Why Is My 8 Week Old Baby Sad

What to Do if Your Baby Is Crying in Her Sleep

Medically Reviewed by Micah Resnick, M.D., F.A.A.P.

Medical Review Policy

All What to Expect content that addresses health or safety is medically reviewed by a team of vetted health professionals. OurMedical Review Board includes OB/GYNs, pediatricians, infectious disease specialists, doulas, lactation counselors, endocrinologists, fertility specialists and more.

We believe you should always know the source of the information you're reading. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies.

on September 8, 2020

When it comes to infant sleep, a sudden cry in the night isn't unusual. Read on for more about why it happens and some ways you can ease her back to dreamland.

New parents expect a bit of fuss from their babies around bedtime, but once they're settled down for the night, the silence is usually golden. Sometimes, however, your baby may seem to cry, grunt or scream her sleep — without actually waking up — leaving you to wonder what could be happening in the crib.

Fortunately, sudden nighttime crying while asleep tends to be short-lived and isn't usually cause for alarm. Here's more about it, plus what to do when your baby cries in her sleep.

Why do babies cry in their sleep?

Babies cry to communicate their needs, and hunger is probably the most common one, especially in newborns who nurse or take a bottle every few hours. But if your little one has recently been fed, she might be wailing for another reason, including:

She's getting used to milk or formula. Babiesare born without a fully developed digestive system
Nightmares. Older babies are starting to develop their imaginations, a phase that's filled with excitement but can also lead to bad dreams and crying at night.

What amount of crying is normal?

During the first three months of life, two to three hours of daily crying is considered normal. And because newborn sleep is often restless, cries can occur at night too.

The reason? Newborn sleep patterns alternate between non-rapid eye movement and rapid eye movement (REM), which is the light, active phase marked by dreams, moving in the crib and some tears. So if you hear your baby whimper in her room, she could be in that REM period.

Nighttime crying can also be pinned to a sleep regression, which is a normal setback in your baby's regular nighttime routine. You might encounter a sleep regression around 4 months of age, at 6 months, around 8 to 10 months and then again at 12 months (phew!).

Continue Reading Below

And if you're trying to sleep train your baby using a method like the Ferber method, tears at night are part of the deal. Sleep training can begin when your baby is between 4 and 6 months old and typically takes about two weeks to complete.

How to calm a crying baby

When you're faced with nighttime wailing, you'll want to quickly and quietly soothe your fussy baby so she can drift back to dreamland. Here are a few tips to try:

Don't rush in. Remember, babies are restless sleepers, so whimpering and even briefly waking if she's in REM sleep can happen. Cool your heels for a few minutes before you pop into her room, and she just might settle down on her own.
Set her straight. If she's wedged herself in the crib corner or her leg is dangling between the slats, free her up and place her on her back in the middle of the mattress.
Stroke her tummy. Gentle reassurance by way of a belly rub and a calming voice can let her know you're there to comfort her. Just keep this check-in short and sweet so she gets the message that it's time to (re)hit the hay.
Try a swaddle. During the newborn to 2-month age range, a snugly wrapped, lightweight swaddle can calm your baby down and promote good sleep. Just be sure to swaddle your baby safely and correctly so there are no loose ends of the blanket that could cover her face, she isn't too hot, her hips aren't too tightly wrapped, and she isn't at the stage where she's trying to roll over yet.
Dress her in a sleep sack. If swaddling's not working out or she's an older baby, a sleep sack, which is a one-piece outfit with snaps or a zipper, can offer the same benefits.
Check the temperature. Scan the thermostat to see that your baby's bedroom is set to a temperature of between 68 and 72 degrees F, which is a comfy range for good Zzzs.

When to call the doctor

If you just can't figure out what's causing your baby's nighttime tears, you can always contact the pediatrician for advice. Baby docs are used to these calls, especially from new parents, and yours may want to examine your little one once you've described her crying pattern.

As for what's considered excessive crying, the definition is out-of-the-ordinary tears that last for two or three hours — and it warrants a call to the doctor.

Colic, which shows up between 2 and 3 weeks of age (later in premature infants) and commonly happens between dinnertime and midnight, is another reason to get expert help. Acid reflux, an infection or a milk allergy may also cause excessive crying.

Hang in there with the nighttime tears! In many cases, the reasons your baby is crying in her sleep are temporary and your little one will soon be back to her usual solid slumber in no time.

From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author ofWhat to Expect When You're Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.

What to Expect the First Year, 3rd edition, Heidi Murkoff.

American Academy of Pediatrics, Responding to Your Baby's Cries, November 2009.

American Academy of Pediatrics, Coping With Crying, 2020.

American Academy of Pediatrics, Swaddling: Is It Safe?, April 2020.

American Academy of Pediatrics, Colic Relief Tips for Parents, June 2015.

Mayo Clinic, Crying Baby: What to Do When Your Newborn Cries, December 2018.

WhatToExpect.com, A Guide to Your Baby's Sleep Patterns, June 2020.

WhatToExpect.com, Newborn and Baby Sleep Basics, May 2020.

WhatToExpect.com, The 6-Month Sleep Regression in Babies, February 2020.

WhatToExpect.com, What Do Your Baby's Cries Mean?, April 2019.

WhatToExpect.com, Colic in Babies: Signs, Causes and Tips for Parents, March 2020.

WhatToExpect.com, Giving Baby a Pacifier, November 2019.

WhatToExpect.com, Vaccine Side Effects: What Parents Need to Know, February 2020.

WhatToExpect.com, Baby Night Wakings, December 2018.

WhatToExpect.com, The 4-Month Sleep Regression: Is Your Baby Going Through It?, February 2020.

WhatToExpect.com, What Is Sleep Regression?, February 2020.

WhatToExpect.com, The 8-Month Sleep Regression in Babies, March 2020.

WhatToExpect.com, Could Your Baby Be Going Through a 12-Month Sleep Regression?, April 2020.

WhatToExpect.com, Cry it Out Method of Sleep Training, February 2020.

WhatToExpect.com, How to Sleep Train Your Baby, April 2020.

WhatToExpect.com, Best Sleep Sacks to Keep Baby Cozy and Safe, January 2020.

National Sleep Foundation, Children and Sleep, 2020.

Trending On What to Expect

⚠️ You can't see this cool content because you have ad block enabled.

Please whitelist our site to get all the best deals and offers from our partners.