Most babies cry, and some cry a lot. Infant crying is a universally important communication signal that provides parents or carers with information about the infant’s physical and emotional state. It is intended to bring them into closer proximity to their infant to provide safety and comfort which, in turn, supports infant development.
In the past, the term “colic” was used to describe babies who cry a lot – this term is now considered outdated and potentially misleading, as it suggests a gut-related cause for excessive crying when no single cause has been proven. Many experts recommend using clearer terms such as “excessive crying” or “unsettled infant behaviour,” which focus on the symptoms rather than assumptions.
The following iHV resources are aimed to support your practice when working with families – they also contain links to trusted external sources of support and resources for families like ICON – Infant crying is normal.
iHV Resources
📃 Good Practice Points and Parent Tips
Developed in collaboration with topic experts, health visitors, and other professionals, our resources draw on the latest available evidence at the time of publication. Each resource is produced through a robust quality assurance process and peer reviewed to ensure accuracy, relevance, and strong alignment with health visiting practice.
