Welcoming a newborn into your life is a beautiful experience, filled with joy, excitement, and new responsibilities. However, one of the most challenging aspects is to manage their crying—especially at night.
If you’re a new parent, you find yourself awake at all hours, wondering why your baby cries so much after dark and what you can do to help them, and yourself, get some much-needed rest. This helpful guide will explore why newborn baby cry at night and provide actionable tips to soothe them effectively.
Understanding your baby’s needs and creating a supportive environment for sleep significantly matter your baby’s well-being and your own.
Why Newborn Baby Cry at Night?
1. Hunger: The Primary Culprit Behind Nighttime Crying
This is one of the most common reasons why newborn baby cry at night. Unlike older children or adults, newborns have small stomachs, consuming small amounts of milk at each feeding. This limited capacity leads to frequent hunger. Newborns need to be fed every 2-3 hours, including nighttime.
When your baby wakes up crying in the middle of the night, they simply tell you it’s time for another feeding.
What You Can Do: Feed your baby more frequently to get enough nutrition. However, even with more daytime feedings, night wakings for feeding are normal during the newborn stage. Keep a bottle or breastfeeding supplies close to your bed for easier access during night feedings
Over time, as your baby grows, their stomach capacity will increase, and sleep for longer stretches at night.
2. Discomfort: A Major Contributor to Nighttime Waking
For a newborn, discomfort stems from varied sources—from a wet or soiled diaper to feeling too cold or hot. Even a minor issue like a tiny tag on their clothing or a wrinkle in their blanket causes discomfort that leads to crying. Gas is another common discomfort for newborns.
Babies swallow air during feedings, leading to gas buildup and stomach pain. This discomfort gets noticed when they lie down, which explains why newborn baby cry more at night.
What You Can Do: Before putting your baby down to sleep, ensure they have a clean, dry diaper and are dressed appropriately for the room temperature. If your baby seems uncomfortable or gassy, try burping them after feedings to release any trapped air. Gently massage your baby’s belly in a clockwise direction to relieve gas pains.
Additionally, check your baby’s sleepwear and bedding to ensure nothing that might be causing discomfort.
3. The Need for Comfort and Security: Seeking the Familiar
After spending nine months in the warmth and security of the womb, the outside world is overwhelming for a newborn. The sudden exposure to bright lights, loud noises, and open spaces makes your baby insecure, leading to nighttime crying as they seek comfort and familiarity.
Many newborns find it difficult to soothe, especially alone in the crib. They cry for reassurance of your touch, your voice, or the warmth of being held.
What You Can Do: Swaddling your baby lets them feel more secure by mimicking the snug environment of the womb. A well-swaddled baby is comforted and less likely to wake up crying. Also, holding and rocking your baby provides the comfort they crave.
Using a white noise machine or playing soft, soothing music creates a calming environment that helps your baby relax and fall asleep more easily. Responding to your baby’s cries with comfort and reassurance is crucial during the early months, building a sense of security.
4. Overstimulation: When the World Is Just Too Much
Newborns are processing new information as they adapt to life outside the womb. Every day is filled with new experiences—sights, sounds, smells, and sensations. While essential for your baby’s development, they’re also overwhelming.
Overstimulation occurs when your baby is exposed to too much sensory input at once, making it difficult to wind down and sleep. This is particularly common in the evening when the cumulative effects of the day’s activities take their toll. An overstimulated baby may become fussy, irritable, and more prone to crying at night.
What You Can Do: Establish a bedtime routine to signal your baby that it’s time to wind down. This routine should be calming and predictable, creating security. Activities like a warm bath, gentle massage, or reading a soothing story help your baby transition from wakefulness to sleep.
Create a quiet, dimly lit environment in the evening, reducing stimuli that could keep your baby awake or overstimulated.
5. Growth Spurts and Developmental Changes: The Sleep Disruptors
Newborns have rapid growth and development, and these changes disrupt their sleep patterns. Growth spurts, occur around 2-3 weeks, 6 weeks, and 3 months, leading to increased hunger and more frequent nighttime wakings. Your baby might seem hungrier than usual, feeding more often and waking up more frequently at night.
This increased feeding is necessary to support their rapid growth, but also leads to more crying as they demand more milk.
What You Can Do: Be patient and flexible during growth spurts and developmental milestones. Your baby’s increased needs for food and comfort are temporary, and their sleep patterns stabilize as they adjust to their new abilities. Continue to offer comfort and reassurance, and maintain a consistent sleep routine.
Health-Related Reasons for Nighttime Crying
6. Colic: A Common and Mysterious Condition
This is characterized by prolonged periods of intense crying in the late afternoon or evening. It starts when a baby is around 2 weeks old and lasts until 3-4 months old. Colic is a frustrating and distressing experience for babies and parents because the exact cause isn’t well-understood
Colic is thought to be related to digestive issues, overstimulation, or an immature nervous system. Babies with colic cry for hours at a time, even if they’re otherwise healthy and well-fed. The crying usually occurs at the same time each day, in the evening, and is extremely difficult to soothe.
What You Can Do: If you suspect your baby has colic, talk to your pediatrician to rule out other potential causes of the crying. While there’s no definitive cure for colic, several strategies help soothe your baby. These include swaddling, rocking, using a pacifier, or taking your baby for a car ride.
Some parents find white noise or gentle vibrations help calm a colicky baby. Colic is temporary and resolves on its own by the time your baby is a few months old.
7. Reflux: A Common Cause of Nighttime Discomfort
Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is another potential cause of nighttime crying in newborns. Reflux occurs when the stomach contents flow back into the esophagus, causing discomfort or pain. This is common in babies because their lower esophageal sphincter, the muscle that keeps food in the stomach, is still developing.
What You Can Do: If your baby has reflux, consult your pediatrician for a proper diagnosis. In some cases, feeding your baby in an upright position and keeping them upright for 20-30 minutes after feeding help reduce reflux symptoms. Your doctor may recommend smaller, more frequent feedings or, medication to reduce acid production.
Elevate the head of your baby’s crib (using a safe, approved method) to reduce nighttime reflux discomfort.
8. Ear Infections: A Painful and Often Overlooked Cause
Ear infections are a common cause of nighttime crying in babies. An ear infection occurs when fluid builds up behind the eardrum due to a cold or respiratory infection. The fluid becomes infected, leading to pain and pressure in the ear.
What You Can Do: If you notice symptoms of an ear infection, such as tugging at the ears, crying during feedings, or difficulty sleeping, see your pediatrician. Ear infections are treated with antibiotics. Your doctor recommends pain relief to alleviate the discomforting symptoms.
In the meantime, elevate your baby’s head slightly during sleep to reduce pressure in the ear and ease discomfort.
How to Soothe a Crying Newborn at Night
Establishing a Consistent Bedtime Routine: The Key to Better Sleep
This is one of the most effective ways to reduce nighttime crying. Babies thrive on routine because it helps them know what to expect. A predictable bedtime routine signals your baby that it’s time to wind down and prepare for sleep. It doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, the simpler, the better.
What You Can Do: Start your routine with a warm bath to help your baby relax. Follow up with a gentle massage using baby lotion, which is soothing for your baby’s skin and muscles. After the massage, offer a feeding to ensure your baby is full before bedtime. Then read a short, calming story or sing a lullaby.
Swaddling: A Soothing Technique for Newborns
Swaddling is a time-honored technique that soothes a crying newborn by mimicking the snug environment of the womb. When done correctly, swaddling prevents your baby from being startled by their reflexes, which causes them to wake up and cry. This also provides security, comforting for newborns still adjusting to life outside the womb.
What You Can Do: To swaddle your baby, use a soft, breathable blanket. Lay the blanket flat and fold one corner. Place your baby on the blanket with their head above the folded corner. Wrap one side of the blanket snugly around your baby’s body, tucking it under their back.
Bring the bottom of the blanket up over your baby’s feet, leaving enough room for movement, and then wrap the other side of the blanket around your baby, securing it under their back. Ensure the swaddle is snug but not too tight—your baby should be able to move their hips and legs freely.
White Noise: Creating a Calming Sleep Environment
White noise is a powerful tool for soothing a crying newborn. The gentle hum of white noise mimics the sounds in the womb, which have a calming effect and help them sleep more soundly. White noise also drowns out household noises that might otherwise wake your baby, such as footsteps, a closing door, or traffic outside.
What You Can Do: Use a white noise machine, a fan, or an app on your phone to create white noise in your baby’s room. Ensure the volume is low and constant, as loud noise is overstimulating. The goal is to create a background sound that’s soothing and consistent, helping your baby to relax and fall asleep more easily.
The Power of Touch: Holding and Rocking Your Baby
Sometimes, all your baby needs is a little extra comfort and attention. Holding and rocking your baby is incredibly soothing, providing the closeness and security they crave. The rhythmic motion of rocking helps your baby relax, while the warmth of your body and the sound of your heartbeat remind them of the safety of the womb.
What You Can Do: Hold your baby when they cry at night. During the newborn stage, your baby isn’t yet capable of being “spoiled” by too much holding. Responding to your baby’s cries with comfort and care is essential for their emotional development. Keep them close while you move around.
Understand Why Newborn Baby Cry at Night with Love and Patience 
Caring for a newborn is a rewarding but challenging journey, filled with joy, exhaustion, and everything in between. Nighttime crying is normal in a baby’s development, and while it can be difficult to cope, remember that this phase won’t last forever. Understand why newborn baby cry and take proactive steps to soothe them.
Navigate the ups and downs of parenting, be kind to yourself, and seek support when needed. You’re doing an incredible job, and with time, patience, and love, you’ll find your rhythm as a parent. Before knowing it, those sleepless nights will be a distant memory, replaced by the joys of watching your little one grow and thrive.
For more helpful tips on newborn care and understanding your baby’s sleep patterns, visit Omegapediatrics. These resources offer valuable insights and guidance for new parents navigating the challenges of caring for a newborn.
