How much crying is normal for a newborn baby?

At 2 weeks old, babies cry an average of 117 minutes (almost 2 hours) per day. This increases to 133 minutes by 6 weeks old, which is completely normal.

What is the safest way to soothe a crying baby?

Hold your baby against your chest with skin-to-skin contact, belly-to-belly position. Gently stroke their back while speaking in a calm, soothing voice.

What should I never do when my baby won't stop crying?

Never shake or rock your baby vigorously, even when frustrated. This can cause shaken baby syndrome, leading to brain damage or death.

What should I do if I feel overwhelmed by my baby's crying?

Place your baby in a safe location like their crib and step away for a few minutes. Take deep breaths and calm yourself before returning to comfort your baby.

When does baby crying typically peak and decrease?

Baby crying typically peaks around 6 weeks of age with over 2 hours daily. It gradually decreases after this point as babies develop better communication skills.

Baby Crying & Soothing Guide: Essential Tips for New Parents

What you need to know about crying and soothing

At two weeks old, the average baby cries almost two hours (117 minutes) per day. And at six weeks, the frequency and volume of the cry will increase to over two hours on average (up to 133 minutes) [1].

Most parents can not take the crying calmly and want to do something to help. The best thing to do is to take baby in your arms, provide skin-to-skin contact, belly to belly, and stroke their back.

What to avoid: rocking or shaking the baby harder and harder as baby’s cries intensify. This can lead to seasickness, or worse — concussions and brain damage. Infants are fragile.

If you are feeling frustrated with your baby’s crying, put the baby down in a safe place and walk away until you are able to calm down.