoil the baby by picking them up?

No. Responding to a newborn's crying is not spoiling; the concept doesn't apply at this age.

Is it colic?

"Colic" is a label for prolonged crying without an identified cause, not a diagnosis with a treatment. Worth discussing with your GP or nurse, especially if feeding or weight is affected.

Sources reviewed

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