Crying Child - 3 Months and Older
Causes of Unexplained Crying
- New Illness. Coming down with an illness is the main physical cause. Young children cry about being sick, even if they don't have any pain.
- Physical Pain. Painful causes include earache, sore throat, mouth ulcers, or a raw diaper rash. A sore on the penis or constipation may also cause pain or crying.
- Behavioral Causes. Most crying means the child is upset about something. Crying can occur when a young child is separated from his parents. Other examples are crying with tantrums or when overtired. This guide detects many babies with sleep problems. Crying always occurs during re-training programs for bad sleep habits. Some preverbal children cry any time they want something.
- Hunger. After the early months, most parents can recognize hunger and feed their child. If they don't, the child may cry.
- Cold Medicines. Drugs like Sudafed can also cause crying. Note: FDA does not advise cough and cold medicines for children under 6 years.
Myths About Causes of Crying
- Not Due to Teething. Teething may cause some babies to be fussy. But, in general, it does not cause crying.
- Not Due to Gas. Gas passing through normal intestines does not cause pain or crying.
Is this your child's symptom?
- A child more than 3 months old is crying and you don't know why
- Your child is too young to tell you why
- Age: Most of these children are younger than 2 years old
- Crying is the only symptom
- For crying with an illness or other symptom, go to that care guide