Colic

All babies cry but those who cry for long periods of time most days may have colic. Colic is defined as a baby that cries for more than three hours each day for three or more days a week. So if your baby is otherwise well and is not hungry and yet cries uncontrollably colic may be the cause.

Crying because of colic can be at any time of day but is often worse in the evening or at night. Colic does not mean that your baby is unwell or in pain but it can also appear as if this was the case. Babies may lift their head, draw their legs up to their tummy, and become red in the face. Some babies refuse to eat. Difficulty falling and staying asleep is also common.

If you find yourself in this position, don?t worry, you are not alone. In fact around 20% of all babies have colic, it is not related to anything that you have or haven?t done nor is it to do with your baby's sex or general health. It will normally appear at around 2 to 4 weeks and last until around 3 months (although it can end before this or go on for a little longer).

No one really knows why some babies get colic and others don?t. Many people believe that it is a result of trapped gas or of an immature digestive system, but neither of these theories can be proven.

Colic is not dangerous for your baby, most babies with colic grow out of it at around 3 months of age but it can make the first few months with your baby very tiring and stressful. The best thing you can do is try and take a break, if you have someone who is willing to watch the baby for a few hours or even a whole night, let them.

There are a number of things you could do to try and ease your baby's colic (although there is no cure). Firstly if you formula feed your baby you could try to switch formulas. If you breastfeed keep a diary of what YOU are eating and when , if your baby has a food intolerance or allergy it could be that you need to cut certain foods from your diet. Secondly, babies who are bottle-fed may swallow air from the bottle: try feeding the baby in a different position, or using a bottle and teat designed to reduce the amount of air the baby swallows during a feed. You could also carry the baby in a front sling or back pack wrap him or her snugly in a blanket) or keep the baby moving in a baby swing. It may be worth trying "colic drops" or "gripe water", which are available without a prescription. A medicine called dimeticone (eg Infacol) is available to relieve trapped wind.

If you are very worried about your baby or if his crying seems much more urgent or prolonged than normal, it is a good idea to see your doctor to rule out any other cause of crying.