Causes

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 and can last until the baby is 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 be irritable 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.