All babies cry. They may cry for as long as a few hours each day. Crying is how babies communicate their feelings or needs. Your baby may cry because he has a wet diaper or is hungry. Or it may be that he just wants you to hold him. You may know what your baby wants by the sound, pattern, or length of his cry. However, at times he may seem to cry for no reason at all.

This health decision guide will help you understand why your baby may be crying, and what you can do about it. Unless you are prompted to seek emergency care, you can proceed through the guide -- even if you have placed a call to your pediatrician's office.

Click here to begin.

A baby's cry can be an important clue that something serious is bothering him, such as sickness or an unrecognized injury.

Does your crying baby have any of these symptoms?

• Vomiting

• Limp or very weak appearing

• Fever (a rectal temperature of 100.4 degrees F or higher)

• Holding, hitting, or scratching his head

• Not wanting to eat or drink

• Dry diaper for more than six hours

• No recent bowel movement

• Not moving one or more parts of his body normally

• Crying more or louder when he moves an arm or leg

• A finger or toe that is red or swollen

Yes, my baby has one or more of these symptoms.

No, my baby does not have any of these symptoms.

You have said that your baby does not have vomiting, weakness, fever, or unusual movements, and has been eating normally and having wet diapers. That is reassuring.

Can you comfort your baby by changing his diaper, feeding him, helping him burp and/or holding him?

Yes, I can comfort or console him.

No, I can't comfort him.

You have said that your baby does not have vomiting, weakness, fever, or unusual movements, and has been eating and going to the bathroom normally.

You also said that you can comfort your baby by changing his diaper, feeding him, helping him burp and/or holding him.

You baby does not seem to have any signs of serious illness. Your baby may have been crying because he needed to be changed, was hungry or thirsty, wanted attention, or had gas.

If your baby is comforted or consoled only briefly but repeatedly starts crying again, call your pediatrician's office for advice.

Click here to learn more about why your baby may be crying.

You have said that your baby does not have vomiting, weakness, fever, or unusual movements, and has been eating and going to the bathroom normally. However, you also said that you can not comfort your baby by changing his diaper, feeding him, helping him burp and/or holding him. There may be some other important reason for his crying.

Call your pediatrician's office for advice. 

After making the call, you may wish to continue with this guide.

Click here to learn more about why your baby may be crying.

You have said that your baby does not have a fever. Although fever often goes along with ear infections, it is possible to have an ear infection without fever.

Is your baby pulling on his ear, or does he seem to have any ear pain?

Yes, my baby does seem to have ear pain.

No, my baby does not seem to have ear pain.

Call your pediatrician now. Your baby may have an ear infection.

You have said that your crying baby does not seem to have fever or ear pain. This makes an ear infection less likely, though still possible.

Does your baby have diaper rash?

Yes, my baby has diaper rash.

No, my baby doesn't have diaper rash.

You have said that your baby does not have fever or diaper rash and does not seem to have ear pain.

Is your baby drooling more than usual?

Yes, my baby is drooling more than he usually does.

No, my baby is not drooling any more than usual.

Even though your baby is not drooling any more than usual, it still is possible that he is getting a new tooth (teething). Check your baby's mouth for swollen gums. Babies may cry if their mouth hurts where a tooth is coming through the gums.

Does your baby begin to cry just before he goes to sleep? Do his arms and legs twitch just before he goes to sleep, too?

Yes, my baby cries just before he goes to sleep.

No, my baby does not cry or twitch just before going to sleep.

Lots of babies' arms and legs twitch just before they fall asleep. Try holding him close, or wrapping him snugly in a blanket.

Your baby doesn't cry or twitch just before going to sleep.

Is your baby less than three months old?

Yes, my baby is less than three months old.

No, my baby is older than three months.

Your baby is older than three months of age. That makes it unlikely that the crying is due to colic, since babies tend to outgo this condition by three months.

Have you experienced any recent changes or increased stress at home?

Yes, we have experienced recent changes and more stress at home.

No, there have been no changes at home, nor increased stress.

You have said that your baby is younger than three months of age. Young babies sometimes have fussy periods.

Does your baby have long periods of crying or screaming at about the same time each day -- usually in the late afternoon or evening?

Yes, my baby has long spells of crying at about the same time every day.

No, my baby doesn't have long spells of crying at about the same time every day.

You have said that your baby doesn't cry for several hours at about the same time each day so it does not sound like your baby has colic.

Have you experienced any recent changes or increased stress at home?

Yes, we have experienced recent changes and more stress at home.

No, there have been no changes at home, nor increased stress.

Your baby may be crying because you or another caregiver is anxious or stressed. Try to make some changes at home so that things are not so stressful.

Call your pediatrician if this does not improve the situation, if your baby's crying gets worse or lasts for more than one week, or if he develops any other symptoms.

You have not noticed any increase in stress or recent changes at home. You do not think your baby has ear pain or diaper rash, your baby does not seem to be getting a new tooth and your baby seems to be acting normally.

Call your pediatrician if your baby's crying gets worse, lasts for more than one week, or if he or she develops any symptoms.

You have said that your young baby has long periods of crying or screaming at about the same time each day. It's likely that your baby has colic. Babies with colic can loudly cry or scream for hours, for no apparent reason.

Call your pediatrician's office for advice.

Drooling more than usual could mean that your baby is getting a new tooth (teething). Your baby may be crying because his mouth hurts where the tooth is coming through the gums.

Your baby may feel very uncomfortable and cry if he has diaper rash, especially when you change his diaper and wipe his bottom.

Thank you for using this guide. We hope this information has been helpful to you.

Get emergency care immediately. Your baby might have a serious illness or injury.