He’s always crying!
Be patient! In the first three months of life, babies cry more than in any other period of life [1]. The reasons for this constant crying remain unknown.
For a long time, infant’s suffering was understood to be caused by intestinal colic. For a cure, drops to reduce gas or abdominal massage were suggested. In 1999, the Rome Foundation, a nonprofit research organization dedicated to understanding gut health, included infant colic in their a classification system for gastrointestinal disorders called the “Roman Criteria” [2].
In more recent years, the ideas about colic have been revised many times. Now there are doubts intestinal disorders cause colic. In American literature, colic is often described as "unexplained baby crying" [1]. Some researchers believe colic is triggered by migraines or even fear [3]. In any case, it’s clear that neither gas drops nor an abdominal massage will cure the crying.
New parents just need to understand that this is a phase. It will not last forever. It’s just a period of life that you need to go through and endure with your son.
What to pay attention to
In 2017, changes were made to the "Roman Criteria" concerning infant colic [2]. Colic is now defined as occurring in babies who are under five months old and:
- experience periods of crying and irritability that are not soothed by conventional methods, like nursing and rocking.
- cry for more than three hours a day
- gaining height and weight, and shows no sign of failure to thrive
Nothing to worry about
Spit up. This is the norm for infants from three weeks to 12 months [2]. Just hold baby upright for a few minutes after feeding, so that he does not inhale what he has regurgitated.
