Evenings can sometimes feel like a real emotional marathon for parents. Between 6 p.m. and midnight, some babies cry for no apparent reason, sometimes leaving families helpless in a very common situation.
These evening cries, mentioned by Dr Jules Fougère, pediatrician, in a recent video published on Instagram, concern many infants. They often appear after a day full of stimulation and become the baby’s main means of expression to signal a need, discomfort or simply a desire to be reassured.
Why are babies so common at night?
The infant only has one tool to communicate: crying. They can reflect hunger, accumulated fatigue or even the need to find a reassuring environment after a busy day.
In the video, the expert illustrates this reality with humor by attributing this thought to the baby: “Daycare wasn’t great today. Not crazy“.
The digestive system also plays an important role in these episodes. Still immature during the first months, it can cause various discomforts which appear more at the end of the day.
The pediatrician mentions in particular “the slightly loose stomach flap which can cause reflux, temporary constipation or even a microbiota which gets to know its new tenants“.
Reflux, microbiota and emotions, sometimes intertwined causes
Evening crying is not always explained by a single reason. Specialists often speak of a multifactorial phenomenon combining digestion, fatigue and emotional stress.
The baby also absorbs what is around him. Parental stress, hectic environment or accumulation of stimulation can influence his emotional state throughout the day.
According to the information relayed in the video, nearly one in four babies are affected by these discomforts combining physical and emotional factors.
This combination sometimes makes the origin of the crying difficult to identify, which can accentuate the feeling of helplessness in parents.
How to soothe evening crying without feeling guilty
Faced with these episodes, the message sent to families is clear: guilt has no place.
“It’s not your fault“.
Understanding the possible causes already allows you to get through this period better. Observing the baby’s rhythm, establishing a calmer atmosphere in the evening or spotting possible digestive signs can help make these moments less trying.
Another message is intended to be reassuring for parents faced with these repeated crises: “It always happens“.