Colic: The basics

My baby cries all the time. Could it be colic?

Colic is a term used to describe uncontrollable crying in an otherwise healthy baby. If your baby is younger than 5 months old and cries for more than three hours in a row on three or more days a week for at least three weeks (phew!), chances are he's colicky. Colic isn't a disease and won't cause your baby any long-term harm, but it's a tough thing to go through for both babies and their parents.

If your baby is colicky and you need help, you'll find more than 20 sanity-saving tips in Colic: How to Cope.

What are the signs of colic?

Colic most often shows up when a baby is around 2 or 3 weeks old (or two or three weeks after the baby's due date, if he's a preemie).

While babies normally cry when they're wet or hungry or frightened or tired, a baby with colic cries inconsolably and excessively, often at the same time of day, frequently in the late afternoon or evening.

If your baby has colic, his belly may look enlarged. You may notice that he alternately extends or pulls up his legs and passes gas as he cries.

How long will this last?

Thankfully, there's a light at the end of the tunnel. Colic tends to peak around 6 weeks, then improves significantly between 3 and 4 months. By 5 months, your baby should be over it.

Yes, that's a long tunnel. In the meantime, learn how to comfort your baby as best you can and ask for help when you need it. Caring for a colicky baby can be very stressful, and you need to take regular breaks to maintain your own well-being. Have your mate or a friend or relative take over while you go for a walk or let loose with a good cry yourself when you need to.

Why are some babies colicky?

Colic is one of the great mysteries of baby life. About 20 percent of babies become colicky. The condition is equally common among firstborn and later-born, boys and girls, breastfed and formula-fed. No one knows why some babies are more prone to it than others, but theories abound. And there may well be more than one cause.

Your baby may have colic because his digestive system is a bit immature or sensitive. (In fact, the word colic comes from a Greek word, kolikos, which roughly translates to "colon.") A newborn's digestive tract contains very few of the enzymes and digestive juices needed to break down food, so processing the proteins in breast milk or formula can lead to painful gas.

The act of screaming itself can cause your baby to swallow a lot of air and that, too, leads to gassiness. If your baby has colic because of tummy trouble, you may notice that his symptoms get worse after a feeding or before a bowel movement.

Some experts believe that long bouts of colicky crying are a physical release for overwrought babies. Your baby might be easily overwhelmed if he's sensitive by nature, for example, or if he's recovering from a difficult birth or was born prematurely and his nervous system is still developing. By the time evening rolls around, these babies just can't handle any more sights, sounds, or sensations, and they cry to blow off steam.

By the way, if you smoked during pregnancy or smoke now, your baby is twice as likely to have colic (though this risk is reduced if your baby is breastfed).

Should I take my baby to the doctor if I think he has colic?

Yes, it's a good idea to talk with the doctor about your baby's crying. She can rule out other potential causes, like intestinal or urinary infections, and help you determine the best course of action for your baby if he does have colic.

And if your baby has other symptoms — like fever, vomiting, or bloody stools — call his doctor immediately. These symptoms are not due to colic.

I've heard that colic in breastfed babies is caused by the mother's diet. Is this true?

Some breastfed babies seem to become colicky because of something in their mother's diet. (See our chart for a list of foods that may irritate your nursing baby.)

There's plenty of controversy about which foods are problematic, but dairy products are some of the prime suspects. If you're breastfeeding, try cutting back on milk, cheese, and yogurt for a couple of weeks to see whether it makes a difference. (Cow's milk protein can remain in breast milk that long, so this dietary experiment takes some patience.)

Other suspects include spicy food, wheat products, nuts, strawberries, cruciferous vegetables (such as cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower), garlic, caffeine, and alcohol.

To see whether one of these foods is making your baby uncomfortable, avoid them all for a few days. If your baby seems better, reintroduce one food at a time, allowing a few days between re-introductions.

If your baby starts fussing again after you start eating a certain food, you've discovered the offending substance. You'll have to abstain from it until your baby outgrows his sensitivity, which will probably be at around 3 months. Of course, kicking coffee or any other food for a few months is a small price to pay for a happy baby.

Can the wrong formula cause colic?

Not usually. But if your formula-fed baby is colicky, you might talk with his doctor about switching to a formula that doesn't contain cow's milk protein, just to be sure.

source: babycenter

Colic: How to cope

I think my baby has colic. What can I do?

If your otherwise healthy baby is younger than 5 months old and cries for more than three hours in a row on three or more days a week for at least three weeks (yes, that's a lot of crying!), then he probably is colicky. For more about why babies get colic, read our article Colic: The Basics.

To find out what you can do to help your baby while keeping your sanity, read on.

22 strategies for soothing a colicky baby

It may take some trial and error, because what helps one colicky baby might not do anything for another. But there are things you can try to help soothe your baby. Some will work best if tummy trouble is the issue, while others will be more helpful if your baby needs reassurance.

Check the bottle.

If your baby's bottle-fed, it's important to find a bottle that won't contribute to his gulping. The more air he swallows with his feeding, the more likely tummy trouble will be.

The nipple should have a hole that's not too small, which could frustrate him and make him gulp for more food, or too large, which would cause the liquid to come at him too quickly.

Some bottles are specially designed to reduce air intake. Some are curved, while others have internal vents or liners, which prevent air bubbles from forming in the liquid and keep the nipple from collapsing.

Keep feedings upright.

You might try holding your baby more upright during feedings to help the formula or breast milk travel more smoothly to his tummy. If he's curled up or hunched over, he's more likely to trap some air in there with his food.

Eliminate frantic feedings.

Feed your baby before he's starving — if he's crying from hunger, he's more likely to gulp air along with his meal. Try to feed him in a calm environment: Turn down the lights, put on some soft music, and ask siblings to play quietly (you can always hope).

Burp him often.

Frequent burping will help get air bubbles out of your baby's tummy. Don't wait until he's finished a full-course feeding to burp him. Prop your infant up for a burping when you change sides during nursing or every few minutes when bottle-feeding.

Adjust your diet if you're breastfeeding.

If you think that your baby may be sensitive to something in your breast milk, try eliminating dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt) for a couple of weeks, which is how long it takes for the cow's milk protein to work its way out of your milk.

If that doesn't do the trick, you might take a look at spicy foods, wheat products, nuts, strawberries, cruciferous vegetables (such as cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower), garlic, caffeine, and alcohol. Stop eating likely offenders for a few days, then introduce them one at a time, waiting to see if your baby reacts to one item before introducing the next. The process may take a while, but if it saves your baby any crying time at all, it's worth it.

Ask about a formula change.

Formula doesn't often cause colic, but if your baby is colicky, a change may be worth a try. Ask your baby's doctor about switching to a formula that doesn't contain cow's milk protein.

Brew a natural remedy.

Parents have long treated colicky babies with natural remedies like weak herbal teas (especially fennel, dill, anise, peppermint, and chamomile). You'll want to be careful with dosages, so consult a reliable herbalist and always talk to your baby's doctor. Some breastfeeding moms report that if they drink the herbal tea themselves, their babies benefit noticeably.

Try an over-the-counter solution.

Many parents have great luck giving their colicky babies gripe water (a preparation made from herbs and sodium bicarbonate). Or you might want to try over-the-counter anti-gas drops if you think gas is what's bothering your baby. Make sure you're buying drops created specifically for babies, and — as with any medication — get your doctor's okay before using either of these.

Massage your baby.

A gentle belly rub might help dispel gas or at least help your baby's tummy — and psyche — feel better. You might also try placing your baby across your knees, tummy down, and rubbing his back. This sometimes helps release excess pressure.

Use a (warm) hot water bottle.

Some babies appreciate the feeling of warm water against their belly. Fill a hot water bottle with lukewarm water and wrap it in a towel. Place it on your belly and let your baby lie on top of you. Be very careful not to make the water too hot, though — what feels warm to your tummy may be too hot for your new baby's skin.

Get noisy.

Babies like sounds that remind them of the rhythmic heartbeat and whooshing noises they heard in the womb. Your baby might be comforted to sit in his infant seat near the clothes dryer as it's running or in a front pack while you vacuum. Or he might calm down when the exhaust fan is on in the kitchen.

Make music.

Sing to your baby or try a CD of lullabies or other gentle tunes. You can even find CDs of soothing womb sounds. On the other hand, some parents report that their colicky babies prefer loud rock!

Move it.

Babies are comforted by gentle motion of all kinds, so invest in a rocker, baby swing, or simple bouncer. Your baby might also find it soothing to be walked around the house in a front pack or sling. Keep in mind that he may prefer being held higher in the pack, close to your chest and your heartbeat. Try gently bouncing up and down in this position while hugging your baby close.

Do the baby bicycle.

Put your baby on his back hold his feet and gently move his legs in a bicycling motion several times a day.(Diaper changes are a good time to try it.) For some babies this relieves gas and other tummy discomforts.

Get behind the wheel. Many parents find that a ride in the car — with its movement, noise, and vibration — is the best remedy for colic. Buckle your baby into his car seat and go for a drive to get a change of scenery for you and (possibly) relief for your baby.

Try a different atmosphere.

If you've been indoors, it may help to take your baby out for a walk, either in the stroller, a sling, or a front pack. The new sights, sounds, and smells may distract him, and the fresh air and rhythmic movement of walking may calm him and allow him to fall asleep. On the other hand, if you've been out and about with your baby all morning, some quiet time at home might be just what he needs.

Hush!

While some babies are comforted by motion, noise, and activity, others need less stimulation and respond better to quiet, stillness, and darkness.

Swaddle.

Think about how snug your baby was before his birth, and you'll have a good idea how wide the world seems to him right now. Swaddling — an ancient method of wrapping your infant in a blanket or cloth — can help a baby feel less out of control. You can try swaddling your baby during feedings if he has trouble focusing on his meal, or wrap him up before his usual colicky period or before you put him down to sleep.

Not only might swaddling help your colicky baby get to sleep, there's a good chance it will help him stay asleep, too. Researchers have found that babies who are swaddled sleep more soundly than those who aren't. That's because when a baby twitches during sleep, his own movements can wake him up. Swaddling keeps that little twitch from becoming a full-fledged flail he's unlikely to sleep through.

The swaddling technique is easy to master. Once you find that your baby loves to be swaddled, you may even want to invest in a special swaddling bunting.

Scent the environment.

Some babies respond well to scent. Aromatherapists develop specific essential oil formulas for a variety of problems and conditions, from headaches and fatigue to anxiety and fear.

You might try one developed for calming and soothing nervousness. (Some are made specifically to help calm babies.) A spritz of chamomile in the bedroom or a lavender-scented bath might also do the trick (if not for your baby, then for you).

Bathe your baby.

A warm bath in the middle of your baby's colic time might distract and relax him enough to help. Some babies also love to be held in the shower, with the spray on their back. Your baby may enjoy the rhythmic beating of the warm water as well as the sound.

Offer a pacifier.

Anything that helps your baby calm down is priceless right now. For some babies, sucking is the ultimate soother. So you might want to try offering a pacifier, even if you ordinarily wouldn't. Or encourage your baby to suck on his finger by gently putting it in his mouth.

Stick to a routine. You'll want to feed your baby whenever he's hungry, but otherwise he might find some comfort in a set routine — baths, walks, naps at certain dependable times. Your baby isn't watching the clock, of course, but he does carry a sense of the rhythm of his days.

How to keep your sanity

An inconsolable baby is a tough trial for a new parent. It's enough to make you cry. Go ahead. Also keep in mind:

It's not personal.

When your baby spurns your attempts to console him or seems angry with you, remind yourself that he's too young to comprehend the concept of blame. And while there are things that you can do to try to console him, his having colic has nothing to do with your parenting skills.

You can't do it alone.

Share baby care with your partner. Have a friend or relative take over for you once in a while so you can take a peaceful walk or a refreshing shower.

If you find yourself becoming angry or frustrated with your baby, take a deep breath and gently lay him in his crib. Then call a friend or a relative to come and stay with your baby while you calm down.

If there's nobody you can call to come and support you in person, contact a local crisis hotline or a child abuse hotline. The people who staff these phones will know how to help you.

You're helping your baby, even if he's still crying.

You may not be able to keep your baby from crying. In fact, it's possible that crying is exactly what he needs to do, and you can best help him by respecting and accepting that. Continue to hold him, rock him, whisper to him — and let him cry, all the while assured of your love.

Parents' voices

My son was a colicky baby. At 6 weeks old, he cried from 6 to 11 every night, and it was very disheartening. We took turns carrying and dancing him around to try to distract him, but nothing helped. Then somebody told me about a type of bottle that minimizes colic in babies. Sure thing, it really worked! As soon as we switched to these bottles, he stopped his evening wailing.

— Joyce Tan

My baby was very colicky. One night she wailed for five hours straight. As a last resort, I turned on the vacuum. The humming soothed her into immediate silence. (I recommend that you tape the sound rather than burn out the motor on the vacuum!)

— Mariana Helmold

My son got colicky at about 8 weeks. I found gripe water at a natural pharmacy. It's all natural and helps with all sorts of colic symptoms. It definitely makes a big difference in my son. He doesn't cry nearly as much, and gas is easier for him to pass.

— Erin

We thought our daughter was colicky for the first five weeks of life, until we read about how babies get really cranky if they're exhausted. After we started putting her to sleep as soon as she yawned the first time at any time of the day, she cried a lot less and had fewer problems with gas. This has been working really well.

— Anonymous

Our son wanted to be held and bounced! We bought a huge rubber ball — like the physical therapy ones, only much less expensive — that we would bounce on while sitting and holding him. I even figured out how to nurse him on the ball! It was much easier on my back than holding him and bouncing while I stood. I could also lean back into the ball with Jake on my chest and still give him the movement he desired while resting my back completely! I became a balloholic! When I was away from home, bouncing on the edge of the bed made a decent (but not great) substitute for the ball.

— Cathy Benge

My daughter is 7 weeks old and has had colic since week 3. It was a new experience for me, because my first two babies never had it. I've found that a warm bath in the middle of the crying stops her instantly. She will resume after the bath, but it gives me a break.

— Theresa

What seems to help is swaddling. I found it extremely difficult to breastfeed my baby during his colic hours, 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. I made some extra-large swaddling cloths from flannel and swaddled my baby tightly. or us, it helped a lot.

— Anonymous

Two of my three girls were very colicky. I made a simple bag out of felt and filled it with rice. I would heat it in the microwave for about 30 seconds and place it on the baby's tummy or swaddle it in the blanket with her, and she would settle right down. (Be very careful not to let the rice get too hot!)

— Elizabeth

My solution was to really watch what I ate. Once I eliminated high-fiber foods, all spices, and most vegetables (especially green vegetables), you'd be amazed at how much happier my baby became.

— Nancy Woodward

My colicky baby always calms down when I carry her up and down the stairs. Sometimes she even falls asleep. (Of course, this is very tiring for me!)

— Ressa

I've discovered that my colicky little one loves a warm baby bath with the shower massage sprayed all over him. You'd think it would be too powerful, but it's not, and it seems to do the trick. He sleeps for six hours now. Big relief! (Shower sprays differ, so of course you'll want to make sure the setting is gentle enough for your baby.)

— Jessica

Breastfeeding: Getting started

How to start breastfeeding

The first time you hold your newborn in the delivery room, put his lips to your breast. Your mature milk hasn't come in yet, but your breasts are producing a substance called colostrum that will help protect your baby from infection.

Try not to panic if your newborn seems to have trouble finding or staying on your nipple. Breastfeeding is an art that requires patience and lots of practice. No one will expect you to be an expert in the beginning, so don't hesitate to ask a nurse to show you what to do while you're in the hospital. (If you have a premature baby, you may not be able to nurse right away, but you should start pumping your milk. Your baby will receive this milk through a tube or a bottle until he's strong enough to nurse.)

Once you get started, remember that nursing shouldn't be painful. Pay attention to how your breasts feel when your baby latches on. His mouth should cover a big part of the areola below the nipple, and your nipple should be far back in your baby's mouth. If latch-on hurts, break the suction — by inserting your little finger between your baby's gums and your nipple — and try again. Once your baby latches on properly, he'll do the rest.

How often you should nurse

Frequently. The more you nurse, the more quickly your mature milk will come in and the more milk you'll produce. Nursing for ten to 15 minutes per breast eight to 12 times every 24 hours is pretty much on target. According to the latest guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), you should nurse your newborn whenever he shows signs of hunger, such as increased alertness or activity, mouthing, or rooting around for your nipple. Crying is a late sign of hunger — in other words, ideally you should start feeding your baby before he starts crying.

During the first few days, you may have to gently wake your baby to begin nursing, and he may fall asleep again in mid-feeding. To make sure your baby's eating often enough, wake him up if it's been four hours since the last time he nursed. Once your baby becomes alert for longer periods, you can settle into a routine of feeding every one to three hours (less at night as he starts to sleep through).

How to get comfortable

Since feedings can take up to 40 minutes, pick a cozy spot for nursing. Hold your baby in a position that won't leave your arms and back sore. It works well to support the back of your baby's head with your hand, but the position you choose really depends on what's comfortable for you. If you're sitting, a nursing pillow can be a big help in supporting your baby. Don't feed until you and your baby are comfortable because you'll be sitting (or lying) in that position for a while.

What you should eat

A normal healthy diet is all you need while you're nursing. Experts used to recommend that nursing moms get an extra 400 to 500 calories a day, but new research shows that you don't need that calorie boost, says breastfeeding expert Kathleen Huggins, author of The Nursing Mother's Companion. You'll want to maintain a well-balanced diet for your own health, but you don't need to follow complicated dietary rules to successfully nurse your baby.

You may want to limit caffeine, and avoid chocolate, spicy foods, and other irritants that get into breast milk and can bother your baby. Be sure to drink lots of fluids — the oxytocin released by your body while you breastfeed will make you thirsty and help remind you to drink.

Remember that although breastfeeding is natural, it can be difficult in the first days of your baby's life. Take the time to get encouragement and advice from a lactation consultant or friends who have nursed — their support and tips will be invaluable.

Problems you may encounter

Although women have nursed their babies for centuries, breastfeeding doesn't always come easily. Many women face difficulties early on. Some of the most common problems you may encounter in the first six weeks include:

• Engorgement: an overfull breast
• Sore nipples
• Mastitis: a breast infection

Don't suffer in silence. Call a lactation consultant or your doctor (especially if you think you may have a breast infection) if your physical discomfort is getting in the way of nursing properly.

What you may be feeling

Some women adjust to breastfeeding easily, encountering no major physical or emotional hurdles. But many new moms find it hard to learn — so if you're feeling discouraged, you're not the only one.

It's normal to feel overwhelmed by your baby's constant demands in the beginning. If you feel like giving up (or just want professional advice), consider calling an international board-certified lactation consultant (IBCLC). These experts in the art of breastfeeding will watch you nurse your baby and make recommendations. You can also talk to your doctor or midwife about any health concerns that may be getting in the way of successful breastfeeding.