Crying is your baby's first language. When it's been going for an hour and nothing seems to help, it can feel anything but simple — yet it almost always means something ordinary, and you'll get better at reading it every day. Newborns commonly cry for two to three hours a day across the first few months, often peaking around six to eight weeks. You are not doing anything wrong.

First, check the basics

Before reaching for fancy techniques, run a quick mental checklist. Most cries have an everyday cause.

  • Hungry? Offer a feed, especially if it's been a couple of hours or baby is rooting or sucking on hands.
  • Wet or dirty nappy? A quick change can settle things fast.
  • Too hot or too cold? Feel the chest or back of the neck (not hands or feet). Dress baby in one light layer more than you're wearing.
  • Tired? An overtired baby often cries harder, not softer. Watch for yawning, glazed eyes or turning away.
  • Needs a cuddle? Sometimes closeness, warmth and your heartbeat are all that's needed.
  • Uncomfortable? Check for a stray hair wrapped around a finger or toe, a scratchy tag, or trapped wind.

Then try the 5 S's

If basic needs are met and the crying continues, the 5 S's — popularised by paediatrician Dr Harvey Karp — recreate the snug, rhythmic feeling of the womb. Try them one at a time, then layer them together.

The 5 S's for calming

  1. Swaddle: wrap snugly with arms in but hips loose, to reduce the startle reflex
  2. Side or stomach hold: hold baby on their side or tummy in your arms (only while awake and held — always place baby on their BACK to sleep)
  3. Shush: a steady 'shhhh' close to the ear, or white noise, as loud as the crying
  4. Swing: small, gentle rhythmic motion — never jerky, never a shake
  5. Suck: offer the breast, a clean finger or a dummy once feeding is established

A few extra favourites that work alongside the 5 S's:

  • Skin-to-skin contact and baby-wearing in a sling.
  • A warm bath or a calm, dim room with fewer sounds and lights.
  • A walk outside — fresh air and gentle movement settle many babies.
  • Burping for trapped wind after feeds.
Technique Best for Tip
Swaddle Startle reflex, newborns Stop once baby starts rolling
White noise / shush Overstimulation Keep volume moderate and at a distance
Gentle motion Fussy, wired babies Rocking, pram, sling, car
Sucking Self-soothing A dummy at sleep may lower SIDS risk (Red Nose, AAP)

It's okay to take a break

Sometimes nothing works, and that's not a failure. If you feel overwhelmed, frustrated or exhausted, the safest thing you can do is pause.

Put baby on their back in a clear cot or bassinet (no pillows, bumpers or loose bedding), close the door, and step away for five minutes. Splash your face, take some deep breaths, or phone someone. You'll both feel calmer for it.

Regional notes

Guidance is reassuringly consistent worldwide. Red Nose (AU), the AAP (US) and the NHS (UK) all emphasise back-to-sleep, safe handling and seeking support — and all stress that no soothing technique is "best", because every baby is different. Dummies for settling are endorsed by both Red Nose and the AAP, though they advise waiting until breastfeeding is well established (around 3–4 weeks). Swaddling advice is also shared — keep it firm at the chest but loose at the hips, and stop swaddling once baby shows signs of rolling.

When to call your GP or child-health nurse

Trust your instincts. You know your baby. Seek medical advice if:

  • Your baby is under 3 months and has a fever (this is always urgent — see a doctor straight away).
  • The cry sounds high-pitched, weak or very different from usual.
  • Baby is hard to wake, floppy, won't feed, has fewer wet nappies, or seems unwell.
  • Crying is excessive, inconsolable and prolonged (this can be colic — see our colic guide — but it's worth ruling out other causes like reflux).
  • You feel persistently low, anxious or unable to cope.

This guide is general wellness information, not medical advice. For anything that worries you about your baby's health or your own, please talk to your GP, child-health nurse or doctor.