What should I do when a baby cries all day and cannot be calmed down?
Applies to age: 0–12 months
In short
Constant crying that cannot be soothed, or crying that is different than usual, may mean an illness. For seizures, marked breathlessness or altered consciousness, call for help at 112 (the emergency number in Poland) or 999 (the ambulance number in Poland).
What is normal
All claims: international norm
- All babies cry, some more than others.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
All babies cry, and some more than others.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- The time of day when a baby most often cries and is hard to comfort is the afternoon and evening.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Afternoon and evening are the most common times for this to happen.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- The amount of crying usually increases around week 2 of life and then gradually decreases around month 3.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
The amount babies cry tends to increase when they're around 2 weeks old and then gradually reduces at around 3 months old.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- Excessive crying may be a sign of colic.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Excessive crying could be a sign that your baby has colic.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- Colic sometimes occurs in babies under 5 months of age.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
This sometimes happens in babies who are under 5 months old.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- Crying with colic can last several hours.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
The crying can go on for some hours.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- You can hold your baby close, including in a sling.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Hold your baby or put them in a sling so they're close to you.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- Gentle background noise may help distract the baby.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Having some gentle noise in the background may help distract your baby.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- When no one else can take the baby and the crying is causing stress, you can put the baby safely in a crib or stroller, go to another room and calm yourself down.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
If you do not have anyone who can take care of your baby for a short time and the crying is making you stressed, put your baby in their cot or pram, make sure they're safe, close the door, go into another room and try to calm yourself down.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- A baby must never be shaken, no matter how frustrated you feel.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
No matter how frustrated you feel, you must never shake your baby.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
When to worry
All claims: international norm
- Constant crying that cannot be soothed or distracted from, or crying that sounds different than usual, may mean an illness.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
If your baby is crying constantly and you cannot console or distract them, or the cry does not sound like their normal cry, it can be a sign they're ill.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
ER / 112 (Poland)
Some claims: international norm
Immediate medical help needed: international norm
- Seizures accompanying a baby's crying need immediate medical help.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
has a fit (seizure or convulsion)
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- Blue, gray, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue accompanying crying needs immediate medical help.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
has blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown and black skin this may be easier to see on the palms of their hands or soles of their feet
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- A lack of response, floppiness or waking up less easily than usual accompanying crying needs immediate medical help.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
is unresponsive, floppy or not waking up as easily as usual
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- Difficulty breathing, breathlessness or very fast breathing accompanying crying needs immediate medical help.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
has difficulty breathing (you may notice grunting noises or their stomach sucking under their ribcage), is breathless or breathing very fast
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- Frequent violent (projectile) vomiting accompanying crying needs immediate medical help.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
is being violently sick a lot (projectile vomiting)
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- A rash that does not fade when pressed, accompanying crying, needs immediate medical help.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
has a rash that does not fade when you press it
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- No wet diaper in the last 8 hours accompanying crying needs immediate medical help.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
has not had a wet nappy in the past 8 hours
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- Call 112 (the emergency number in Poland) or 999 (the ambulance number in Poland) when life or health is at risk.
Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Zadzwoń na 112 lub 999, jeśli zagrożone jest życie lub zdrowie.
NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [2]
- Seizures are among the situations in which an emergency medical team (ZRM) is called.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
drgawki
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [3]
- Marked breathlessness is among the situations in which an emergency medical team (ZRM) is called.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
nasilona duszność
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [3]
- Altered consciousness is among the situations in which an emergency medical team (ZRM) is called.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
zaburzenia świadomości
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [3]
See a doctor
Some claims: international norm
Urgent medical assessment needed: international norm
- Crying together with other signs of illness, such as a high temperature or no interest in feeding, needs an urgent medical assessment.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Contact your GP or call NHS 111 if they have signs of being unwell, such as a high temperature or they’re not interested in feeding.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- A sick person who comes to a primary care (POZ) clinic should get an appointment on the same day they come in, or if that is not possible, at a time agreed with the parent.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Jeśli przyjdziesz chory do przychodni, powinieneś uzyskać wizytę w dniu zgłoszenia.
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [3]
Polish original
Jeśli to niemożliwe - w terminie uzgodnionym z tobą.
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [3]
- After the working hours of a POZ clinic, medical help is provided by night and holiday care (NiŚOZ).
Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Nocna i świąteczna opieka zdrowotna to pomoc lekarska po godzinach pracy przychodni POZ.
NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [2]
- If in doubt, it is better to consult a doctor.
Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Zawsze jeśli masz wątpliwości – lepiej skonsultować się z lekarzem.
NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [2]
international norm “International norm” next to a section heading means its claims come from a non-Polish source, because no Polish source in our registry covers this topic. When this applies to only some of the claims, the foreign ones carry the same label next to their source.
Sources
- NHS (nhs.uk, Anglia)License: Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: NHS (nhs.uk, Anglia). Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The summary is ours and is not attributed to the NHS.
- NFZ i Akademia NFZLicense: Treści NFZ – wykorzystanie ze wskazaniem źródła, bez obrotu komercyjnego. Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ. Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original.
- Portal Pacjenta (pacjent.gov.pl)
- https://pacjent.gov.pl/pogotowie-i-numer-alarmowy
- https://pacjent.gov.pl/jak-dziala-podstawowa-opieka-zdrowotna
License: CC BY 3.0 PL. Source: Portal Pacjenta (pacjent.gov.pl). Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original.