Published : 2024-10-01

Newborn Fussy at Night: Understanding and Soothing Evening Crying

- Categories : Baby Sleep

IN THIS ARTICLE :

What Does It Mean When a Newborn Is Fussy at Night?
How Nighttime Fussiness Can Actually Help Your Baby Sleep
How to Respond When Your Newborn Is Fussy at Night
Common Mistakes to Avoid During Evening Crying Episodes
Frequently Asked Questions About Newborn Night Fussiness

Your baby cries a lot in the evening, and there’s no obvious reason? You’re not sure what to do to calm them down?

These moments can be overwhelming for many new parents. But take heart — those intense evening cries are often what we call emotional release crying or periods when a newborn is fussy at night. While unsettling, this is a completely normal stage that plays an important role in your baby’s development.

Evening crying helps babies release the built-up tension they’ve accumulated throughout the day. In fact, these crying episodes are actually beneficial: they help regulate stress, balance emotions, and even promote better sleep!

In this article, we’ll explain exactly what this evening fussiness is, why it happens, and how to gently support your baby through it — so your little one can finally settle... and so can you.

With practical tips backed by the latest research, you’ll learn how to recognize these cries and respond to them calmly and confidently!

What Does It Mean When a Newborn Is Fussy at Night?

Intense evening crying is common in babies, even when all their needs have been met: they’ve been fed, changed, cuddled — yet they still cry.

"I don’t understand why my baby cries even when I’m holding them and I’ve done everything! What am I doing wrong?"

This is a question many parents ask, confused and exhausted by this kind of crying that often happens at the end of the day.

Rest assured: this behavior is completely normal. It’s not a sign that you’ve done something wrong. Here are the typical signs of evening release crying — the reason your newborn may be fussy at night:

It usually happens at the end of the day, when fatigue sets in — for baby and for you.
The crying is especially intense and can last for several minutes.
It occurs even when all of your baby’s basic needs (feeding, changing, cuddles) have already been met.
During these episodes, your baby may be harder to soothe, no matter what you try.

This type of crying is a natural way for your baby to let off steam and process the emotions of the day. It’s not a sign of illness or discomfort — it’s simply how your baby regains emotional balance.

😭 Why Does My Baby Cry So Much? "Crying triggers physiological stimulation followed by deep relaxation. It’s a highly effective way to reduce psychological tension, lower blood pressure, and slow the heart rate."

- Aletha Solter, Swiss-American psychologist with a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Author of "Tears and Tantrums: What to Do When Babies and Children Cry."

Babies Don’t Cry to “Manipulate” You! Contrary to popular belief, a baby never cries to manipulate or seek attention in a calculated way. Crying is always a response to a real need — whether it’s physical (hunger, tiredness, discomfort) or emotional (a need for closeness, reassurance).

For a newborn, crying is the only way to communicate. It’s important to understand these cries as expressions of genuine needs, not attempts to “control” or “test” you. Responding with care helps build your baby’s emotional security and supports healthy, peaceful development.

How Crying Helps Your Baby Sleep Better

Evening crying — especially when your newborn is fussy at night — plays an important role in balancing two key hormones that support healthy sleep: melatonin and cortisol.

Melatonin, often called the "sleep hormone", is released as darkness falls and helps prepare the body for sleep.
Cortisol, on the other hand, is the stress hormone. It keeps the body alert and awake in response to tension or stimulation.

These two hormones work like communicating vessels: for your baby to fall asleep easily, melatonin levels need to rise while cortisol levels drop.

That’s where emotional release crying can help — it allows your baby to lower their cortisol levels by releasing the emotional tension built up during the day. Once stress is released, melatonin production increases, making it easier for baby to drift off to sleep.

Crying, in this context, helps your baby restore hormonal balance and reach a relaxed state — creating the ideal conditions for deep, restful sleep.

💧 Stress Molecules in Tears! Many scientists have studied the composition of human tears — and found that it can actually vary depending on our emotional state.

Biologist William Frey, in his book "Crying: The Mystery of Tears" (1985), highlighted the presence of stress-related molecules in emotional tears.

Crying may help restore hormonal balance and slow the heart rate. It’s believed to be a natural mechanism that counteracts the effects of stress.

It’s no wonder babies use this instinctive method to release the emotional tension they build up during the day.

How to Respond When Your Newborn Is Fussy at Night

As we’ve seen, evening crying helps your baby release built-up stress and lower cortisol levels, creating the hormonal balance needed for better sleep.

But when faced with these intense cries, one question often comes up: Should I just let my baby cry it out? The answer is no. Your baby needs you during these moments. It’s not about stopping the crying — it’s about offering a safe, loving space where your baby can express emotions freely.

In fact, by being present during this emotional release, you’re giving your child a powerful gift: the ability to let go of tension, feel seen and supported, and find inner calm with your help — no judgment, just comfort.

Here are a few simple ways to support your baby through these moments:

Swaddling: Wrapping your baby in a soft blanket recreates the secure feeling of the womb. This can be incredibly soothing and help them feel safe.
The “tiger in the tree” hold: Lay your baby across your forearm, tummy down, with their head resting in the bend of your elbow. This position can calm them, especially if they’re experiencing digestive discomfort.
“Shhh” sounds: Mimic the whooshing sound your baby heard in the womb. This calming noise helps soothe their nervous system.
Gentle rocking: Slowly sway your baby from side to side. The repetitive motion helps them feel grounded and gradually calms their system.

Supporting your baby’s crying means giving them a secure space to express big emotions. A baby doesn’t need to be “quieted” — they need to be held, heard, and supported with care. By guiding them through these moments, you nurture their emotional well-being and help the whole family get more peaceful nights.

🤱 Did You Know? Holding your baby in your arms helps them release oxytocin — a powerful hormone that reduces stress and promotes relaxation.

💤 Good News: Evening Crying Can Actually Improve Sleep! Letting your baby fully express their emotional release crying helps promote more peaceful sleep. By releasing built-up tension and rebalancing their hormones, your baby relaxes more easily and falls asleep faster.

A baby who has had the chance to let go of stress is less likely to wake up during the night, as their sleep tends to be deeper and more restorative. By supporting your little one through these fussy moments, you’re helping them regulate their emotions — and enjoy more restful nights for both of you.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Your Newborn Is Fussy at Night

When your baby is experiencing emotional release crying, it’s important to avoid certain common mistakes to help them through this sensitive time.

First, try to avoid offering a bottle. Associating feeding with emotional comfort can create confusing expectations for your baby and may lead to overfeeding.
Likewise, giving a pacifier just to stop the crying can interrupt this natural process of releasing stress — a process that’s essential for helping your baby calm down.
Avoid making sudden changes to their environment — like going for a walk or switching up the bedtime routine. This can disrupt their sense of familiarity and add to their emotional confusion. Crying is your baby’s way of expressing feelings, and they need a consistent, comforting space to do that.

The best approach is to hold your baby in your arms and comfort them gently. Your presence and support help them move through the emotions safely while strengthening your bond.

Responding with patience and compassion is key to helping your baby feel secure and return to a calm, settled state.

😭 Take a Break If You Need To Parenting isn’t always easy — and it’s completely normal to find your baby’s emotional release crying hard to handle at times.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to hand things over to your partner or a trusted family member. It’s essential to take care of yourself so you can take care of your baby.

Remember, this phase won’t last forever. As your child grows, they’ll gradually learn to manage their emotions better, and these crying episodes will become less frequent. Give yourself permission to feel your emotions, and know that you’re not alone in this experience.

Frequently Asked Questions About Evening Crying

Here are some of the most common questions pediatricians receive about emotional release crying in babies:

How can I tell if my baby’s crying is due to emotional release or something else (like hunger or pain)? It’s important to remember that emotional release crying isn’t the only reason a baby might cry in the evening.

Other causes — like teething pain, colic, or even an overly stimulating environment — can also trigger crying spells. To explore these different possibilities and better understand what your baby may be experiencing, check out our article: 📁 Baby Crying in Sleep: How to Help

At what age does emotional release crying typically begin? Emotional release crying often shows up as intense, hard-to-soothe crying episodes that usually happen in the late afternoon or early evening — often around 6 p.m.

This kind of crying typically begins from birth and can continue until about 3 to 4 months old. It usually peaks between 6 and 8 weeks of age, when these episodes tend to be the most frequent and intense.

How long do emotional release crying episodes last? Unfortunately, the duration of emotional release crying can vary from one baby to another. It may last anywhere from just a few minutes to nearly an hour!

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