This is an English rendering of a Polish public-health reference. The care paths it names (112, night and holiday care NiŚOZ, primary care POZ) are Polish. This is not medical advice.

PL

This is not medical advice Life-threatening emergency (Poland): 112

Home › Crying and colic

Why does a baby cry before sleep or when falling asleep?

Applies to age: 0–12 months

In short

Tiredness and overstimulation are among the most common reasons a baby cries. Afternoon and evening are the times when a baby most often cries and is hard to comfort.

Sources: NHS, Portal Pacjenta, NFZ i Akademia NFZChecked: Report an error

What is normal

Some claims: international norm

  • The most common reasons a baby cries include tiredness and overstimulation.
    Source: NHS · international norm – 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:

    NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]

    tiredness

    NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]

    overstimulation

    NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]

  • The time of day when a baby cries and is hard to comfort is most often the afternoon and evening.
    Source: NHS · international norm – 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 increases at around 2 weeks of age and gradually decreases at around 3 months.
    Source: NHS · international norm – 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]

  • Too much rocking and singing may keep a baby from falling asleep; lying the baby down after a feeding may help.
    Source: NHS · international norm – show the original wording (EN)

    Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:

    Sometimes too much rocking and singing can keep your baby awake.

    NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]

    You might find lying them down after a feed will help.

    NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]

  • Too much excitement and stimulation just before bedtime may wake a child up again.
    Source: NHS · international norm – show the original wording (EN)

    Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:

    Too much excitement and stimulation just before bedtime can wake your child up again.

    NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]

  • A simple, soothing bedtime routine may help a baby settle.
    Source: NHS · international norm – show the original wording (EN)

    Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:

    Getting your baby into a simple, soothing bedtime routine may help them settle and can be a great opportunity to have 1-to-1 time with your baby.

    NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]

  • Polish recommendations for children's sleep include letting the child fall asleep on their own and keeping a consistent routine at bedtime.
    Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote

    Verbatim quote from the source:

    Polish original

    Pozwól dziecku zasnąć samodzielnie.

    Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [2]

    Polish original

    Zadbaj o rutynę i wygodę – te same czynności przy kładzeniu się spać, wygodne ubrania, w tym świeże pieluchy dla młodszych dzieci.

    Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [2]

When to worry

All claims: international norm

  • Constant crying that cannot be soothed or distracted, 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]

ER / 112 (Poland)

Some claims: international norm

Immediate medical help needed: international norm

  • Crying in a baby with seizures 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:

    Call 999 and ask for an ambulance if your baby:

    NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]

    has a fit (seizure or convulsion)

    NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]

  • Crying in a baby with blue, 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:

    Call 999 and ask for an ambulance if your baby:

    NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]

    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]

  • Crying in a baby who 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:

    Call 999 and ask for an ambulance if your baby:

    NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]

    is unresponsive, floppy or not waking up as easily as usual

    NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]

  • Crying in a baby with difficulty breathing, shortness of breath or very fast breathing 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:

    Call 999 and ask for an ambulance if your baby:

    NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]

    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]

  • Crying in a baby with a rash that does not fade when pressed 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:

    Call 999 and ask for an ambulance if your baby:

    NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]

    has a rash that does not fade when you press it

    NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]

  • An ambulance is called for situations including loss of consciousness, altered consciousness, seizures or severe shortness of breath.
    Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote

    Verbatim quote from the source:

    Polish original

    Karetkę wzywaj tylko w sytuacji:

    Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [2]

    Polish original

    utrata przytomności

    Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [2]

    Polish original

    zaburzenia świadomości

    Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [2]

    Polish original

    drgawki

    Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [2]

    Polish original

    nasilona duszność

    Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [2]

See a doctor

Some claims: international norm

Urgent medical assessment needed: international norm

  • Crying together with a sign of illness, such as lack of 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]

  • If a sick child comes to a primary care (POZ) clinic, the child should get an appointment on the day they present, 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 [2]

    Polish original

    Jeśli to niemożliwe - w terminie uzgodnionym z tobą.

    Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [2]

  • At night, on weekends and on holidays, urgent help is provided by night and holiday care (NiŚOZ).
    Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote

    Verbatim quote from the source:

    Polish original

    W godzinach nocnych (18:00–8:00) oraz w święta i weekendy doraźnej pomocy udziela nocna i świąteczna opieka zdrowotna.

    Portal Pacjenta · 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 [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.

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

  1. 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.
  2. Portal Pacjenta (pacjent.gov.pl)
    License: CC BY 3.0 PL. Source: Portal Pacjenta (pacjent.gov.pl). Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original.
  3. NFZ i Akademia NFZ
    License: 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.

See an error or outdated information? Report an error in this answer. Answer checked against the sources on October 12, 2026.

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