Why Do Newborns Often Cry During Nighttime Sleep?
Nighttime crying in newborns can impair the infant’s sleep quality and hinder maternal rest. The underlying cause should be assessed individually for each baby. So, why do newborns frequently cry during sleep at night? Below, we address this question.
Why Do Newborns Frequently Cry During Nighttime Sleep?
1. Inadequate Feeding
Insufficient milk intake can easily lead to hunger in infants, resulting in pronounced nighttime crying. Therefore, mothers should assess whether their baby is truly satiated. Since newborns typically consume similar volumes of milk and maintain comparable feeding intervals both day and night, inadequate nighttime feeding may trigger crying.
2. Calcium Deficiency
There are many potential causes of nocturnal crying in infants, and calcium deficiency is one such cause. Infants with calcium deficiency often exhibit not only nighttime crying but also other associated symptoms—such as excessive sweating,枕秃 (occipital alopecia), and delayed closure of the anterior fontanelle. If calcium deficiency is confirmed, timely calcium supplementation and increased sun exposure are recommended.
3. Startle Response
Infants may cry if startled while sleeping. Crying due to fright is often accompanied by signs of fear. When startled, the infant should be promptly held and comforted by the mother, who may verbally reassure the baby—even though the infant cannot comprehend the words, hearing a familiar voice provides a sense of security.
4. Medical Conditions
Illnesses can also cause nighttime crying in infants. This is especially common in chronic conditions such as tuberculosis, where discomfort during sleep prompts crying. Intestinal parasitic infections (e.g., ascariasis) may similarly provoke nocturnal crying. Additionally, abdominal chilling or indigestion can induce intestinal spasms and colic, leading to nighttime crying.
The above outlines the primary reasons why newborns frequently cry during nighttime sleep. We hope this information proves helpful.
