What is colic?

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What is colic?

Babies cry for different reasons. Crying is one way babies try to tell us what they need. They may:

  • Be hungry.
  • Have a soiled diaper.
  • Want to be held.
  • Want more or less stimulation.

Although crying is normal for all babies, those with colic cry a great deal, are more difficult to console, have interrupted sleep and can cause parents a lot of anxiety.

If a crying baby cannot be comforted, the cause may be colic. Colic is a word used to describe healthy babies who cry a lot and are hard to comfort. No one knows for sure what causes colic. Colic usually has the following features:

  • Timing: It usually begins at approximately 2 weeks of age and goes away by 4 months of age. Within the day, crying is concentrated in the late afternoon and evening hours.
  • Behavior: Bouts of crying are prolonged and can’t be soothed, even by feeding. The infant usually has the following:
    • Clenched fists.
    • Legs bent over its abdomen.
    • Arching back.
    • A hard, swollen abdomen.
    • Passing of gas.
    • Active grimacing or "painful" look on the face.

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