[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/12\/does-my-baby-have-colic\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/12\/does-my-baby-have-colic\/","headline":"Does My Baby Have Colic?","name":"Does My Baby Have Colic?","description":"Your baby will not stop crying...is this normal? Crying is a common concern for parents, but if crying persists with no relief, your baby may have colic. Learn more about colic from our pediatrician!","datePublished":"2019-12-02","dateModified":"2021-04-15","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/campaigns\/southcentral-pa","name":"UPMC Harrisburg","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/campaigns\/southcentral-pa","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/upmc-harrisburg\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/does-my-baby-have-colic.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/does-my-baby-have-colic.jpg","height":325,"width":753},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/12\/does-my-baby-have-colic\/","about":["Family Health","Living and Wellness"],"wordCount":787,"keywords":["Pinnacle Health"],"articleBody":"Crying is a common concern for parents of infants. Newborns have just one highly effective way of getting someone\u2019s attention, and that is to cry. Whether it\u2019s due to hunger, being wet or soiled, being lonely, or being uncomfortable, you can count on your newborn to cry to let you know about it.A common concern comes in the form of: \u201cHow much crying is normal?\u201d or \u201cDoes my baby have colic?\u201dWe All Know Babies CryCrying is especially common during the first three months of life. While, over time, parents and close contacts can grow to distinguish what cries have what meaning, sometimes crying just does not stop.All parents have been there. They\u2019ve fed their baby, changed them, held them, but the crying persists. When is it too much?It is generally accepted that the average baby will cry for up to two to three hours a day. This sounds like a long time, and it feels even longer when you are at home with your brand-new bundle of joy who will not stop crying.This can cause worry in parents, and it can sometimes be difficult to determine if something is seriously wrong. At the end of this article is a list of topics on our website that are helpful in this regard.Colic as a Cause of CryingSometimes, when we have determined that the baby is fed, changed, and safe, crying may persist. This, when not caused by an illness or injury, can be termed \u201ccolic.\u201d \u00a0Colic, as many parents know, can be one of the most distressing problems in infancy for both parents and infants.From a medical standpoint, colic is defined as an infant crying for more than three hours a day on more than three days a week. This typically happens in the first three months of life and typically does not persist much later into infancy.Distinguishing colic from other causes can be tricky as it is not a well-understood phenomenon, despite it being well known. Generally, we think of colic as defined by the following:Crying that is different in quality from an infant\u2019s usual cry \u2013 usually higher in pitch \u2013 and may sound as if the infant is in pain or screamingCrying that is episodic \u2013 having a clear start and end, often coming out of the blue, and often occurring in the eveningPhysical characteristics of tenseness, a full\/distended belly, drawing up the legs, arching the back, and\/or clenching hands into fistsUniversally, colic is difficult to console, despite comforting measuresSo What Can We Do?Determining colic as the cause of crying is best done by a physician. Your doctor can gather information from you and examine your infant to make sure that there is not another cause for their crying. There is no diagnostic test to determine whether or not a child has colic and, unless there is a concern for some other serious cause of crying, labs and imaging are generally not needed.Once the diagnosis is reached, there are things parents can do to try and ease colic.It is universally accepted that episodes of colic should first be approached by ensuring that the infant is warm, clean, fed, and safe. If these are all true and the infant still cries, start with the 4 S\u2019s of soothing an infant:Swaddle \u2013 wrap your infant in a blanketShush \u2013 make calm hushing soundsSway\/Swing \u2013 Rock your swaddled infant gently side to sideSuck \u2013 provide a pacifier, bottle nipple, bottle, or breast for the infant to suck onIn combination, these efforts can potentially break an episode of colic.However, they may not, and the crying may persist. This can cause even the most patient parents to be distressed and overwrought. Should this be the case, and you have made sure that your child is safe, clean, warm, and not hungry, you can simply put them down in a their cradle or bassinet and take a break. Call a friend to help watch the baby while you take a breather or sit for a few minutes in a quiet place to cool off.It is said that it takes a village to raise a child, and it is ok to recruit help. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your primary care provider, who can help you through the stress of caring for an infant with colic. And please consult your primary care provider before starting over-the-counter colic remedies.More Information: Infant CryingCrying, Age 3 and YoungerHow to Calm a Crying BabyWays to Comfort a Crying BabyCrying: Tire or OverstimulatedWhen to Call Your Baby\u2019s Health Care Provider"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2019","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"12","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/\/12\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Does My Baby Have Colic?","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/12\/does-my-baby-have-colic\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]