Colic
Contents
Colic
Why babies cry
Your baby will cry for a variety of reasons. It is your baby’s only way of telling you something is bothering him. It does not always mean he is experiencing serious discomfort. Check first to see if he is too cool or warm, hungry, gassy, or tired, or if he needs a diaper change.
A change in his crying pattern could be cause for concern. Trust your instincts, and call your health care professional if you are concerned.
Soothing your crying baby
You know how to comfort your baby by swaddling him, offering him a pacifier, or placing him in a swing. If these efforts do not work, you may want to try:
- Gently bouncing or walking him, or going on a car ride
- Creating white noise (quiet music, vacuum cleaner, rainfall, running the clothes dryer or a fan). White noise is comforting to a baby as it reminds him of the womb.
Is it Colic?
Your baby is healthy and growing well, but cries intensively for hours often around the same time of day. His little face is red, fists are clenched and legs are curled up to his belly. It is very hard to comfort him.
It could be colic if your baby cries for:
- Three or more hours a day;
- At least three days a week;
- For at least one week.
Colic generally occurs at 2 to 3 weeks of age and decreases greatly after 3 to 4 months.
