Does your baby cry all the time? Does it seem as if nothing is wrong with your little one besides the crying? Do you try to comfort him or her but nothing seems to help? If so, your baby might have colic.
An otherwise healthy, well-fed infant is considered to have colic if he or she cries uncontrollably for more than three hours a day, three days a week, for three weeks in a row. Colic affects as many as one in four babies. And colic most often begins a few weeks after birth and improves by the 3-month mark.
Don’t worry if your baby has colic. It’s normal and temporary, and he or she will grow out of it.
Causes and Risks
It’s still not clear why some babies get colic and others don’t. It might be that some infants take longer to adjust to a day and night schedule, or it might be that some babies have an immature digestive system. These and other possibilities might explain it, but there’s no known cause of colic.
Signs of Colic
Here are a few situations that suggest that your baby is colicky:
• Predictable crying. Your baby cries at the same time every day, usually in the late afternoon or evening.
• Intense crying. Your baby’s face is flushed, and it’s difficult or impossible to soothe him or her.
• Changes in posture. Some babies with colic draw their arms and legs toward their bodies, while others stretch out their arms and legs and stiffen.
• Vomiting, diarrhea, fever and blood in the stool are not colic symptoms. If your baby has any of these symptoms, contact your doctor.
Caring for Your Baby
There are no tried-and-true treatments for colic. But here are some suggestions that might help your baby feel better:
• Keep your baby moving—rock him or her, take a walk, go for a drive or use a vibrating infant seat or crib
• Hold your baby upright and burp him or her often
• Cuddle your baby, or swaddle him or her in a light, soft blanket
• Feed your baby frequently with small portions
• Try background noise, such as a fan, a ticking clock or calming music
• Give your baby a warm bath and a massage
• Sing a lullaby