Why is My 5 Week Old Baby Fussy and What Can I do About It?

Why is my 5-week-old baby fussy? Is this really normal?

Newborn babies are often fussy due to, for example, feeding or sleeping issues, being too warm or cold, or being over stimulated. Let’s dive into all the common reasons for newborn fussiness and what to do about it.

Pin
Mom’s Question:

Why is my 5-week-old baby fussy?

My daughter is only 5 weeks old, and she is very fussy! She has 8-10 loose and smelly stools, difficulty sleeping, and cries for long periods of time. She is acting like she wants to eat more in one feeding, but it’s hard to get her to latch on to the bottle.

What is wrong with her, and what can I do about it?

Jamie

Reasons and Tips when a (5-Week-Old) Newborn Baby is Fussy

Congratulations on your little daughter! You ask what is wrong since your 5-week-old newborn baby is fussy, poops often has difficulties sleeping, cries, and has trouble latching. Honestly, this sounds very much like the average newborn baby! Let’s go through all these behaviors one by one.

I actually think six weeks is the peak of Mom’s and Dad’s crying, too…

Newborn Baby Fussy and Crying; Normal?

To begin with, there is nothing wrong with your baby because she is fussy!

Babies cry because they need you; it isn’t being fussy; it is her way of letting you know she is uncomfortable, hungry, lonely, or has a tummy or headache. Your baby is so young; the best thing you can do is have her with you as much as you possibly can. In fact, if she is unhappy, often skin contact is the most soothing thing (and Dad can tuck a baby inside their shirts, too!) You can learn about more ways to soothe a baby here.

When you think about it, your little one has been happily safe and sound inside you, every need is taken care of, and now out in a big wide world full of everything new and having to figure out how to communicate her needs to you, it is a real challenge (for you both!).

Studies show that six weeks is actually the peak in the amount of time spent crying for newborn babies unless they develop colic; after that, the time spent crying slowly starts to fall as the baby grows and matures.

I actually think six weeks is the peak of Mom’s and Dad’s crying, too, although I haven’t seen any studies on that. It can be a very exhausting time! Things do get easier and better.

Newborn Baby Sleep Habits

When it comes to difficulties sleeping, this is very common for newborn babies!

All new babies are different; some sleep for long periods of time, others have lots of little naps, very frequent feeds, and seem to be awake for long periods of time. In general, the younger the baby, the shorter the sleep cycle, which is why so many newborn babies catnap a lot. You can learn about baby sleep patterns at different ages here.

Since waking up often is so common among young babies, it is very important to catch as much sleep as possible as new parents. Sleep when your baby sleeps, and find other ways to maximize your sleep.

And don’t think you are doing something wrong or that there’s something wrong with your baby for sleeping! It is simply very common baby behavior!

Baby Fussy While Eating and Pooping

You also mention that your baby has difficulties latching and is fussy while eating. There can be many reasons for this. One reason, again, is her young age. It takes time to figure out eating – both for baby and mom!

You also mention loose, smelly stools. It is also common, particularly for breastfed babies, to have frequent bowel movements in the beginning. Formula-fed babies usually do not have as frequent stools as breastfed babies in the beginning, so the frequency could indicate a problem. The stools being smelly – this is difficult to assess, but you’ll find several possible reasons in the linked article.. Formulafed babies do have more smelly stools than breastfed babies.

Since you mention that you are bottle feeding, it is possible that some of her struggles (both the crying and pooping) can be related to her formula.

For many reasons, breastfeeding doesn’t work for all moms, but breast milk is ideal for a new baby’s digestion. I suspect her little tummy is still pretty immature, and she is struggling to digest the formula. That could explain both the stools and her discomfort. She might cope better with more frequent, smaller bottles. You could talk with your Health Nurse or Pediatrician about trying a different formula.

You are both getting used to feeding, and bottles, although convenient, take a bit of getting used to for many new babies. You can experiment with different teats on the bottle; she may prefer one with bigger holes.

You can also try to feed her a bit more frequently – and try to feed her before she is starving.

To be fair, breastfeeding often takes weeks to figure out for mom and baby, too!

And Then There Are Other Reasons Too!

In addition to the reasons above, which do relate to your description of the situation, newborn babies can fuss for a variety of reasons. Here are some more that you can consider:

Temperature Sensitivity: Babies, especially premature ones, can have difficulty regulating their body temperature. Being too hot or too cold is a common cause of discomfort.

Overtiredness: Like adults, babies can become overtired, leading to fussiness. Ensuring that the baby gets enough sleep and rests at regular intervals is essential to prevent overtiredness.

Illness or Digestive Issues: Conditions like reflux can cause symptoms in babies, such as fussiness after feeding, back arching, excessive spitting or vomiting, and poor weight gain. Similarly, gas and food intolerances (especially to cow’s milk and soy) can also lead to pain and hence the baby crying and being fussy.

Diaper Discomfort: A wet or soiled diaper can cause skin irritation due to the acidic nature of stool and the presence of digestive enzymes. Prolonged exposure to a wet or soiled diaper can also lead to diaper rash, causing discomfort and pain. Regular diaper changes and proper diaper area care are important to prevent this.

Overstimulation or Boredom: Newborns can easily become overstimulated by too much activity, noise, or interaction. Conversely, they can also become bored if not engaged sufficiently. Both scenarios can lead to fussiness.

Foremilk-Hindmilk Imbalance: This occurs when a baby gets too much foremilk (the thinner milk that comes first during feeding) and not enough hindmilk (the richer, fattier milk that comes later). This imbalance can cause colic-like symptoms and crying. (You don’t specifically say that your baby is on formula, just “bottle-fed”, so I include this reason in case you do breastfeed your baby to some extent.

Thrush: Oral thrush is a yeast infection in the baby’s mouth that can cause discomfort and lead to fussiness. It often appears as white patches on the tongue or inside of the cheeks. Here, you can find effective, natural remedies for oral baby thrush.

Nipple Confusion: Babies who switch between breast and bottle-feeding might experience nipple confusion, leading to frustration and fussiness during feedings.

Enjoy the Ride!

To conclude, it is very common and normal for a 5-week-old baby to be fussy! And it is completely normal to worry about it as a new mom, too!

At this young age, it is all really an experiment to figure out what suits your baby and what suits your lifestyle – there are no set rules. Babies pick up on Mom’s stress, too, so if you are feeling anxious or worrying about going back to work, for instance, your little one will be picking up on your stress.

Try to relax and just enjoy her as much as you can, before you know it she’ll be off to school and you will wonder where the time went!

Warm wishes and good luck with your new baby,

Paula

References:

Vermillet, A.-Q., Tølbøll, K., Litsis Mizan, S., Skewes, J., & Parsons, C. E. (2022). Crying in the first 12 months of life: A systematic review and meta-analysis of cross-country parent-reported data and modeling of the “cry curve”. Child Development, 93, 1201–1222. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.13760

KellyMom.com: My baby is fussy, is something wrong?

Is your 5 week old baby fussy too? Or do you have any tips for this mom? Share by leaving a comment below!

Paula Dennholt

Paula Dennholt founded Easy Baby Life in 2006 and has been a passionate parenting and pregnancy writer since then. Her parenting approach and writing are based on studies in cognitive-behavioral models and therapy for children and her experience as a mother and stepmother. Life as a parent has convinced her of how crucial it is to put relationships before rules. She strongly believes in positive parenting and a science-based approach.

Paula cooperates with a team of pediatricians who assist in reviewing and writing articles.