BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuFussy or irritable childInconsolability; IrritabilityYoung children who cannot talk yet will let you know when something is wrong by acting fussy or irritable. If your child is fussier than usual, it could be a sign that something is wrong. Causes It is normal for children to get fussy or whiny sometimes. There are lots of reasons why children get fussy:Lack of sleep Hunger Frustration Fight with a sibling Being too hot or too cold Your child also may be worried about something. Ask yourself if there has been stress, sadness, or anger in your home. Young children are sensitive to stress at home, and to the mood of their parents or caregivers. A baby who cries for longer than 3 hours a day might have colic. Learn ways that you can help your baby with colic.Help your baby with colicIf your baby cries for longer than 3 hours a day, your baby might have colic. Colic is not caused by another medical problem. Many babies go throug...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Many common childhood illnesses can cause a child to be fussy. Most illnesses are easily treated. They include:Ear infection Ear infectionSuspected ear infections are one of the most common reasons parents take their children to the health care provider. The most common type of ear inf...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Teething or a toothache Cold or flu Bladder infection Bladder infectionA urinary tract infection is a bacterial infection of the urinary tract. This article discusses urinary tract infections in children. The infection ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Stomach pain or stomach flu Headache Constipation Pinworm PinwormPinworms are small worms that infect the intestines.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Poor sleep patterns Although less common, your child's fussiness may be an early sign of a more serious problem, such as:Diabetes, asthma, anemia (low blood count), or other health problem Serious infections, such as an infection in the lungs, kidneys, or around the brain LungsCPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It is a lifesaving procedure that is done when a baby's breathing or heartbeat has stopped. This may ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article KidneysA urinary tract infection is a bacterial infection of the urinary tract. This article discusses urinary tract infections in children. The infection ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The brainMeningitis is an infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. This covering is called the meninges.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Head injury that you did not see happen Hearing or speech problems Autism or abnormal brain development (if fussiness does not go away and becomes more severe) Depression or other mental health problems Pain, such as headache or stomach ache Home Care Soothe your child as you would normally. Try rocking, cuddling, talking, or doing things your child finds calming.Address other factors that may be causing fussiness:Poor sleep patterns Noise or stimulation around your child (too much or too little can be a problem) Stress around the home Irregular day-to-day schedule Using your parenting skills, you should be able to calm your child and make things better. Getting your child on a regular eating, sleeping, and daily schedule can also help. When to Contact a Medical Professional As a parent, you know your child's usual behavior. If your child is more irritable than usual and cannot be comforted, contact your child's health care provider.Watch for and report other symptoms, such as:Belly pain Crying that persists Fast breathing Fever Poor appetite Racing heartbeat Rash Vomiting or diarrhea Sweating What to Expect at Your Office Visit Your child's provider will work with you to learn why your child is irritable. During the office visit, the provider will:Ask questions and take a history Examine your child Order lab tests, if needed Open ReferencesReferencesOnigbanjo MT, Feigelman S. The first year. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 22.Zhou D, Sequeira S, Driver D, Thomas S. Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder. In: Driver D, Thomas SS, eds. Complex Disorders in Pediatric Psychiatry: A Clinician's Guide. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2018:chap 15.AllVideoImagesTogCentral nervous system and peripheral nervous system - illustration The central nervous system comprises the brain and spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system includes nerves outside the brain and spinal cord.Central nervous system and peripheral nervous systemillustrationCentral nervous system and peripheral nervous system - illustration The central nervous system comprises the brain and spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system includes nerves outside the brain and spinal cord.Central nervous system and peripheral nervous systemillustrationRelated Information Stimulus(Special Topic)Head injury - first aid(Injury) Review Date: 7/1/2023 Reviewed By: Charles I. Schwartz, MD, FAAP, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, General Pediatrician at PennCare for Kids, Phoenixville, PA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. 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Fussy or irritable childInconsolability; IrritabilityYoung children who cannot talk yet will let you know when something is wrong by acting fussy or irritable. If your child is fussier than usual, it could be a sign that something is wrong. Causes It is normal for children to get fussy or whiny sometimes. There are lots of reasons why children get fussy:Lack of sleep Hunger Frustration Fight with a sibling Being too hot or too cold Your child also may be worried about something. Ask yourself if there has been stress, sadness, or anger in your home. Young children are sensitive to stress at home, and to the mood of their parents or caregivers. A baby who cries for longer than 3 hours a day might have colic. Learn ways that you can help your baby with colic.Help your baby with colicIf your baby cries for longer than 3 hours a day, your baby might have colic. Colic is not caused by another medical problem. Many babies go throug...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Many common childhood illnesses can cause a child to be fussy. Most illnesses are easily treated. They include:Ear infection Ear infectionSuspected ear infections are one of the most common reasons parents take their children to the health care provider. The most common type of ear inf...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Teething or a toothache Cold or flu Bladder infection Bladder infectionA urinary tract infection is a bacterial infection of the urinary tract. This article discusses urinary tract infections in children. The infection ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Stomach pain or stomach flu Headache Constipation Pinworm PinwormPinworms are small worms that infect the intestines.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Poor sleep patterns Although less common, your child's fussiness may be an early sign of a more serious problem, such as:Diabetes, asthma, anemia (low blood count), or other health problem Serious infections, such as an infection in the lungs, kidneys, or around the brain LungsCPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It is a lifesaving procedure that is done when a baby's breathing or heartbeat has stopped. This may ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article KidneysA urinary tract infection is a bacterial infection of the urinary tract. This article discusses urinary tract infections in children. The infection ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The brainMeningitis is an infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. This covering is called the meninges.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Head injury that you did not see happen Hearing or speech problems Autism or abnormal brain development (if fussiness does not go away and becomes more severe) Depression or other mental health problems Pain, such as headache or stomach ache Home Care Soothe your child as you would normally. Try rocking, cuddling, talking, or doing things your child finds calming.Address other factors that may be causing fussiness:Poor sleep patterns Noise or stimulation around your child (too much or too little can be a problem) Stress around the home Irregular day-to-day schedule Using your parenting skills, you should be able to calm your child and make things better. Getting your child on a regular eating, sleeping, and daily schedule can also help. When to Contact a Medical Professional As a parent, you know your child's usual behavior. If your child is more irritable than usual and cannot be comforted, contact your child's health care provider.Watch for and report other symptoms, such as:Belly pain Crying that persists Fast breathing Fever Poor appetite Racing heartbeat Rash Vomiting or diarrhea Sweating What to Expect at Your Office Visit Your child's provider will work with you to learn why your child is irritable. During the office visit, the provider will:Ask questions and take a history Examine your child Order lab tests, if needed Open ReferencesReferencesOnigbanjo MT, Feigelman S. The first year. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 22.Zhou D, Sequeira S, Driver D, Thomas S. Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder. In: Driver D, Thomas SS, eds. Complex Disorders in Pediatric Psychiatry: A Clinician's Guide. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2018:chap 15.