Considerations:

Infants normally cry a total of 1 - 3 hours a day. It is perfectly normal for an infant to cry in an attempt to communicate hunger, thirst, discomfort, tiredness, or loneliness. It is also normal for a baby to have a fussy period in the evening.

However, if an infant cries too often it may suggest a disorder that requires treatment.

Common Causes:

• Boredom or loneliness
• Colic
• Discomfort or irritation from a wet or dirty diaper, excessive gas, or feeling cold
• Hunger or thirst
• Illness
• Infection (a likely cause if the crying is accompanied by irritability, lethargy, poor appetite, or fever -- consult your baby's health care provider)
• Medications
• Normal muscle jerks and twitches that disturb the sleep
• Pain
• Teething