What is colic?

Crying is one of the primary means of communication for babies. Your baby's loud moans tell you that he is hungry, wet, overtired, uncomfortable, or sick. Once you have taken care of the need, your child should calm down.

However, some babies continue to cry long after they have been fed, changed and taken care of. Instead of calming down, they cry even harder. Sometimes babies pull their legs up and pass gas during these bouts of crying.

Inconsolable crying with or without gas can be caused by colic.

As a parent, it's overwhelming, especially when you've tried everything to stop your tears.

Colic is not usually a sign of anything serious and is very common. They affect up to 40% of babies.

The bouts of crying should go away within a few months.

Colic is a term used to describe the condition of babies who cry and cry and cannot be comforted. These bouts of crying often begin when babies are about 2-3 weeks old.

Infants with colic:

Start crying suddenly and for no apparent reason
Often cries in the early evening, although crying can start at any time of the day
Crying more than 3 hours a day, more than 3 days a week, more than 3 weeks
Sometimes the abdomen swells up, can raise the legs to the chest and release gases.
Difficult to calm down

Colic causes

Doctors don't know exactly what causes colic. But children with colic may:

Easily overwhelmed by light, sounds and other stimuli
Be more sensitive to the food their mother eats, such as soy or dairy products if they are breastfeeding.
Difficult to comfort

Colic is not a disease, although some babies cry a lot when they are sick.

Which babies get colic?

Any child can have colic. It doesn't matter if the baby is breastfed or bottle-fed. Approximately the same number of boys and girls suffer from colic.

Babies may be more prone to colic if they:

Eat too much or too little
Eat too quickly or swallow too much air while nursing, which causes gas
Have an allergy to formula or to a food in their mother's diet if they are breastfed
Live in a stressful environment
Start eating cereal too early -- before 4 months

At what age does colic stop?

Colic should go away on its own. Most babies stop having colic by 3 to 4 months of age.

But for some babies, these bouts of crying will last 6 months or more. If your baby continues to cry for several hours after he is a few months old, he may have another condition that needs to be treated.

What is normal crying and what is colic?

Don't be surprised if your newborn cries a lot. During the first 3 months of life, babies may cry up to 2 hours a day.

However, if your baby has colic, he is more likely to:

Cry for what seems like no reason
Start to cry in the evening, or at the same time every day
Cry for 3 or more hours each day, more than 3 days a week, for at least 3 weeks
Make sounds that are more intense than normal
Not be soothed, even when you feed or rock them

Other symptoms of colic

Your child with colic may also:

Clench their fists
Bend their arms and legs toward their belly
Have a bloated tummy
Have a red, flushed face when they cry
Pass gas while they shed tears, often because they have swallowed air
Tighten their stomach muscles

How doctors diagnose colic

A doctor can tell if your baby has colic by looking at its symptoms. You can help. Notice after a few days:

When your baby cries and for how long
What the cry sounds like. Is it high-pitched or louder than usual?
What seems to make them fussy
What, if anything, works to calm them down
How often and what your baby eats
When your baby poops, and what the stools look like

The doctor will likely do an exam to check if your baby is fussy for other reasons, such as:

Food allergies or sensitivities to something in your diet, if you breastfeed
Discomfort, such as if they are too hot or too cold
Hunger or weakness
Pain from an illness or injury
Reflux

Treatment

Colic should be gone by the time your baby is 4 months old. In the meantime, try these tips. They can make it easier for both of you.

Feeding tips

Is it breast milk or formula? Some parents worry that what they feed their child or what they eat if they are breastfeeding will upset them. This is not usually the cause of colic, but it can cause irritation. If you think this may be the reason your baby is crying, talk to your pediatrician.

Help them swallow less air. Try a special bottle designed to reduce gas or a nipple with a smaller opening. Sit them down while they are eating so they swallow less air. Remember to regurgitate them during and after feeding.

Soothe baby with sound and movement

Walk or rock. Movement helps to calm babies. Walking with a baby in a carrier. The combination of heat and rhythm can put them to sleep.
Hold and rock them or put them in a swing or stroller. A gentle movement can stop their tears.

If all else fails, tie him to a car seat and go for a drive. Just make sure you're not so tired that it's dangerous to drive.

Use sound to soothe the baby. Many babies respond well to the soft hum of a machine, such as:

Clothes dryer.
Fan
Vacuum
White-noise machine

You can also listen to classical music or "heartbeat" next to the crib.

Soothe your child's senses

Bright lights and sounds can be confusing for a colic baby. Your child may be relieved if you:

Lay them on their back in a dark, quiet room.
Swaddle them snugly in a blanket.
Lay them across your lap and gently rub their back.
Try infant massage.
Put a warm water bottle on your baby's belly.
Have them suck on a pacifier.
Soak them in a warm bath.

What about other remedies for colic?

You may have heard that some home remedies can relieve colic. Most of these are unproven and may harm your child. Always check with your child's pediatrician before trying anything new. These are things you may have heard of.

Rice cereal in bottles. It's definitely a no-no. This is a big choking hazard and has not been proven to work.
Herbal remedies such as chamomile or flu water. It's better not to use them. You can't be sure of their ingredients, and the ingredients aren't always labelled. Some of them may contain substances that are very harmful to your child, such as alcohol or opiates. Babies can also have allergic reactions to it. Their effectiveness has also not been proven.
Drops of simethicone gas. It might be good to try. But will they work? They may or may not help.

Take a break

Colic isn't just hard on your baby. It can also tire you out. When attempts to soothe a crying baby become too much, leave them with a babysitter, trusted family member, or friend and leave home.

Even if you are walking or eating lunch, take a break to de-stress. When there is no one around to help you, you can leave the baby in the crib or playpen and briefly move to another room until you regroup.

No matter how upset you are, never hit or shake a child. If you ever feel like you might harm them, call your doctor right away and seek help.

Also call your doctor if your child: