No, newborns should not use cry it out; they need quick, steady care while they adjust to life outside the womb.
The first weeks with a baby can feel endless. You are short on sleep, your arms ache, and sooner or later someone tells you to “just let the baby cry.” If you are asking can a newborn cry it out?, you are far from alone. Many carers reach that question through sheer exhaustion, not lack of love.
Cry based sleep training does not fit the newborn stage. This guide sets out what normal newborn crying looks like, why cry it out is risky so early, and how to calm your baby while still protecting your own rest.
Can A Newborn Cry It Out? Early Crying And Sleep Basics
Newborns come wired to cry often. The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that many babies cry one to four hours per day in the early weeks, with louder spells around two to eight weeks of age. That rise and fall pattern is common across many families.
Crying is a newborn’s main tool for communication. Hunger, pain, a wet nappy, cold feet, or a simple need for closeness all share the same loud signal. Long crying with no comfort can raise stress levels in a body that still has few ways to self-soothe.
Sleep runs in short bursts as well. Many newborns sleep 14 to 17 hours across a day, yet in one-to-three-hour chunks. Night and day look similar at first. Waking often to feed and cuddle is not a sleep “problem”; it is a normal part of this stage.
| Age | Crying Pattern | Sleep Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| 0–2 weeks | Short cries spread through day and night | 1–3 hour stretches, no clear day–night rhythm |
| 2–4 weeks | Crying builds, often in late afternoon or evening | Frequent wakes for feeds, naps at random times |
| 4–6 weeks | Peak of fussiness for many babies | Some longer night sleep, feeds still often |
| 6–8 weeks | Crying still common but may shorten | More regular naps begin to appear |
| 8–10 weeks | Crying slowly starts to ease for many | One longer night stretch for some babies |
| 10–12 weeks | Less daily crying than earlier weeks | Sleep slightly more predictable, feeds still needed |
| 12+ weeks | Many babies fuss less than before | Some sleep longer at night, others not yet |
Every baby bends these ranges. Some stay calm through much of the day; others cry for long stretches even when every need is met. That wide range still does not change the core point: can a newborn cry it out? is the wrong question this early. A safer target is “How can we respond and stay sane until crying eases with age?”
Why Cry It Out Does Not Fit The Newborn Stage
“Cry it out” usually means putting a baby down awake and not offering comfort until a set time has passed, or until the baby falls asleep. The aim is to teach self-settling. That plan rests on two ideas: that hunger is no longer frequent, and that the baby can manage long gaps without close contact. Neither holds true for a newborn.
Newborns Need Frequent Night Feeds
Tiny stomachs empty fast. Many newborns feed every two to three hours, day and night. Skipping feeds to stick with a cry it out plan can lead to low blood sugar, poor weight gain, or dehydration, especially in babies who were small at birth or who have medical issues.
Guidance from trusted medical sites such as HealthyChildren.org stresses quick responses to newborn cries, especially when hunger or illness might be part of the picture.
Crying Is A Safety Signal, Not A Bad Habit
A loud cry brings the caregiver back. Over many repeat cycles, a baby learns that help shows up when they are wet, cold, gassy, scared, or hungry. That steady pattern builds a sense of safety. Far from “spoiling” a newborn, picking them up teaches them that the world is safe enough to fall asleep in.
Health bodies instead encourage calm contact, safe sleep positions, and simple routines.
Sleep Specialists Usually Wait Before Using Cry It Out
Sleep clinics and many pediatricians tend to reserve cry based methods for babies at least four to six months old, once weight gain is stable and night feeds have reduced. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine notes that newborns lack steady body clocks and wake often for reasons that still need a prompt response.
Even when babies are older, most experts urge families to talk with their doctor before starting any strict sleep method. That talk helps rule out reflux, feeding problems, or other medical reasons for wake-ups that no amount of crying will fix.
Letting A Newborn Cry It Out At Night: Age Bands And Safer Options
Instead of one blanket rule, it helps to think in age bands. That lens shows how expectations change and when more structure might make sense.
Birth To Three Months: Respond, Feed, And Hold Close
From birth through about twelve weeks, your baby relies on round-the-clock care. Health services such as the UK’s National Health Service advice on soothing a crying baby encourage skin-to-skin contact, frequent feeds, and holding or rocking on cue.
During this stage, long periods of uncomforted crying can interfere with feeding and leave both baby and caregiver distressed. Short pauses while you wash your hands or visit the bathroom are part of daily life. A planned cry it out program is not.
Four To Six Months: Gentle Shifts Only
Around four to six months, some babies begin to string longer stretches of night sleep together. At this point, many families start small changes: a regular bedtime routine, putting the baby down drowsy once in a while, or waiting a brief moment to see if they resettle before picking up.
Even in this range, many pediatric sources still lean toward gentle methods and short crying, if any. You might pat in the cot, shorten some night feeds under medical guidance, or stretch the gap between checks by a few minutes. Full cry it out, with long spans of crying alone, usually stays off the table.
Six Months And Beyond: When Cry Based Plans Are Sometimes Used
Many formal sleep-training plans that include crying, such as graduated extinction or Ferber-style checks, start around six months or later. By then, babies often take in more daytime calories, need fewer night feeds, and have clearer day–night rhythms.
At this age, choices vary. Some families choose gentle, low-cry methods; some try timed checks; some never use cry based plans at all. What matters is that once a method starts, it matches the baby’s health needs and the family’s values, and that newborn style cry it out is no longer on the table.
Practical Ways To Soothe A Newborn Instead Of Cry It Out
Knowing that cry it out does not fit the newborn stage still leaves a big question: what do you do during a long crying spell? A simple, repeatable plan can lower stress when your mind feels foggy at three in the morning.
Step 1: Run Through Basic Checks
Each time crying spikes, scan for the basics. Is the baby due a feed? Does the nappy need changing? Is the baby too warm, too cold, or wrapped too tightly? Are fingers and toes free of tight socks, thread, or hair wrapped around them?
Watch for signs of illness as well. A fever, a new rash, strained breathing, or a weak cry calls for medical review. If your instincts say something feels wrong, call your doctor, midwife, or health visitor, even if you are not sure why.
Step 2: Use Soothing Sensations From The Womb
Newborns spent months in a snug, swaying, noisy space. You can copy some of that with safe swaddling, gentle rocking, a soft sling, or rhythmic sounds such as a fan or white-noise machine. Many babies melt a little when held upright with light pressure on the tummy, which can ease gas.
Short walks, a warm bath, or skin-to-skin time with a bare chest and a diaper only can also bring crying down. Some babies like motion; others prefer stillness in a dark, quiet room. Try one change at a time so you can see what helps.
Step 3: Build A Simple Bedtime Pattern
Even during the newborn stage, a loose pattern before night sleep can anchor the evening. Think of a brief chain of cues: feed, clean nappy, short cuddle, song or story, then down in the cot on their back. Keep lights low and screens away from the bedside.
At first you may rock or feed to full sleep. Later you can start putting your baby down when drowsy but not fully out. If crying ramps up, pick up, soothe, and try again. The aim is to link bedtime with calm repetition, not with long crying spells alone in the cot.
Coping When Newborn Crying Feels Like Too Much
Even when you know the crying is normal, the sound can wear you down. Sleep loss, body changes, and worry stack up. Caring for your own well-being is not a luxury; it is part of keeping your baby safe.
Step Away Safely When You Need A Break
If you feel anger rising, place your baby on their back in an empty cot and step into another room for a few minutes. Take slow breaths, drink some water, and call a trusted person if you can. Health campaigns such as the ICON messages used in UK hospitals repeat one line again and again: never shake a baby.
Short breaks while the baby lies in a safe place do not count as cry it out. They protect both you and your child. Once you feel calmer, go back, pick up, and try another soothing method.
Share The Load Where Possible
If you have a partner or relative nearby, swap shifts so each adult can rest. One person handles the baby while the other sleeps, showers, or takes a short walk outside. A simple written log of feeds, nappies, and naps can make handovers smoother.
If you parent alone, look for small pockets of help such as a neighbour who can push the pram, a drop-in clinic, or a phone line set up by local health services. Many regions run crying baby helplines staffed by trained nurses who can talk through ideas and warning signs.
When Newborn Crying Needs Urgent Medical Care
Most newborn crying is normal, even when it feels intense. Some signs point toward illness or pain that needs fast medical review.
| Warning Sign | What You May Notice | Suggested Action |
|---|---|---|
| Fever under 3 months | Temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher | Call your doctor or emergency service straight away |
| Breathing trouble | Fast breathing, ribs pulling in, blue lips or tongue | Seek emergency care at once |
| Fewer wet nappies | Less than 6 wet nappies in 24 hours after early days | Call your pediatrician for same-day advice |
| Repeated green or bloody vomit | Forceful vomit, green bile, or blood in the vomit | Go to emergency care without delay |
| Limpness or poor feeding | Floppy body, weak suck, cannot stay awake to feed | Seek urgent medical review |
| High-pitched, nonstop crying | Crying grows more sharp and hard to settle at all | Call your doctor for same-day assessment |
| Strong gut feeling that something is wrong | You feel uneasy even without a clear sign | Contact a trusted health professional |
Health sites such as Mayo Clinic and HealthyChildren.org remind parents that you cannot spoil a young baby by holding them. Responding to cries, feeding on cue, and keeping your baby close builds trust and often leads to calmer sleep as age and development catch up.
Newborn Crying, Sleep, And Your Next Steps
The question can a newborn cry it out? usually springs from deep tiredness. You may long for one solid stretch of sleep or feel pressure from relatives who used strict routines in past decades. Modern medical advice points another way for the newborn period: respond, feed, hold, and place your baby on their back to sleep. Small tweaks over time can slowly bring sleep gently back on track.
If you feel stuck, talk with your pediatrician, midwife, or health visitor about feeding, growth, and sleep. You do not need to wait until you are at breaking point. Early, steady help can protect both your baby and your own well-being while you move through this demanding but temporary stage.