If a baby cries for no apparent reason for 3.3 hours (or 200 minutes) per day, it is considered colic [1].
Colic has traditionally been explained by gastrointestinal problems, but the truth is that it is far more mysterious than that [2].
Is colic dangerous?
It's probably more stressful for the parents than for the baby. It's exhausting to go without sleep for days and feel helpless. And it can become a vicious cycle: the parents' anxiety affects the babies, causing them to cry even harder [2].
The best thing you can do during this time is to take care of yourself. If it is not possible to hire a nanny, at least alternate: one night, dad is awake with the baby (and mom sleeps in another room with earplugs); the next night, switch.
How do you know if it is colic or something more serious?
If a baby cries for more than three hours per day but continues to gain weight and grow, there is probably no reason to be concerned [3]. However, if you have any fears or doubts, you should consult your pediatrician.
Is there a way to avoid colic?
It’s the luck of the draw. Colic affects approximately one out of every five babies [2]. Babies cry the most between the ages of five and six weeks. Remember, it's just a phase. It should last until the baby reaches five months old [3].
Objectively, there is nothing you can do to undo or speed up this process. However, some parents find that taking action makes them feel better. You can, for example, exclude irritants from the mom’s menu, such as coffee, chocolate, and milk.
How do you calm a crying baby with colic?
This may also be an unsuccessful endeavor. However, the following tricks can occasionally be useful [4]:
Place your screaming baby's bare belly on your own bare belly to make skin-to-skin contact.
Use a white noise machine or turn on the vacuum cleaner or washing machine. Sometimes this hum has a calming effect on babies.
Place the baby in your lap, belly down, and stroke their back.
The main thing is to avoid swinging or shaking the baby. This is ineffective and may harm the baby. If you're losing patience or self-control, put the baby down or hand it over to your partner. Go for a walk away from the cries.
Photo: shutterstock
