Newborn Crying All Night – Proven Calm Solutions Experts Trust

Last Updated: January 27,  2026, Published: January 27, 2026

Newborn crying all night can leave you exhausted and worried. Most babies cry more during nighttime hours, especially between weeks 2 and 8. The good news? This phase is temporary, and there are proven ways to soothe your little one. 

In this guide, I'll share what works based on experience and expert advice. I remember holding my daughter at 2 a.m., tears streaming down both our faces. She was only three weeks old. 

Nothing prepared me for the newborn's excessive crying at night that seemed endless. If you're reading this while rocking a screaming baby, I see you.

Why Newborn Crying All Night: The Real Reasons

Understanding Evening Fussiness

Here's what I wish someone told me: newborn night crying is completely normal. Between 6 p.m. and midnight, many babies enter the "witching hour." The crying can last for hours, no matter what you try.

Why does this happen?

Top 5 Causes of Newborn Crying All Night 

1. Hunger (Most Common)

Newborn night crying and feeding go together. Tiny stomachs empty every 2-3 hours.

I learned to recognize the hunger cry—it starts with short bursts, then builds to a full wail. It has a rhythmic pattern: cry-pause-cry-pause.

Signs your baby is hungry -

• Rooting (turning head, searching)
• Sucking on fists
• Smacking lips
• Getting fussier when you delay feeding

2. Gas Pain

Gas pain baby wailing sounds different—urgent and distressed. My daughter would pull her legs up and turn bright red.

What helped -

• Burping every 2-3 ounces
• Bicycle leg movements
• Holding the baby upright 20 minutes after eating
• Gentle tummy massage clockwise

3. Overtired (The Paradox)

Overtired babies fight sleep harder. Tired baby cry signals include rubbing eyes, yawning, and staring into space. Miss that window, and you're in for a rough night.

The cycle: Baby gets tired → You miss the sleep window → Stress hormones are released → Baby becomes alert → Crying increases → Harder to sleep.

4. Overstimulation

Too much activity during the day leads to newborn fussiness overnight. After loud visitors passed my son around for hours, he screamed for three hours that night.

I learned to protect his environment—dimmed lights after 5 p.m., quieter voices, limited visitors.

5. Colic and PURPLE Crying

The baby's crying at night is intense. If your baby cries for more than 3 hours a day, more than 3 days a week, for over 3 weeks, it might be colic.

PURPLE Crying pattern 

• Peak at 2-3 months
• Unpredictable
• Resists soothing
• Pain-like face
• Long-lasting
• Evening focused

It usually reaches its zenith near the sixth week and gradually fades by the end of the third or fourth month.

Signs of Discomfort in Newborn at Night

Normal vs. Concerning Crying

Emergency Signs (Call Immediately)

• Fever over 100.4°F (38°C) in babies under 3 months
• Refuses to eat multiple foods
• Fewer wet diapers than usual
• Vomiting repeatedly
• Rash that doesn't fade when pressed
• Extreme lethargy or difficulty waking

Trust your gut. If something feels wrong, call your doctor. They'd rather check and find nothing serious.

How to Soothe a Crying Newborn at Night

The 5 S's Method (My Go-To)

Dr. Harvey Karp's 5 Ss saved my sanity with both kids.

1. Swaddling
Wrap the baby snugly. Mimics the womb and prevents flailing arms. Make it snug around arms but loose around hips.

2. Side/Stomach Position (While holding)
Hold the baby on their side or tummy across your forearm. Never put them down this way—back is safest for sleep.

I called this the "football hold." My son loved it. His belly against my warm forearm relieved gas pain.

3. Shushing
Loud, constant "shhhh" sounds—louder than the crying. The womb was noisy! I downloaded a white noise app. Significant change.

4. Swinging
Gentle, rhythmic motion. Not vigorous shaking. I would sway side-to-side or do small bounces on my knees.

5. Sucking
Pacifiers, clean fingers, or breastfeeding for comfort. Sucking releases calming hormones.

My Proven Night Routine

Consistency is everything. Here's our routine that reduced infant night waking cries:

6:30 p.m. - Warm Bath
Comfortably warm, followed by a gentle massage.

7:00 p.m. - Feed in Darkened Room
Lights dimmed, white noise on, minimal talking.

7:30 p.m. - Burp and Change
Fresh diaper, swaddle, comfort check.

7:45 p.m. - Put Down Drowsy
Don't wait until you're fully asleep. Put them down drowsy but awake. It teaches self-soothing.

Creating the Right Sleep Environment

What I changed

Temperature: 68-72°F, dressed the baby in one more layer than I

Lighting: Blackout curtains, dim red nightlight for feeds

Sound: White noise at 50 decibels all night

Feeding Solutions That Work

Breastfeeding Tips

My milk supply dropped in the evenings. It's normal—prolactin levels decrease.

What helped

• Cluster feeding evenings (frequent nursing 5-10 p.m.)
• Staying hydrated all day
• One extra pumping session mid-morning
• Partner bringing baby for night feeds

Formula-Feeding Tips

• Right temperature (too cold upset tummy)
• Slow-flow nipples prevent air gulping
• Hold bottle at 45-degree angle
• Try different formulas with a pediatrician's guidance

When Baby Wakes Crying Every Hour

A baby waking up crying every hour means something's interrupting their sleep cycles.

Common culprits

1.    Hunger during growth spurts

2.    Sleep associations (needs you to fall asleep)

3.    Discomfort (wet diaper, temperature, gas)

4.    Developmental leap

My solution - I kept a three-night log. Found my daughter woke exactly 90 minutes after sleep, one sleep cycle. She couldn't transition alone. Started putting her down more awake with a pacifier. Within a week, she learned to self-soothe.

Understanding Different Cry Types

Hunger Cry

• Rhythmic, repetitive
• Starts and stops
• With rooting, sucking motions

Pain Cry 

• Sudden onset
• High-pitched, piercing
• Continuous, baby tense

Tired Cry

• Whiny, moany
• With eye rubbing, yawns
• Becomes frantic if ignored

Overstimulation Cry

• Fussy, irritable
• Turns away from stimulation
• Arches back

My Breakthrough Moment

Week 5 with my first baby. I hadn't slept more than 2 hours straight in over a month. My son cried from 8 p.m. to midnight every night.

One night, I broke down. Put him safely in his crib and called my sister, sobbing. She came over at 11 p.m. and said something that changed everything:

"You're trying too hard. He's overstimulated by all your soothing efforts."

In my desperation, I was:

• Bouncing too vigorously
• Switching positions constantly
• Talking and singing loudly
• Trying new techniques every 5 minutes

She showed me:

• Swaddle firmly
• Turn on white noise
• Hold in one position
• Do nothing else
• Stay calm and breathe

Within 15 minutes, he was asleep.

The lesson: Sometimes less is more. Babies need calm, consistent soothing, not frantic attempts.

Weekly Crying Timeline

Week 0-2: Sleepy honeymoon phase

Week 2-6: Peak crying zone—hardest weeks

Week 6-8: Turning point—slightly better nights

Week 8-12: Improvement—crying decreases

Week 12-16: Most babies settle, colic resolves

Essential Items That Helped

Taking Care of Yourself

The Oxygen Mask Principle

You can't pour from an empty cup.

What saved me

Sleep in Shifts - I took 8 p.m.-2 a.m., partner took 2 a.m.-8 a.m. Guaranteed sleep helped mentally.

Accept Help - My mother-in-law held my son for two hours weekly so I could nap. Don't let pride stop you.

The 10-Minute Rule: If rage builds, put the baby safely in the crib and step outside briefly. Better than losing control.

Key Takeaways

✅ Normal crying peaks at 6 weeks, resolves by 3-4 months
✅ Evening fussiness is developmental, not your fault
✅ The 5 S's method is evidence-based
✅ Cluster feeding evenings is normal
✅ Day-night confusion takes 10-14 days to fix
✅ Trust your instincts about medical concerns
✅ Parental burnout is real—take care of yourself
✅ Every baby is different
✅ This phase is temporary

FAQs: Newborn Crying All Night

How do I stop my newborn from crying all night?

Focus on meeting basic needs: feed every 2-3 hours, comfortable temperature, clean diaper, and use the 5 S's method. Establish a consistent bedtime routine concurrently nightly.

Ensure daytime has natural light exposure and nighttime stays dark and muted—this reinforces circadian rhythm. Some crying is normal; babies cry 2-3 hours daily in early weeks, peaking at week 6.

What are the 7 danger signs in a newborn baby?

1.    High fever (100.4°F/38°C or higher under 3 months)

2.    Difficulty breathing (rapid breathing, grunting, blue skin)

3.    Extreme lethargy (difficult to wake, unresponsive)

4.    Persistent vomiting (forceful, not regular spit-up)

5.    Dehydration (under 6 wet diapers/24 hours, sunken fontanel)

6.    Unusual rash (purple-red spots that don't fade when pressed)

7.    Abnormal cry (high-pitched, weak, very different from normal)

If in doubt, contact your healthcare provider immediately.

What does a colic cry sound like?

A colic cry is high-pitched and piercing—it sounds painful. The cry comes in waves, building to a crescendo, brief pause, then starting again.

Your baby might:

• Pull legs to chest
• Clench fists
• Arch back
• Turn red or purple

The cry typically starts late afternoon or evening and lasts 3+ hours. Nothing helps—not feeding, changing, or holding. It usually starts at 2-3 weeks, peaks at 6 weeks, and resolves by 3-4 months.

What is the hardest week of a newborn?

Week 6 is typically hardest. Crying peaks (2-3 hours daily or more), sleep deprivation has accumulated, initial family help has ended, and babies often hit a growth spurt.

I remember week 6 with my son—I cried in the bathroom at 3 a.m., feeling like a failure. The crying seemed endless.

But here's hope: Week 6 is often the turning point. After this peak, crying typically decreases. By week 12, most babies are noticeably more settled.

If you're in week 6 now, you're doing amazing. This is the hardest it gets. It will get easier.

Conclusion: Better Nights Are Coming

Newborn crying all night feels impossible when you're exhausted at 3 a.m. I've been there questioning everything, wondering if it will ever end.

It does end. I promise.

Remember -

• Your baby isn't manipulating you
• You aren't failing as a parent
• This phase is temporary
• Asking for help is a strength
• Taking care of yourself enables you to care for your baby

One morning, you'll wake up realizing you slept four hours straight. Then six. Then eight.

Right now, survival is enough. You're doing better than you think. Your baby is lucky to have someone who cares enough to research solutions at 2 a.m.

Hang in there. Morning always comes. Better nights are ahead.

Medical Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, and this content does not replace professional medical advice. What I share comes from real-life experience, extensive research, and consultation with healthcare providers. Always consult qualified medical professionals for diagnosis and treatment of any health condition.

References

Soothing a Crying Baby 

https://www.nhs.uk/baby/caring-for-a-newborn/soothing-a-crying-baby

 Colic: Symptoms, Causes, & Treatments 

https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/conditions/colic

Baby Crying at Night: Normal or Cause for Concern? 

https://www.reidhealth.org/blog/baby-crying-at-night-normal-or-cause-for-concern