Why does a baby cry at the same time every day, usually in the evening?
Applies to age: 0–6 months
In short
Afternoon and evening are the most common times when a baby cries a lot and cannot be soothed. Weak, high-pitched or unusual crying needs immediate medical help.
What is normal
All claims: international norm
- There may be times of the day when a child cries a lot and cannot be soothed.
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:
There may be times of the day when your baby tends to cry a lot and cannot be comforted.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- Afternoon and evening are the most common times when a baby cries a lot and cannot be soothed.
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 the 2nd week of life and gradually decreases around the 3rd month.
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]
- With colic, a child may cry more often in 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:
They may cry more often in the afternoon and evening.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- Colic can be suspected when an otherwise healthy child cries more than 3 hours a day, 3 days a week, for at least a week.
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, but your baby may have colic if they cry more than 3 hours a day, 3 days a week for at least 1 week but are otherwise healthy.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- Colic usually passes when the child is 3 to 4 months old.
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:
It usually stops by the time they're 3 to 4 months old.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- The most common reasons a baby cries are hunger, a dirty or wet diaper, tiredness, wanting a cuddle, gas, being too hot or too cold, boredom and overstimulation.
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 most common reasons for crying are: hunger a dirty or wet nappy tiredness wanting a cuddle wind being too hot or too cold boredom overstimulation
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
When to worry
All claims: international norm
- Constant crying that you cannot soothe or distract the child from, or crying that sounds different than usual, may be a sign of 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]
Worth discussing with a doctor:
- If a parent is worried about the child's crying, it is worth seeing a doctor.
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:
you're worried about your baby's crying
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- If colic symptoms last after the child is 4 months old, it is worth seeing a doctor.
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:
your baby still has symptoms of colic after 4 months of age
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
ER / 112 (Poland)
Some claims: international norm
Immediate medical help needed: international norm
- Weak or high-pitched crying in a child 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:
your baby has a weak or high-pitched cry
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- A child whose cry sounds different from their usual cry 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:
your baby's cry does not sound like their normal cry
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- A child who is crying and has a seizure 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 fit (seizure or convulsion)
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- A child who is crying and has bluish, gray, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue 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 child who is crying and is unresponsive, floppy or harder to wake than usual 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]
- A child who is crying and has difficulty breathing, is breathless or breathes very fast 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]
- Call an ambulance in a situation of immediate danger to life.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
bezpośredniego zagrożenia życia
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [2]
- Also call an ambulance when the condition of a sick person suddenly worsens in a way that may lead to harm to their health.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
nagłego pogorszenia się stanu osoby chorej, który może prowadzić do uszczerbku na zdrowiu.
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [2]
See a doctor
- A sick child reported to a primary care (POZ) clinic should get an appointment on the day of the report, and 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 [2]
Polish original
Jeśli to niemożliwe - w terminie uzgodnionym z tobą.
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [2]
- POZ facilities operate from Monday to Friday, 8:00–18:00.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Placówki POZ działają od poniedziałku do piątku w godzinach: 8:00–18:00.
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [2]
- After the clinic's working hours, night and holiday care (NiŚOZ) is recommended including when symptoms get worse and you cannot wait until morning.
Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
objawy się nasilą i nie możesz czekać do rana
NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [3]
- Night and holiday care (NiŚOZ) sees patients from Monday to Friday from 18:00 to 08:00 the next morning.
Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Poniedziałek – Piątek: 18:00 – 08:00 rano dnia następnego.
NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [3]
- Night and holiday care (NiŚOZ) sees patients around the clock on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Soboty, Niedziele i Święta: całodobowo.
NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [3]
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)
- https://www.nhs.uk/baby/caring-for-a-newborn/soothing-a-crying-baby/
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/colic/
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. - Portal Pacjenta (pacjent.gov.pl)
- https://pacjent.gov.pl/aktualnosc/kiedy-wezwac-karetke
- 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. - 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.