Parenting

Why do babies cry in the evening and what helps colic?

Rive News Research Desk

Published October 18, 2026 · 9 min read

Key takeaways

Evening crying is normal in newborns, and it peaks around 6 weeks before fading by 3 to 4 months.
Colic means crying for more than 3 hours a day, on 3 or more days a week, in an otherwise healthy baby.
Soothing, motion, and taking turns holding the baby help, while colic itself needs no cure because it fades on its own.

A newborn baby crying on white bedding — A newborn baby crying. Evening crying can feel endless, but it follows a pattern that most babies outgrow within a few monthsPhotograph: Wikimedia CommonsImage: Wikimedia Commons

Babies cry in the evening more than at any other time of day. The crying often starts in the late afternoon, builds through the early evening, and then eases as the baby finally sleeps. For many families, it feels like clockwork, and it can feel overwhelming.

This article explains why babies cry in the evening, what colic is, what helps soothe a crying baby, and when to seek medical advice. This article is for general information, not medical advice. If you are worried about your baby, speak to your doctor or health visitor.

Why evening crying happens

All babies cry. Crying is how a newborn communicates hunger, discomfort, tiredness and the need for closeness. In the first weeks of life, crying follows a curve.

It rises from birth, peaks, and then falls as the baby matures.

Evening crying has several likely drivers, and they often combine. By evening, a young baby is tired and overstimulated after a full day of sights, sounds and handling. A tired baby finds it harder to settle, and the crying itself adds to the tiredness.

Feeding patterns shift in the evening too. Many babies cluster-feed in the evening, asking for several feeds close together, both for comfort and to build up milk supply.

The baby's nervous system is also still maturing. NHS guidance notes that colic may relate to the baby's temperament, and that some babies are more sensitive than others and need more comforting. A sensitive baby may react more strongly to normal evening stimulation, such as lights, noise and being passed between adults.

What colic is

Colic is a name for prolonged, intense crying in an otherwise healthy baby. The classic definition uses the rule of threes. NHS guidance in Scotland describes colic as crying for more than 3 hours a day, on 3 days a week, for at least 1 week, in a baby who is otherwise healthy.

Other definitions use a longer window: crying for more than 3 hours a day, on more than 3 days a week, for at least 3 weeks. The crying comes on suddenly, often at the same time each day, and it is hard or impossible to settle the baby while it lasts.

Colic usually starts in the first few weeks of life and is most common in the first 6 weeks. It typically peaks around 6 weeks of age. Most babies outgrow it by 3 to 4 months, and it resolves by 6 months in most cases, according to NHS guidance.

Colic affects roughly 1 in 5 babies, so it is common.

During a colic episode, a baby may draw the knees up to the belly, arch the back, clench the fists, and turn red in the face. The baby may pass wind and seem uncomfortable. These signs look alarming, but colic itself is not a disease, and it does not mean the baby is in danger.

What matters is ruling out other causes, which is why a check with a health professional is wise if the crying is new or severe.

Why the cause is still unclear

Doctors do not know the exact cause of colic. Several theories exist, and more than one may play a part. The digestive theory points to gas, an immature gut, or feeding technique.

A shallow latch can make a baby swallow extra air, which causes discomfort. Reflux and occasional allergies can produce similar crying.

The overstimulation theory points to the baby's developing nervous system. A young baby takes in far more stimulation than it can process, and by evening the system is overloaded. The crying may be the baby's way of releasing that built-up tension.

The feeding theory notes that evening cluster feeding is normal. Crying labelled as colic may sometimes mean the baby simply wants to feed again. NHS guidance makes this point directly: a baby who cries in the evening may need another feed, not a treatment.

Because the cause is unclear, no single cure exists. That matters, because it means parents should be sceptical of products that promise to end colic. The honest approach is to soothe the baby, support the parents, and wait for the phase to pass.

What helps soothe a crying baby

No method works every time, but a range of soothing steps helps many babies. Work through them calmly, and give each one a few minutes before switching.

Start with the basics. Check hunger, a wet or dirty nappy, and whether the baby is too hot or too cold. Offer a feed, and wind the baby well afterwards.

A baby who has swallowed air often settles after a good burp.

Motion helps many babies. Rocking, walking, swaying, and gentle bouncing all give rhythmic movement. A walk in a pram or a slow car ride settles some babies when nothing else works.

Babywearing, with the baby held upright against your chest, keeps the baby close and upright after feeds, which NHS guidance lists among the options parents can try.

Sound helps too. Steady white noise, soft shushing, or the hum of a fan can calm a baby who is overstimulated. The well-known 5 S method groups five soothing steps: swaddling, side or stomach position while awake and supervised, shushing, swinging, and sucking.

A dummy or a clean finger to suck on calms some babies. Never place a baby to sleep on the side or stomach, even if those positions calm the baby while awake.

Warmth and touch can help. A warm bath relaxes tense muscles and gives the evening a calm routine. Gentle baby massage, with slow strokes on the legs and belly, suits some babies, though others dislike being handled during crying.

Watch the baby's response and stop if the crying worsens.

Change the scenery. Moving to a quiet, dim room cuts stimulation. Some babies settle when the house goes quiet and the lights go low.

Others settle outdoors, where the change of air and sound breaks the pattern.

A mother holding her newborn baby close. Holding, motion and closeness soothe many crying babiesPhotograph: tabakpolskaImage: Wikimedia Commons

Look after the adults too. Colic is exhausting, and a stressed caregiver finds soothing harder. Take turns holding the baby.

If you feel overwhelmed, put the baby down safely on the back in a cot, walk into another room for a few minutes, and breathe. A baby crying safely in a cot for a few minutes is better than a caregiver pushed past their limits. If your family is struggling, the same honesty helps in other hard seasons.

For sibling tension, see how to handle sibling rivalry without taking sides.

What official guidance says not to use

This part surprises many parents. NHS guidance, drawing on NICE clinical guidance, lists several popular colic remedies that should not be recommended because the evidence is too weak.

The list includes simeticone drops, lactase drops, changes to the breastfeeding mother's diet, changes to formula preparation, probiotics, herbal supplements, spinal manipulation, and cranial osteopathy. None of these has enough evidence to support routine use for colic.

That does not mean every product is harmful. It means the evidence does not show they work, so parents should not spend money or hope on them. If you are considering any remedy, talk to your doctor or pharmacist first, and be wary of any product that claims to cure colic.

Responsive feeding stays the core advice. NHS guidance advises continuing responsive feeding for breastfed and bottle-fed babies, checking teat flow and size for bottle feeds, and preparing formula safely. A breastfeeding assessment can help if the milk flow is very fast or the latch is shallow.

When to seek medical advice

Most evening crying is normal, but some signs need prompt medical attention. Seek advice if the crying persists beyond 5 months, if the baby shows faltering growth, or if symptoms are severe, worsening, or keep getting worse, according to NHS guidance. Ask for a specialist referral if you feel unable to cope despite reassurance and advice.

Get urgent help if the baby has a fever, vomiting, poor feeding, unusual sleepiness, a bulging soft spot, blood in the stool, or a rash that does not fade when pressed. A baby who cries in a high-pitched or unusual way, or who seems floppy or stiff, also needs prompt assessment.

Trust your instincts. You know your baby's normal crying better than anyone. If the crying feels different from usual, or if something about the baby worries you, seek advice.

Health professionals would rather hear from you early than late.

A baby sleeping peacefully on a blanket — A baby sleeping peacefully after settling. Most colicky babies sleep calmly between crying episodesPhotograph: Toshiyuki IMAIImage: Wikimedia Commons

Frequently asked questions

Is evening crying always colic?

No. Most evening crying is normal newborn behaviour, and only some babies meet the rule-of-threes pattern for colic. Normal evening crying is shorter, and the baby settles with feeding, holding, or a change of scene.

Colic crying lasts longer and resists soothing.

Does colic mean my milk or formula is the problem?

Not usually. Colic happens in breastfed and formula-fed babies at similar rates. NHS guidance advises against changing the mother's diet or switching formula as a colic treatment, because the evidence does not support it.

Will colic harm my baby's development?

No. Colic is self-limiting and does not cause lasting harm. It does not mean the baby will have a difficult temperament later.

The main risk is the strain it puts on caregivers, which is why support for parents matters as much as soothing the baby.

How long does colic last?

Colic usually starts in the first few weeks, peaks around 6 weeks, and resolves by 3 to 4 months. Some cases run to 6 months. If crying continues past 5 months, NHS guidance advises seeking specialist advice.

Outlook

Evening crying and colic test every new parent, but they are phases, not permanent states. The crying peaks around 6 weeks and usually fades by 3 to 4 months. Soothe the baby with feeding, motion, sound and closeness, take turns with another adult, and skip remedies that lack evidence.

If you feel unable to cope, or if the baby shows any warning signs, seek medical advice. You are not failing. You are getting through a hard, normal stage, and it does end.

This article is for general information, not medical advice. If you are worried about your baby, speak to your doctor, midwife, or health visitor.

Tags: colic, baby crying, newborn care, infant sleep

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