One of the most frustrating things for parents of healthy newborns is the phenomenon of colic. Approximately a quarter of all babies have colic, but medical experts do not really understand it or know how best to treat it.

What is colic?

Colic is used to describe a condition observed in some babies between two and twelve weeks old. The condition is characterized by uncontrollable crying, for which no cause can be identified. Doctors usually diagnose colic if the baby cries for at least an hour, several times a week. While colic is most likely a result of either an immature digestive system or an undeveloped nervous system, medical experts can not definitively ascribe the symptoms to either of these causes.

So, what should we do about colic in our baby?

There are some things you can do to soothe your baby and your own nerves if your baby has colic. However, the most important thing to remember is that babies do not stay colicky and they eventually get better, whatever you do. In the meantime, these coping strategies may help you and baby get through this difficult time.

Move, move, move

Babies often like motion, and colicky babies may like it more than most. Experiment to see which types of motion best soothe your baby, but some of the time-honored methods include taking baby for a drive in the car, going for a walk in the stroller, using a swing, bouncy seat or even a crib vibrator. Of course, you can pace and bounce baby yourself, but you will eventually catch yourself falling asleep mid-stride.

Try soothing sounds

Some babies respond positively to soothing music. Others are calmed by white noise. Whether you use a soft music recording or just place a fan or tabletop fountain in baby's room, this is easy enough to try and may buy you hours of relief.