Infant Colic
Crying is something that all babies do. In fact, it's normal for a healthy baby to cry up to 2 hours a day during the first few months of life.
When a baby’s crying becomes excessive and occurs for no clear reason, they may have colic. Doctors define colic as:
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Occurring during a baby’s first few months of life.
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Crying that lasts for more than 3 hours at least 3 days of the week.
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Crying that is high-pitched and that may be more intense and louder than usual.
Experts don’t know for sure what causes colic. But they do know it doesn't mean your baby is rejecting you. It also doesn't mean they're trying to get you to do something. And you're not doing anything wrong.
The doctor will examine your baby to check for a cause of the crying. If your baby is diagnosed with colic, no medical treatment is needed. The doctor will talk with you about ways to calm and soothe your baby. They will also give you tips on how to cope with your baby’s condition and how to get support, if needed.
In most cases, colic goes away after a baby is 4 months old.
Important
The stress of caring for a baby puts a strain on the parents. It can be even more stressful if your baby has colic. But no matter how tired or upset you are, never shake your baby. Shaking a baby, even slightly, is very dangerous.
Home care
There are some things that you can do to help your baby and yourself until colic ends.
Feeding methods
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Allow about 20 minutes for each feeding and about 2 hours between feedings.
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Don’t feed your baby every time they cry. This would result in over-feeding.
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Burp your baby after each 1-ounce of formula or each 5 minutes of breastfeeding.
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Always hold your baby when feeding them. Don’t “prop the bottle” to feed an infant lying down. This can cause too much air swallowing.
Diet changes
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If you are breastfeeding, try to change your own diet. Don't have caffeine (coffee, tea, cola), chocolate, onions and garlic, milk and milk products or eggs.
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Formula-fed infants may find a change in formula helpful. But don’t change formula without first talking about it with your doctor. Too many changes can make colic worse.
Comforting your baby
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Go to your baby soon after the crying starts. Figure out if your baby is hungry, needs a clean diaper, or wants to be in a different position.
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If this doesn’t help, try to comfort your baby by calming or distracting them for 20 minutes. Some babies respond better to soothing. Others respond best to distracting or stimulating methods.
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Soothing. Hold your baby close to your body (try a front baby-carrier) and walk or rock while talking softly. Or lay your baby tummy-down on your lap, supported with your hands, and rock your legs side to side. A warm bath, rocking cradles, and infant swings may also work.
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Stimulating. Try bouncing motions, music, body contact, or changing your location. Take your baby out for a walk or a car ride. This may help change your baby’s mood.
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If your baby is still crying after 20 minutes of comforting, lay the infant in the crib and leave the room (but not your house).
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Let your child cry for up to 20 minutes. Go back and start the cycle over as often as needed until your baby falls asleep. If you do this often, it gives your baby a chance to learn ways of self-comforting (finger-sucking, staring at hands, etc.).
Support for Parents
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Don’t take the crying personally. Your baby is not mad at you. You are not doing anything wrong.
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Take a break. Caring for a baby with colic is very hard work. Find a caring babysitter, family member, or friend who can give you or your partner at least an hour a day for yourselves outside the home. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, talk with your baby’s doctor about child care options, counseling, or other resources that can help.
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Join a parent support group. It can help to talk with other parents having the same problems.
Follow-up care
Follow up with your child’s doctor, or as directed.
When to get medical advice
Unless your baby’s doctor advises otherwise, contact the doctor right away if:
Also contact the doctor right away if:
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Your baby has an unusual change in crying pattern or behavior.
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Your baby is having trouble feeding, refuses to eat, or stops gaining weight.
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Your baby has vomiting that won’t stop.
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Your baby has ongoing diarrhea or constipation.
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Your baby has blood in the stool or vomit (black or red color).
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You think your baby has stomach pain. (For instance, your baby may keep drawing the legs up to the chest while crying.)
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You feel you are losing your temper and are afraid you might harm your baby. Never shake your baby. Shaking will not stop the crying. It can cause blindness, brain damage, and even death.
Fever and children
Use a digital thermometer to check your child’s temperature. Don’t use a mercury thermometer. There are different kinds and uses of digital thermometers. They include:
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Rectal. For children younger than 3 years, a rectal temperature is the most accurate.
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Forehead (temporal). This works for children age 3 months and older. If a child under 3 months old has signs of illness, this can be used for a first pass. The doctor may want to confirm with a rectal temperature.
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Ear (tympanic). Ear temperatures are accurate after 6 months of age, but not before.
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Armpit (axillary). This is the least reliable but may be used for a first pass to check a child of any age with signs of illness. The doctor may want to confirm with a rectal temperature.
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Mouth (oral). Don’t use a thermometer in your child’s mouth until they are at least 4 years old.
Use the rectal thermometer with care. Follow the product maker’s directions for correct use. Insert it gently. Label it and make sure it’s not used in the mouth. It may pass on germs from the stool. If you don’t feel okay using a rectal thermometer, ask the doctor what type to use instead. When you talk with any doctor about your child’s fever, tell them which type you used.
Below are guidelines to know if your young child has a fever. Your child’s doctor may give you different numbers for your child. Follow your doctor’s specific instructions.
Fever readings for a baby under 3 months old:
Fever readings for a child age 3 months to 36 months (3 years):
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Rectal, forehead, or ear: 102°F (38.9°C) or higher
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Armpit: 101°F (38.3°C) or higher
Contact the doctor in these cases:
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Repeated temperature of 104°F (40°C) or higher in a child of any age
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Fever of 100.4° F (38° C) or higher in baby younger than 3 months
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Fever that lasts more than 24 hours in a child under age 2
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Fever that lasts for 3 days in a child age 2 or older