Colic is a broad term, which is defined by its symptoms rather than a particular cause. Colic is believed to affect about 20% of babies. A baby is described as having colic if her or she has episodes of uncontrollable, extended crying over three hours a day and at least three days a week. Every baby cries, but if your baby is otherwise healthy and well fed, then he or she may have colic. In general, babies start with colic around three weeks of age, getting its worse at around six weeks of age and then usually stopping around three or four months of age.

The exact cause of colic is still unknown but there are many theories on why a baby might have colic. Many believe that colic is caused from an immature digestive system. With an infant’s digestive system still developing up to the age of three months it is thought by some that colic comes from an immature digestive system that is having spasms. However, some experts suggest that the stomach pain is the result of crying rather than the cause. Another theory is that colic is caused by an immature nervous system, which causes a baby to tense up in response to normal external stimulation. A third theory is that milk, either from the breast or bottle may be the cause of colic. This may be the case if a baby cries more after feedings. Each of these theories along with others is still being researched today. Since there is no factual evidence on what the exact cause of colic is, there is no one easy solution to help parents ease or comfort their baby through an episode of crying.

What are the symptoms of colic?

Each baby will show different symptoms of having colic. Some may show a number of symptoms while some will only show one. Below are some of the most common symptoms associated with colic.

Loud and continuous crying that can last from one to three hours at a time, with these crying episodes occurring about three or four days a week
Although the crying can happen at any time, most colicky babies cry more in the late afternoon or evening
Baby’s face gets red
Legs are pulled up to the stomach and then may be fully stretched
Feet may be cold
Hands may be clenched
Some babies refuse to eat or become fussy soon after eating
Difficulty falling and staying asleep
Baby may lift their head or legs and pass gas
Baby may seem generally uncomfortable and appear to be in pain

What can I do to help my baby?

Since it is not exactly known what causes colic, there is no one quick fix that works for every baby. The most important first step is to check with your baby’s pediatrician to make sure there is no medical cause for your baby’s crying. Once your baby is given a clean bill of health then all you can do is try your best to keep your baby calm and comfortable through an episode of crying. Below are a few methods that may help make your baby feel more comfortable. While a few of these methods may work with some babies, they may not work at all for others.

Keep a diary of when your baby cries, along with activities like napping, feeding and playing. Look for patterns, which may offer a small clue to the solutions
If you’re breast-feeding, try to eliminate dairy from your diet along with other foods such as onions, cabbage, cauliflower, spicy foods, caffeine, beans or other gas producing foods. Before eliminating diary from your diet be sure to check with your doctor first. Your doctor may or may not want you to eliminate dairy from your diet or he/she may want you to take calcium supplements
If you’re bottle-feeding, do your best to reduce the amount of air that your baby swallows. Try using a curved bottle or a bottle with collapsible disposable liners
If your baby seems to have a lot of gas, make sure you burp him or her frequently
Don’t overfeed your baby. This may actually make the colic worse. Stick to your normal feeding routine
If you’re bottle-feeding talk with your doctor about changing formulas to a low-allergy type of formula
Take your baby to a part of your home that will provide less stimulation. Bright lights, noise, or a large number of people may further aggravate the colic
Wrap your baby up snugly in a blanket while walking around in a smooth steady motion
Go for a walk in a stroller or for a drive in a car seat
Give your baby a warm bath or place a warm water bottle on your baby’s stomach. Be sure the bottle is not hot!
Try rocking in a rocking chair; or swinging in a baby swing
Give your baby a gentle tummy massage
Some baby’s like hearing rhythmic sounds such as a vacuum cleaner, dishwasher, or cloths dryer and will calm down when they hear these types of sounds

There are a lot of parents you probably know that have been through the experience of having a baby with colic. Talk with other parents and friends and get their suggestions on what methods they used to calm their baby. There are a lot of different things that people have tried that are not listed above. Keep in mind that not every baby will react to these methods the same. Sometimes it may help, while other times it may seem to make the baby more uncomfortable. Try one at a time and hopefully you will find one that comforts your baby while also giving your ears a rest from the crying.

Can my baby’s doctor help?

The most important thing to do is consult your doctor if your baby is still crying after all of his or her basic needs have been met. While there is no test to see if your baby has colic, it is important to rule out any other health problems your baby might have that could be causing the crying. Once your doctor has checked out everything and has given your baby a clean bill of health, your doctor should be supportive and understanding to what you are experiencing with the continuous crying. Your doctor may recommend the use of an over the counter anti-gas bubble medicine like Mylicon drops for babies or even a prescription anti-cramp medicine such as Levsin Drops. These medications are taken orally and may or may not help. The opinion of your doctor may not be mentioned in this article, which is why you should keep in mind that there is no proven reason on what causes colic and there is no proven method on treating colic. While you should always treat your child the way your doctor recommends, you may find another method that is better for calming your baby. You will probably hear all sorts of methods that your friends think are the best ways for treating colic. While most parents want to try everything they can, it is best to always ask your doctor first before you try something new.

As a final note, try to keep in mind that after about three or four months of age the colic will pass and you will have a happy and healthy baby since there is no known long term problems associated with colic.