1
Spleen cold
- Key distinguishing signs
- Night crying with a cold/gassy abdomen preferring warmth, cold limbs and loose stool
- Treatment principle
- Warm the middle and soothe colic
Pediatricxiǎo ér yè tí
Night crying in infants
Also called:infant colicnight waking crying
From the TCM perspective: Night crying: spleen cold, heart heat, fright or food stagnation
Overview
Night crying is hard-to-soothe evening fussing in an otherwise thriving infant. TCM distinguishes abdominal cold (colic improved by warmth), internal heat (sharp crying, red face, thirst), fright/startle, and food stagnation. A sudden change in crying with fever or lethargy requires examination.
☯Common patterns (syndrome differentiation)
2
Heart heat
- Key distinguishing signs
- Sharp crying with red face, warm mouth, thirst, dark urine and poor sleep, red tongue tip
- Treatment principle
- Clear heart heat and calm the spirit
3
Fright/startle
- Key distinguishing signs
- Sudden intermittent crying after a noise/event, startles and sleeps anxiously
- Treatment principle
- Calm the spirit and reassure the infant
4
Milk-food stagnation
- Key distinguishing signs
- Crying with bloating, gas, sour burping and frothy stool, thick tongue coat
- Treatment principle
- Digest stagnation and harmonize the stomach
Daily self-care
- Check hunger, diaper and temperature; soothe with steady rhythm, white noise and gentle swaddling.
- For colic try the forearm hold, burping and a warm belly massage; review feeding technique.
- Log crying, feeding and stool patterns and keep pediatric appointments.
When to seek medical help
The following warning signs require prompt medical evaluation — do not rely on self-treatment:
- Weak/shrill altered or inconsolable crying with fever (especially under 3 months).
- Lethargy, refusal to feed, repeated/projectile vomiting, blood in stool or a rigid abdomen.
- Fast breathing, blueness, dehydration or very few wet diapers.
Medical disclaimer: Educational content about traditional Chinese medicine for information only; it is not a diagnosis or treatment and does not replace a qualified clinician. If symptoms worsen or warning signs appear, seek medical care.