You bring your newborn home, and for weeks you marvel at your infant who does piddling more sleep, eat, pee and cry.

Then 1 24-hour interval a few weeks afterward, he erupts in prolonged, ear-shattering wails, complete with clenched fists, flailing legs and an unhappy red face.

No matter what you try, you tin't comfort your crying babe — and that'southward non all: He repeats these heartbreaking, stressful episodes every nighttime at the aforementioned time for what seems similar forever. Welcome to the world of colic.

What is colic?

The reality is, all babies cry. Information technology's the all-time (and only) way for them to communicate their needs at this tender age. And as parents, we're biologically programmed to respond and so those needs get met.

Simply in babies with colic, the crying starts suddenly for no apparent reason … and has no apparent cure.

Colic is not a affliction or diagnosis but a combination of inexplainable behaviors. It's really but a take hold of-all term for excessive crying in otherwise good for you babies — the problem existence, at that place's no solution to it besides the passing of time. And it'south common, occurring in roughly ane in 5 infants.

These fussy periods tin can become on for hours at a time, sometimes late into the nighttime. Worst of all, try as you might — and attempt yous will — it's extremely hard to calm a colicky infant, which only compounds your own frustration, worry and exhaustion.

Doctors usually diagnose babe colic based on the "rules of three." Your baby's crying:

  • Totals at least three hours a day
  • Occurs at least 3 days a week
  • Persists for at least three weeks in a row

How to soothe colic in babies

In addition to frustration and exhaustion, you may have feelings of inadequacy and guilt as you attempt in vain to soothe your fussy baby. Then while staying calm is easier said than done, these strategies may help ease the strain until colic passes.

Simply give each a fair shot before you switch to another (and don't pull out too many tricks at one time, or you'll overload infant'due south circuits — and step up the crying you're trying to stop). Talk to your doctor for tips and possible causes of your baby's colic too.

If you suspect overstimulation:

  • Respond. Crying is a baby's just way of communicating his needs. Simply it'southward also his only fashion of wielding any control at all over a vast and bewildering new surroundings: He cries, yous come running to his side — powerful stuff when you're otherwise completely powerless. In fact, studies prove that responding promptly to your infant's cries will reduce his crying in the long run.
  • Excise excitement. Limit visitors and avoid exposing your baby to new experiences in stimulating environments, peculiarly in the late afternoon and early on evening. Lookout how your baby responds to certain stimuli — and steer clear of whatsoever that seem to offend.
  • Create at-home. Trying to brand your baby's environment peaceful might assist him relax. Dim the lights, speak or sing in soothing tones (or don't speak at all) and keep other dissonance and distractions to a minimum.

If you suspect gastrointestinal issues:

  • Apply pressure to baby's breadbasket. Some colicky babies notice relief when pressure is placed on the abdomen — and the power of affect alone can be very soothing for both parent and child. And so place your infant face-down on your lap or upright with his tummy against your shoulder, or try the "colic bear," where your lilliputian 1 lies face-downwards with his abdomen resting on your arm. Then gently rub or pat his back every bit you hold him.
  • Endeavor burping your baby.If your infant'south comfortless fussiness is due to gas, sometimes burping him volition help salve the pain. Make sure you're burping your baby finer.
  • Ask about antigas drops.Studies bear witness that reducing gas may reduce the discomfort (and crying). So ask your pediatrician about trying gas drops fabricated with simethicone, which works by breaking up gas bubbles and can relieve your babe's symptoms. Though enquiry hasn't withal shown that this handling definitively helps with colic, your doctor may think it's worth a try.
  • Consider probiotics. Probiotic drops may potentially curb the crying in some colicky babies, probably because they ease tummy troubles (probiotic bacteria grow naturally in the digestive tract and help promote intestinal health). Once more, research is very express, but check with your pediatrician to see if yous should give it a go.
  • Sentinel what y'all swallow. If you're breastfeeding, talk to your doctor nearly whether yous should try temporarily eliminating any foods from your diet that can cause tummy troubles for your babe, such equally gas-causing cruciferous veggies (cabbage, cauliflower and others), acidic citrus fruits or allergenic foods (dairy, soy, wheat, eggs, peanuts, tree basics, fish).
  • Inquire almost switching formulas. For some formula-fed infants, swapping a standard variety for one designed for sensitive tummies or ane that doesn't contain cow's milk can make a difference. Studies have found that giving colicky babies hypoallergenic whey-hydrolyzed formula decreases colic symptoms in some babies. But be sure to become your doctor's approval before making the switch. As well, steer clear of casein-hydrolyzed formula or partially hydrolyzed formulas as therapies for colic — in that location simply isn't enough evidence that they piece of work.

Other calming remedies for colicky babies:

  • Get close.Not only does cuddling, wearing or conveying your baby give him the pleasure of security and concrete closeness to you (and after nine months of constant closeness, that may be but what infant's crying for), just it may help yous tune in better to his needs. Worried that holding your infant besides much will make him spoiled or clingy? Fix those fears bated. You tin can't spoil a newborn — so if holding him seems to soothe him, cuddle abroad.
  • Swaddle.Toss a blanket in the dryer and while it'southward notwithstanding warm, wrap it snugly around your little one. The combination of warmth and the feeling of security may help dry babe's tears.
  • Try white noise. The hum of the vacuum cleaner or dryer tin can be comforting to babies (it reminds them of the womb). A white dissonance machine can too assist.
  • Play soothing music.A crying infant might besides respond to the quiet singing of a lullaby or softly playing classical music. Other infants savor the sounds of nature or the whir of a fan. Repeating "shh" or "ahh" to your lilliputian i tin also assist. Experiment to find something your baby seems to like.
  • Get in move.Try swinging or rocking. Newborns find gentle movement comforting, since it feels like what they experienced in the womb.
  • Offer a pacifier. Some colicky babies seem to want to eat all the fourth dimension — and that might be because sucking is soothing, not because they're hungry. And then if your child seems ravenous frequently and adequate feedings don't seem to satisfy him, a pacifier might assistance. Check in with your doctor if you're not sure whether baby is getting enough to consume at mealtimes, though.
  • Leave of the business firm.Sometimes just a change to an outdoor location volition magically modify a baby's mood. Motion tin assist besides. Accept your baby for a walk in the stroller or carrier, or strap him into the car seat for a drive (but turn effectually and head home if the crying continues in the car — otherwise it could distract you from the road).

Call back, you should never give your baby any medication, herbal or otherwise, without talking to your pediatrician commencement. And always talk to your doctor before making major changes in your diet or your babe's.

Colic symptoms

How exercise y'all know for certain if your baby'south colicky? Here are some signs of colic to look out for:

  • It bears repeating, but colic generally follows a "rules of 3" pattern: The crying lasts a total of at least 3 hours a day, at least iii days a week and for at least three sequent weeks.
  • Crying often occurs at effectually the same time every mean solar day (usually in the late afternoon or early evening, just it can vary).
  • Your baby seems to exist crying for no reason (not because he has a dirty diaper or is hungry or tired).
  • Baby may pull up his legs, clamp his fists and mostly move his legs and arms more than.
  • Your baby volition often will close his eyes or open them very wide, furrow his brow and even hold his breath briefly.
  • Bowel activity may increase, and he may pass gas or spit upward.
  • Eating and sleeping are disrupted by the crying — baby frantically seeks a nipple just to reject information technology once sucking has begun, or dozes for a few moments only to wake up screaming.

What'south the deviation betwixt colic and normal crying?

There isn't a articulate definition of exactly what colic is or how (and if) information technology differs from other types of crying.

But doctors typically agree that colic crying is louder, more than intense and higher-pitched than normal crying — sometimes well-nigh like screaming.

Colicky babies likewise seem inconsolable, and tend to weep more throughout the day than babies without colic. (It may very well feel like around the clock, much to tired and fraught parents' dismay, only in reality information technology could amount to a few hours total.)

Most often, colicky periods recur daily, though some babies take an occasional dark off.

How to Calm a Crying Newborn

When does colic start and end?

The practiced news is that baby colic doesn't last forever. Most bouts start when baby is about 2 to 3 weeks old (later in premature infants), peak at around 6 weeks and then typically brainstorm to taper off past ten to 12 weeks.

By 3 months (though usually a niggling later on in preterm babies), about colicky infants seem to be miraculously cured. The colic may stop all of a sudden — or finish gradually, with some good days and some bad days until most of them are good and it's clear the phase has passed.

In the meantime, a lilliputian knowledge and a lot of patience will help you survive until the storm subsides.

What causes colic in babies?

While the exact crusade of colic is a mystery, experts exercise know that information technology's not the upshot of genetics or anything that happened during pregnancy or childbirth. Nor is it any reflection on parenting skills. And it's likewise not anyone'due south mistake.

That said, here are some theories on possible causes of colicky crying:

  • Overstimulated senses.One explanation: Newborns have a built-in mechanism for tuning out sights and sounds around them, which allows them to sleep and swallow without being disturbed by their environs. Almost the terminate of the first month, however, this mechanism disappears — leaving babies more sensitive to the stimuli in their surroundings. With then many new sensations coming at them, some infants become overwhelmed, often at the end of the mean solar day. To release that stress, they cry (and weep and weep). Colic ends, the theory goes, when baby learns how to filter out some ecology stimuli and, in doing so, avoids a sensory overload.
  • An immature digestive system. Digesting food is a large task for a baby's brand new gastrointestinal organisation. As a consequence, food may pass through besides apace and non interruption down completely, resulting in pain from gas in the intestines.
  • Infant acid reflux. Inquiry has establish that infant GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) can trigger episodes in colicky babies, though information technology doesn't cause colic. Infant GERD is oftentimes the result of an underdeveloped lower esophageal sphincter, the muscle that keeps stomach acid from flowing back up into the throat and oral fissure, which can irritate the esophagus. Symptoms include frequent spitting up, poor eating and irritability during and afterwards feedings. The good news is, most babies outgrow GERD by age 1 (and colic usually goes away long earlier then).
  • Food allergies or sensitivity. Some experts believe that colic is the consequence of an allergy to cow'southward milk proteins (or lactose intolerance) in formula-fed babies. Less ofttimes, colic may be a reaction to specific foods in Mom'south diet in breastfed babies. Either fashion, these allergies or sensitivity tin cause tummy pain that may prepare off colicky behavior.
  • Tobacco exposure. Several studies show that moms who smoke during or afterward pregnancy are more probable to have babies with colic, and secondhand smoke may besides exist a culprit. Though the link exists, it'southward unclear how cigarette smoke might be related to colic. The bottom line for many more than meaning wellness reasons: Don't fume or let anyone else smoke around your baby.

Gripe h2o and colic

In the category of "little evidence, lots of anecdotes" is gripe water, touted as an herbal remedy for everything from baby gas to colic.

Some parents swear past gripe h2o every bit a way to calm a colicky baby, but no reliable studies have shown its effectiveness in relieving colic symptoms. And because information technology's not regulated by the Food and Drug Assistants (FDA), gripe water can also be a wild card in terms of what'due south really in it and in what quantities. Always check with your pediatrician before giving your baby gripe water or whatever other treatment marketed equally infant colic drops.

Tips for parents on coping with colic

Though it can safely be said that fifty-fifty hours and hours of daily crying doesn't seem to hurt a baby, it certainly does leave its mark on parents. Listening to a baby'due south screams can exist heartbreaking, upsetting and anxiety-provoking and can accept a physical and emotional toll.

To cope with colicky crying that just won't quit, try the post-obit:

  • Break information technology up. A fresh ready of artillery sometimes induces calm in a crying baby. If at that place are 2 parents at home during baby's witching hours, make sure colic duty is divided up as between the two of y'all (an hr on, an hour off, a nighttime on, a night off, or whatever arrangement works best).
  • Take a break. It'south important to respond to crying, which is an infant's only way to communicate. But every once in a while, taking a 10- to 15- minute break during a especially trying crying marathon won't injure — and it might help both of you lot get through this challenging stage of babyhood.
  • Melody out a little. Use earplugs, noise-canceling headphones or mind to music to lessen the consequence of your infant'southward wails. Don't melody out your infant and then much that yous can't hear him at all or for long periods of time, but at least the bouts of wailing won't be equally loud for a piddling while.
  • Talk almost it. Exercise a little crying yourself — on a willing shoulder: your spouse'south, the pediatrician'due south, a family member's, a friend'due south. But knowing yous're not alone in the world of comfortless babies can make a world of difference.
  • Get help. If you're at the end of your rope, don't hesitate ask for aid — whether from your partner, mother, friend or bodyguard. And if you observe that yous're consistently feeling overwhelmed or are having trouble coping, talk to your md or a mental health professional. You'll not only feel better — parental counseling has actualy been shown to reduce baby crying.

When to call the medico about colic in babies

While the odds are that your babe's daily screaming sessions are due to colic, if information technology seems similar your baby is crying excessively, offset by seeing the pediatrician.

The doctor can examine your baby to rule out any other potential causes of excessive crying. And if they think y'all're definitely dealing with colic? It'due south good to get some reassurance and peradventure a few extra soothing strategies.

Describing the crying (its elapsing, intensity, pattern, whatever variation from the norm and any accompanying symptoms) will also help the doctor rule out whatsoever underlying medical condition (like reflux, an infection or a milk allergy) that could be triggering the crying.

Keep in heed, likewise, that this shall laissez passer: Simply when yous think you can't accept another night of it, the crying will permit up — and and then it'south gone forever.

As wiped-out as you lot may be, give yourself a well-earned pat on the back. You lot've just survived your kickoff major challenge of parenthood.