As if learning how to care for a new baby wasn’t hard enough, with recovery on top of everything else, some babies develop extra issues for mom, dad, or other caretakers to worry about. When baby is crying, fussy, and cannot be comforted by anyone, most will label this as colic. While some babies do develop colic, not every fussy baby is colicky, but there are ways to find out and solutions to consider.
What is Colic?
Colic is when a baby cries, with no obvious reason, for long periods of time. John Hopkins Medicine defines colic “as when baby’s crying lasts for more than 3 hours a day, happens more than 3 days a week, [and] occurs for more than 3 weeks.” Again, without an obvious reason like baby is hungry, tired, or wet. In most cases this will begin suddenly and will not impact other factors like baby’s growth and development.
Doctors and researchers aren’t completely sure why colic occurs. We have all heard old tales and reasoning, but it can be difficult to find a direct link between stimulus, triggers, or patterns with colic. It may be related to too much stimulus and babies having difficult adjusting to the changes outside the womb or that they aren’t able to calm themselves quite yet. Some research is continuing to see if colic is caused by allergies or gas, but medical professionals find this unlikely.
When should I be concerned about colic?
Colic usually happens to babies who are less than six months. Since you are at the pediatrician on a regular basis, mention crying patterns to your doctor and ask for their input. They can assess your baby’s health to decide if it is colic or if there are some other factors involved. Your pediatrician may recommend you try a different formula or eliminating different foods from your diet if you are breastfeeding. This can help some babies, but may not always be needed.
