Colic and crying - self-care

Colic normally begins at about the same time every day. Babies with colic are usually fussier in the evenings.

Colic symptoms often begin suddenly. Your baby's hands may be in a fist. The legs may curl up and the belly may seem swollen. Crying may last for minutes to hours. Crying often calms down when your baby is tired or when gas or stool is passed.

Even though colicky babies look like they have belly pain, they eat well and gain weight normally.

Causes of colic may include any of the following:

People around your baby may also seem worried, anxious, or depressed.

Often the exact cause of colic is unknown.

Your baby's health care provider can often diagnose colic by asking you about the baby's medical history, symptoms, and how long the crying lasts. Your baby's provider will perform a physical exam and may do some tests to check your baby.

Your baby's provider needs to make sure your baby does not have other medical problems, such as reflux, a hernia, or intussusception.

Foods that are passed through your breast milk to your baby may trigger colic. If your baby is colicky and you are breastfeeding, avoid eating or drinking the following foods for a few weeks to see if that helps.

Some breastfeeding moms avoid eating broccoli, cabbage, beans, and other gas-producing foods. But research has not shown that these foods can have a negative effect on your baby.

Other possible triggers include:

Talk to a lactation consultant to learn more about the possible causes related to breastfeeding.

What comforts one baby may not calm another. And what calms your baby during one episode may not work for the next. But try different techniques and revisit what seems to help, even if it only helps a little.

If you breastfeed:

Sometimes it can be really hard to stop your baby from crying. Here are techniques you may want to try:

Your baby will most likely outgrow colic by 3 to 4 months of age. There are usually no complications from colic.

Parents can get really stressed when a baby cries a lot. Know when you have reached your limit and ask family members or friends to help. If you feel like you may shake or hurt your baby, get help right away.

Call your baby's provider if your baby is:

You need to make sure that your baby does not have any serious medical problems.

Call your baby's provider right away if:

Get help right away for yourself if you feel overwhelmed or have thoughts of harming your baby.

Maheshwari A, Gupta SK. Colic and gastrointestinal gas. In: Wylie R, Hyams JS, Kay M, eds. Pediatric Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 10.

Onigbanjo MT, Feigelman S. The first year. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 22.



Review Date: 7/1/2023
Reviewed By: Charles I. Schwartz, MD, FAAP, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, General Pediatrician at PennCare for Kids, Phoenixville, PA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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