Colic

Colic may be more harmful to worried and frustrated parents than it is to babies. A colicky baby cries a great deal typically more than 3 hours a day, and some babies with colic cry for much longer periods. Usually the crying occurs around the same time every day, often in the early evening.  

Colic is common.  As many as 1 or 2 of every 10 babies will have colic at some point during their early infancy. It's important to remember, however, that no matter how hard it may be to cope with a colicky baby, colic is a harmless condition.

Causes

Although babies with colic may seem to have some kind of abdominal pain, there is no known cause of colic. It occurs equally in breastfed and bottle-fed infants. Sometimes allergy to cow's milk formula may cause crying, but this is usually accompanied by loose stools and spitting up.

Symptoms

Colic is actually a collection of symptoms, rather than a disease. It usually begins within the first 2 or 3 weeks after birth, starts to improve around 6 weeks, and then goes away by 3 or 4 months old.

• The main symptom of colic is crying -- hard, almost angry crying -- for hours at a time. Your baby's face is likely to be red and the crying loud.

• The baby will pull its legs up, as if he or she has abdominal pain.

• Babies with colic usually eat well and gain weight normally.

• The baby may seem extra sensitive and hard to distract or comfort.

Self-Care

For generations, parents have tried different measures to calm a colicky baby. Some babies respond to some measures, some to others. You might try these suggestions to see if they help your baby:

• Many parents have discovered that riding in the car calms a colicky baby. Be sure to fasten the baby securely into a properly installed infant car seat.

• Walk or rock the baby.

• Use a pacifier, even if the baby has just eaten. Some colicky babies will spit a pacifier right out, but others may calm down a bit.

• Massage your baby gently.

• Try background noise. Some babies calm to the sounds of a hairdryer or vacuum cleaner.

• Wrap your baby tightly in a blanket.

• Sing to your baby, or play gentle music.

• There are tape recordings and toys that play the sound of a human heart beating, which sometimes calm a baby.

• Let your baby cry -- for a little while. If walking, rocking, singing, massaging, and the like don't seem to make a difference, put the baby in the crib for 10 to 15 minutes and see if he or she quiets alone. Sometimes a baby needs a little time alone -- and you may need time to calm yourself if you've been coping with the crying of a colicky baby for a while.

• Get a break for yourself. Ask a relative or friend to help watch the baby for a few hours during what is normally a colicky period.