When the baby won’t stop crying and you’re at your limit
You've fed them, changed them, rocked them, and they're still screaming. Your jaw is tight and you feel like you're about to lose it. Almost every parent hits this wall. Feeling it doesn't make you a bad dad. What matters is what you do next, and the safest thing is simple.
Rough night? Call or text 988, or 1-833-852-6262 (24/7, dads too).
If you're at your limit right now
- Put the baby down safely. On their back, in the crib or bassinet, with nothing else in it.
- Walk away. Close the door and go to another room. A crying baby who is safe in their crib is okay.
- Calm yourself down. Breathe slowly, splash cold water on your face, step outside for a minute.
- Call someone. A friend, a family member, or 988 (call or text).
- Check on the baby every 5 to 10 minutes, and pick them up again when you feel calmer.
Never shake a baby. Even a few seconds of shaking can cause serious brain injury or death. If you think a baby has been shaken, call 911 right away.
Why babies cry so much
Crying is how babies talk. Many healthy babies cry for hours a day, especially in the evening, and it often gets worse around six to eight weeks before it starts to ease. Sometimes there's no reason you can find, and it isn't because you're doing something wrong. If it’s every evening for weeks, read colic and reflux.
Things to try
- Run through the basics: hungry, wet diaper, too hot or cold, needs a burp.
- Swaddle them snugly in a light blanket, if they're not yet trying to roll.
- Shush loudly near their ear, or turn on white noise.
- Move. Gentle rocking, swaying, or a walk in the stroller or carrier.
- Change the scene. Go outside, or into a dim, quiet room.
- Tag out. If someone else is home, hand the baby over and take a break.
When to call the doctor
Call your baby's doctor if the crying sounds different from usual, very high-pitched or weak, or comes with a fever, vomiting, trouble breathing, not feeding, or unusual sleepiness. For a baby under 3 months, a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, taken rectally, means calling the doctor right away. When in doubt, call. That's what they're there for.
If the anger keeps coming back
Feeling rage at the crying again and again can be a sign you're running on empty, or of depression or anxiety, which often show up as anger in dads. It's common and it gets better. Read worn down as a new dad and how to talk to your doctor.
Common questions
What should I do if I'm losing my temper with a crying baby?
Put the baby down safely on their back in the crib, leave the room, calm down, and call someone or call or text 988. Check on the baby every 5 to 10 minutes. Never shake a baby.
Is it okay to let a baby cry while I take a break?
Yes. A baby who is safe on their back in their crib is okay while you take a few minutes to calm down.
When should I call the doctor about crying?
If the cry sounds unusual, or comes with fever, vomiting, trouble breathing, not feeding or unusual sleepiness. For a baby under 3 months, a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher means calling right away.
Is it normal for a baby to cry for hours?
Many healthy babies cry for hours a day, often more in the evening, and crying often peaks around six to eight weeks before easing.
Last updated October 2026. Postpartum Fathers is peer support, not medical advice. Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics on responding to a crying baby and never shaking, and AAP on fever in babies on when to call about a fever.