Why does my baby arch their back while crying?

When a baby arches their back while crying, it’s often a sign of discomfort, frustration, or overstimulation. Babies can’t explain what’s wrong in words, so they sometimes use their whole body to show distress.

Common reasons include:

• Acid reflux or feeding discomfort: some babies arch their backs around feeds if they’re having reflux or pain after eating.
• Gas or colic: trapped gas or tummy discomfort can lead to squirming, pulling legs up, and back arching.
• Frustration, overtiredness, or overstimulation: a baby may arch away if they’re angry, tired, overwhelmed, or don’t want to be held or fed.
• Pain such as teething or an ear infection: general discomfort can sometimes cause a baby to stiffen or arch.

What you can do:

• Keep your baby upright for a while after feeds.
• Try gentle burping or bicycle kicks for gas.
• Reduce stimulation by moving to a quiet, dim room.

Call your pediatrician if the arching happens often or is paired with poor feeding, vomiting, fever, poor weight gain, or crying that’s hard to soothe. Very stiff, rigid arching is less common and should be checked promptly, since severe rigid arching can occasionally be a sign of a serious illness or neurological problem.