When you have a newborn, an occasional crying spell is par for the course. Since crying is a baby’s sole method of communication, it can mean any number of things. But what about when you’ve fed, diapered, burped, and done everything else you can think of – and your baby is still bawling inconsolably? It’s frustrating when you can’t figure out what’s wrong. If you’ve spent more than your share of sleepless nights, your eardrums echoing with screams, you probably have a colicky baby on your hands.

First, a bit of consolation …

Since you’re reading this article, chances are it applies to you. And if it applies to you, chances are you’re at the end of your rope. You’re probably tired of pacing the floor when you should be snoozing, and of trying – to no avail – to comfort your baby. You may be experiencing a whole range of emotions from guilty to angry to resentful to sad. If you’re one of the parents crying right along with your baby, take heart: colic isn’t permanent. It peaks during the sixth week or so, and fizzles out between three and five months of age. Even though it may seem never-ending, there is an end in sight. It will get better … so just grit your teeth and make that your mantra for the weeks ahead.

What is colic, and what causes it?

Colic is defined as excessive, uncontrollable crying (more than three hours per day for at least three days a week). It isn’t a disease, but rather a pattern of behavior. It affects approximately twenty percent of babies, and doesn’t discriminate: boys and girls, breast- and bottle-fed babies, and babies from any birth order are equally afflicted. It normally begins at two to four weeks of age. If your baby was premature, look for colic to begin anywhere from six to eight weeks after your original due date.

Unfortunately, there is no definite cause for colic, although there are many different theories. It has long been believed that colic is the result of gastrointestinal pain; colicky babies tend to scrunch up their legs, squirm around, and pass gas, suggesting to the observer some sort of digestive problem. This can be a contributor, and definitely a reason to cry, but there simply isn’t sufficient evidence to prove that it’s a cause. Your baby’s temperament and immature nervous system can also be contributors to colic. Simply put, the baby may be very sensitive to environmental changes and will respond to such changes by crying; then, once the crying starts, his nervous system – still developing – is unable to regulate it.