20 August 2026 · Veronica Chi
Business & Product Director · Mum of two
Why Babies Cry at Nappy Changes, Baths and in the Car
Some babies cry through every nappy change, hate the bath, or scream from the moment the car moves. These look like the same problem — a routine activity producing distress — and they have almost nothing in common underneath, which is why one set of advice does not fix all three.
Nappy changes
Very young babies often dislike being laid on their back and undressed. It is a loss of containment, the air is cold on skin that has been covered, and they have no idea it will end. Older babies dislike it for the opposite reason: they can move now, and being held still is intolerable.
- Warm the wipes, or use warm water and cotton wool. Cold wipes on a newborn are a large part of it.
- Keep the room warm and cover the chest with a muslin while you work on the bottom half.
- Be quick, and get everything within reach before you start.
- Talk or sing throughout, the same way each time. Predictability does a surprising amount.
- Give the hands something. A toy that only appears at changes stays interesting for months.
- For a rolling baby, change them on the floor rather than a raised surface — safer, and less of a fight. Never leave a baby unattended on a changing table.
- For a walking toddler, change them standing up. Most nappies can be done standing, and the battle ends immediately.
If a baby has recently started crying at changes and did not before, look for a cause: nappy rash, a raw patch, thrush, or a urine infection can all make the area sore. Rash that is not settling with barrier cream in a few days, or that is bright red with satellite spots, is worth showing to a doctor.
Bath time
The usual causes are temperature, insecurity and water on the face — in that order, and all three are fixable.
- Water at about 37°C. Test with your elbow or the inside of your wrist, not your hand, which is far less sensitive. Too hot is the most common error.
- Warm the room first, and have the towel ready and within reach. Most bath crying is about the air rather than the water — being wet and cold is worse than either alone.
- Less water, not more. A newborn feels insecure floating; a few centimetres with your hand firmly supporting them is far more reassuring.
- Keep contact throughout. A hand on the chest, or a bath in the tub with you, changes the experience entirely.
- Keep water off the face. Wash hair last, tip the head back, and pour from behind rather than over the forehead.
- Time it right. Not when they are hungry, and not when overtired. A fed, alert baby has a completely different bath.
- Some babies simply do not enjoy it yet. Two or three baths a week is plenty, and topping and tailing in between is entirely adequate.
- Never leave a baby alone in water, at any depth, for any length of time.
The car seat
The hardest of the three, because you cannot respond while driving. Common causes: dislike of the semi-reclined position, reflux which is worse in that position, motion sensitivity, temperature, a harness that is uncomfortable or wrongly adjusted, and simply not being able to see anyone.
- Check the harness fit properly. Straps at or below the shoulders for rear-facing, snug enough that you cannot pinch slack at the shoulder, chest clip level with the armpits. A twisted or badly adjusted strap is genuinely uncomfortable.
- Never put a bulky coat or snowsuit under the harness. It compresses in a crash and leaves the harness dangerously loose — dress them in thin layers and put the coat over the top afterwards.
- Check the temperature. Cars heat and cool faster than rooms, and the buckle and metal fittings can get hot enough to burn.
- A mirror so they can see a face, or an adult in the back where possible.
- Time journeys around naps, and feed before setting off rather than during.
- Break long journeys every two hours. A baby should not spend prolonged periods in a car seat, and not for sleep outside the car — the semi-upright position can restrict a young baby's airway.
- Sound helps more than toys. Steady music or white noise, the same each time.
The rule that matters: never unbuckle a crying baby while the car is moving, and never take them out of the seat to feed or comfort them on the move. If they need attention, pull over somewhere safe and stop. A crying baby in a correctly fitted seat is safe; an unrestrained one is not.
What the three have in common
- Predictability helps everywhere. Same order, same words, same place.
- Warmth is underrated in all three. Cold air, cold wipes and a cold car all show up as crying.
- Timing beats technique. A hungry or overtired baby will hate all of these regardless of what you do.
- It is a stage. Nappy change protests generally ease as they can be distracted; bath dislike usually resolves within weeks; car crying often improves markedly once they can see out.
When it is not the activity
Suspect something else if the crying is new rather than long-standing, if it happens in every situation rather than one, if there is arching and vomiting, if weight gain has flattened, or if there is a rash, a temperature or a cry unlike their normal one. Persistent screaming in the car specifically, in a baby who is otherwise settled, is worth mentioning to a doctor — reflux and ear infections both present that way.
Questions parents ask
Why does my baby cry during nappy changes?
Young babies dislike being laid on their back and undressed — a loss of containment and cold air on covered skin. Warm the wipes, keep the room warm, cover the chest, be quick, and give the hands something. Older babies object to being held still, and standing changes end most of that.
What temperature should a baby's bath be?
About 37°C, tested with your elbow or the inside of your wrist rather than your hand. Too hot is the most common cause of bath crying, followed by a cold room and water on the face. Use less water, not more, and keep a hand on them throughout.
Why does my baby scream in the car seat?
Common causes are the semi-reclined position, reflux which is worse in it, motion sensitivity, temperature, and a harness that is wrongly adjusted. Check the strap height and tightness, never put a bulky coat under the harness, and break long journeys every two hours.
Can I take my baby out of the car seat if they are crying?
Not while the car is moving, ever. Pull over somewhere safe and stop first. A crying baby in a correctly fitted seat is safe; an unrestrained baby in a moving car is not.
Sources
- NHS — Soothing a crying baby
- NHS — Washing and bathing your baby
- NHS — When to get medical help for your child
This guide is general information, written to help you understand a topic and ask better questions — it is not medical advice and does not replace your own doctor, midwife or paediatrician. Anything that worries you about your baby belongs with them.