Newborn Crying: Myths and Facts Every New Mother Should Know

As soon as a mother gives birth, she often receives a flood of advice from grandmothers and experienced mothers who have been through motherhood many times before. One common piece of advice concerns newborn crying: some say that a mother, especially in the postpartum period when she needs rest, should leave her baby to cry alone without rushing to pick them up. They believe that continuous crying has benefits for the baby’s health. However, these are mistaken beliefs.

It is wrong to leave a newborn crying for a long time. Contrary to the myth that the baby’s intestines won’t grow or their chest won’t expand because of crying, prolonged crying actually harms the baby. We spoke with Dr. Majid Abdel Aziz, a consultant pediatrician and neonatal care specialist, who explained the myths and facts about leaving a newborn to cry and when it is acceptable to let them cry briefly.

Harms of Leaving a Newborn Crying for Long Periods

• Prolonged and intense crying, where the baby pulls their arms and legs and their face turns red, causes an increase in stress hormones. This makes the baby more irritable, easily upset, and commonly described as a “fussy” baby because the mother didn’t soothe their cries early on.

• The baby’s heart rate may increase beyond normal levels, reducing oxygen supply in the blood. This can lead to serious complications, especially if the baby has a congenital heart defect such as heart valve problems or septal defects.

• Prolonged crying can cause the baby’s body temperature to rise and vomiting. Babies with congenital abdominal muscle weakness may develop an umbilical hernia due to extended crying periods. Doctors recommend reducing crying as part of treating this condition.

• Excessive crying also impairs normal immune system development, increasing the risk of illnesses.

• Prolonged crying causes an excess release of stress hormones, which can damage brain cells and increase the risk of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders later in childhood.

• Babies left to cry without comfort may develop distrust toward their mother and others, leading to psychological and behavioral problems, as well as sleep disorders like night terrors.

Understanding Normal “Purple Crying” in Newborns

• The term “purple crying” was coined by pediatrician Dr. Ronald Barr to describe a normal developmental phase where newborns cry intensely. This phase typically starts at birth and continues until about three months of age, sometimes beginning as early as two weeks.

• The baby’s face may turn purple or deep red during these crying episodes, hence the name.

• Each letter in “PURPLE” describes a characteristic of this crying phase:

  • P: Peak of crying intensity

  • U: Unexpected crying episodes

  • R: Resists soothing efforts

  • P: Pain-like expression (crying looks painful but the baby is not necessarily in pain)

  • L: Long-lasting crying bouts

  • E: Evening peak (crying usually worsens in the evening)

How to Handle Crying During Sleep

• It’s normal for newborns to cry briefly at night during sleep cycles. Mothers should wait a bit before rushing to pick the baby up. Often, the baby will cry softly, as if dreaming, then fall back asleep on their own.

• If the mother intervenes every time, the baby may become dependent on this help, waking frequently and crying to get assistance falling back asleep.

• Teaching the baby to self-soothe and fall asleep independently helps develop emotional regulation and promotes healthier sleep patterns. Good sleep supports growth hormone activity at night and contributes to healthy weight gain.