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.

Many common childhood illnesses can cause a child to be fussy. Most illnesses are easily treated. They include:

• Ear infection
• Teething or a toothache
• Cold or flu
• Bladder infection
• Stomach pain or stomach flu
• Headache
• Constipation
• Pinworm
• 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
• 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