A crying baby makes strong demands on parents. It's not uncommon for the parents of a crying baby to experience such feelings as uncertainty, frustration, helplessness, guilt, depression, exhaustion, resentment, and anger.

What is colic?
Colic is excessive crying and fussing that lasts for more than 3 hours a day. Both breastfed and formula-fed infants can have colic.

As many as 30% of otherwise healthy infants experience colic. It usually develops between the second and fourth weeks of life.

How do I know if my baby has colic?
Your baby might have colic if he or she is otherwise healthy and

• Cries a total of more than 3 hours a day more than 3 days in any 1 week.
  
  
• Sometimes screams and seems inconsolable. The worst periods are typically in the late afternoon and early evening.
  
  
• Extends or pulls up his or her legs, and passes gas. The stomach may seem enlarged from the gas.

What causes colic?
No one knows for sure what causes colic. However, colicky babies seem to have contractions of the intestine that are painful.

Some believe that colic is related to diet. Sensitivity to cow's milk protein has been suggested as a possible cause of colic, as has lactose intolerance. A breastfed baby may be colicky owing to sensitivity to a food in the mother's diet.

Others have suggested that babies may become irritable and fussy because they consume too much air while feeding. It has also been suggested that colic occurs simply because a baby is unusually sensitive to stimulation.

Can colic be serious?
In some cases, colic may be a symptom of a medical problem, such as a hernia. If you believe that your baby has colic, you should check with your health care professional to make sure that an illness is not causing the problem.

How long does colic last?
Colic generally begins during the first month of life and often spontaneously ends by the time a baby is 3 or 4 months old.

How is colic treated?
Colic may be caused by a variety of things and, thus, no single treatment is likely to be effective for all infants.

If lactose intolerance or food allergies are suspected as a possible cause, a change in diet may help.

Breastfeeding mothers can try eliminating dairy products and "gassy" foods such as cabbage, onions, and garlic. Consult your health care professional for advice about handling possible food sensitivities.

If you are bottle feeding, consult your health care professional to determine whether a change to a milk-free or a lactose-free formula might help your colicky baby. See pages in Choosing a Formula for more information about milk-free and lactose-free formulas.

If colic is simply a developmental phase, the only "treatment" that may help resolve it is time.

What can I do to cope with colic?
You may want to try

• Keeping your baby close to you in a body carrier. Motion and body contact may be soothing.
  
  
• Creating rhythmic motion and sound with a vacuum, clothes dryer, or other appliance.
  
  
• Giving your baby a pacifier, which may be comforting.
  
  
• Laying your baby on his or her stomach across your knees and rubbing baby's back.
  
  
• Swaddling your baby in a blanket to make him or her feel snug and secure.
  
  
• Finding someone else to care for the baby to give you a break from the stress of caring for a fussy baby. Even an hour of relief can help rejuvenate you and make you better able to cope with the situation.