Babies cannot talk so they use crying as a way of expressing themselves and communicating their needs. Sometimes, it can be hard to work out why your baby is crying. Some common causes include:

• hunger
• thirst
• a wet or soiled nappy
• tiredness
• trapped wind
• being too hot or too cold
• loneliness (wanting bodily contact or your attention)
• boredom
• being uncomfortable, for example if their clothing or covers are too tight
• being over-stimulated or frightened, for example if there is too much noise or activity
• colic (see below)

Colic

Colic is very common in newborn babies and usually begins a few weeks after birth. Colic causes excessive crying. Your baby will sound miserable and distressed, and they can be very difficult to calm.

Another symptom of colic is a change in posture. For example, your baby may draw their knees up towards their chest.

The cause of colic is unknown. Some research has suggested that the condition may occur because your baby's digestive system is still developing during the first few weeks of life. Sometimes, the developing digestive system becomes sensitive to certain substances that are found in breast and formula milk, such as lactose (a natural sugar).

See the Health A-Z topic about Colic for more information.

When to seek medical advice

Within a few weeks, you will often start to recognise what your baby's crying means. If you are concerned about the way that your baby is crying or if their crying seems unusual, contact your GP or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

Your baby's cry can sometimes be a sign that they are unwell. Always trust your instincts. If you think that your baby is unwell, look for other signs and symptoms. Seek medical attention as soon as you can if your baby:

• has a weak, high-pitched, continuous cry
• seems floppy when you pick them up
• takes less than a third of their usual amount of fluids, passes much less urine than usual, vomits green fluid or passes blood in their faeces (stools)
• has a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or above if they are less than three months old, or 39C (102.2F) or above if they are between three and six months old
• has a high temperature but their hands and feet feel cold
• has a bulging fontanelle (the soft spot at the top of a baby's head)
• has a fit (seizure)
• turns blue, blotchy or very pale
• has a stiff neck
• has breathing problems, such as breathing fast or grunting while breathing, or they seem to be working harder than usual to breathe (for example, sucking in under the ribcage)
• has a spotty, purple-red rash anywhere on their body (this could be sign of meningitis, which is a serious infection)