When your baby will not stop crying, check their basic needs and try one calming technique at a time. If you begin to feel overwhelmed, place your baby somewhere safe and take a short break. Caring for your own wellbeing is an important part of caring for your baby.
Long periods of crying can feel exhausting and upsetting, especially when nothing seems to help. It does not mean you are doing anything wrong.
Why is my baby crying?
Crying is one of the main ways babies communicate. Your baby may be hungry, tired, windy, too warm or cold, in need of a nappy change or simply looking for comfort. They may also feel overstimulated after a busy day. Crying often increases during the early weeks and may be more noticeable in the afternoon or evening.
You may not always find a clear reason. Sometimes your baby simply needs you to stay close while the crying passes.
How can I soothe a crying baby?
Start by checking when your baby last fed, slept, had their nappy changed or was winded. Then try one gentle approach and allow your baby time to respond.
You could:
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Hold your baby close and speak softly
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Gently rock or sway
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Stroke their back
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Go for a walk with the pram
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Play quiet background noise
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Offer a warm bath
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Move to a calmer room with lower lighting
Different techniques work for different babies, and what helps one day may not work the next.
Keeping a simple record of when your baby cries may also help you notice patterns around feeding, sleep or certain times of day.
What should I do if the crying feels overwhelming?
A baby’s cry can create a strong emotional response. Feeling tired, frustrated or unable to cope does not make you a bad parent.
Ask your partner, a relative or a trusted friend to take over when possible. Even a short break to eat, rest or shower can help.
When you feel overwhelmed and nobody else is available, place your baby safely in their cot, leave the room briefly and take a few slow breaths. Return when you feel calmer. The NHS suggests setting a short time limit, such as 10 minutes. Never shake your baby, as this can cause serious brain injury.
Speak to your GP, midwife or health visitor if you regularly feel low, anxious, angry, unable to cope or disconnected from your baby. Postnatal depression can affect mothers, fathers and partners, and support is available.
Support for colic linked to Temporary Lactose Intolerance (TLI)
Colic can have several causes. In some babies, symptoms may be associated with temporary lactose intolerance, where the developing digestive system produces too little lactase enzyme to break down all the lactose in milk.
Colief Infant Drops contain lactase enzyme and are added to expressed breast milk or infant formula before feeding. They help break down lactose in the milk, helping to reduce symptoms of colic linked to temporary lactose intolerance. They are suitable from birth.
Research suggests that treating feeds with lactase may reduce crying and digestive discomfort in some babies, although not every case of colic has the same cause.
Always follow the product instructions and speak to a healthcare professional if you have concerns about your baby’s crying, feeding or health.
When should I seek medical advice?
Contact your GP if your baby cries constantly, their cry sounds different, they have a temperature, they are not feeding normally, or you are worried.
Call 999 if your baby is unresponsive or floppy, has difficulty breathing, has a seizure, is repeatedly projectile vomiting or develops blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin. Trust your instincts when something does not feel right.
Discover Colief Infant Drops.
References
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NHS. Soothing a crying baby. Reviewed April 2026. - https://www.nhs.uk/baby/caring-for-a-newborn/soothing-a-crying-baby/
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NHS. Colic. - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/colic/
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NHS. Postnatal depression. Reviewed March 2026. - https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/postnatal-depression/
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Kanabar D, Randhawa M, Clayton P. Improvement of symptoms in infant colic following reduction of lactose load with lactase. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. 2001;14(5):359–363. doi:10.1046/j.1365-277x.2001.00304.x. - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/11906576
