Why does a baby cry during or after feeding?
Applies to age: 0–12 months
In short
All babies cry. Reflux is when a baby brings up milk or vomits during or shortly after feeding; it usually starts before 8 weeks of age and goes away by 1 year of age.
What is normal
All claims: international norm
- All babies cry.
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: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- A baby's crying can have causes other than 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:
There are other reasons why your baby may be crying.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- Colic can be suspected when an otherwise healthy baby cries for more than 3 hours a day, on 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: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- Colic usually goes away when the baby is 3–4 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: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- Reflux is when a baby brings up milk or vomits during or shortly after feeding.
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:
Reflux is when a baby brings up milk, or is sick, during or shortly after feeding.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- Symptoms of reflux include a baby being unsettled during feeding.
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:
being unsettled during feeding
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- Reflux usually starts before 8 weeks of age and goes away by the time the baby turns 1.
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:
Reflux usually starts before a baby is 8 weeks old and gets better by the time they're 1.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- In a baby under 1 year of age, it is common to bring up a small amount of milk during or shortly after feeding, without signs of distress.
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's common for a baby under the age of 1 to bring up a little bit of milk during or shortly after a feed, without being distressed.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- A baby's crying can be caused by hunger, a dirty diaper, gas, reflux or constipation.
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 could be they: are hungry have a dirty nappy have wind have reflux have constipation
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- Reflux is very common and usually goes away on its own.
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's very common and usually gets better on its own.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
When to worry
All claims: international norm
Worth discussing with a doctor:
- If a baby is not growing or gaining weight as expected, 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 is not growing or putting on weight as expected
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- If colic symptoms last after 4 months of age, 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: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
ER / 112 (Poland)
Some claims: international norm
Immediate medical help needed: international norm
- A weak or high-pitched cry in a baby 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: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- Choking is among the situations in which the pacjent.gov.pl portal says to call an ambulance (999, the ambulance number in Poland, or 112, the emergency number in Poland).
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
zadławienie się
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [2]
- Persistent vomiting, especially with blood mixed in, is among the situations in which the pacjent.gov.pl portal says to call an ambulance.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
uporczywe wymioty zwłaszcza z domieszką krwi
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [2]
- Increased shortness of breath is among the situations in which the pacjent.gov.pl portal says to call an ambulance.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
nasilona duszność
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [2]
See a doctor
Some claims: international norm
Urgent medical assessment needed: international norm
- A baby who refuses to feed 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:
is refusing to feed
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- A baby who will not stop crying and is very distressed 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:
will not stop crying and is very distressed
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- Vomit that is green or yellow, or has blood in it, 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:
has vomit that's green or yellow, or has blood in it
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- A swollen or tender tummy 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:
has a swollen or tender tummy
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [1]
- Night and holiday care (NiŚOZ) is indicated, among other things, when vomiting or diarrhea appears, especially in children and seniors.
Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
pojawią się wymioty lub biegunka (szczególnie u dzieci i seniorów).
NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-09 · license [3]
- Night and holiday care is open 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: 2026-10-09 · license [3]
- Night and holiday care is open 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: 2026-10-09 · 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)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)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.