Causes

• Common causes of new-onset crying. Hunger, sleepy, pain, too cold, too hot, clothing too tight.
• Main cause of recurrent crying. Normal fussy crying. When this occurs over 3 hours per day, it’s called colic.
• Caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant that can cause increased crying and trouble falling asleep. Breastfeeding mothers need to limit their caffeine intake.
• Gas does not cause crying. All crying babies pass lots of gas. Their stomachs also make lots of gassy noises. The gas comes from swallowed air. The gas is normal. It does not become trapped nor cause any pains.
• Feeding too much. Some babies cry because of a bloated stomach from overfeeding. Unlike gas, too much milk can cause discomfort that lasts a short time.

Definition of Colic

• A lot of crying once or twice per day
• Usually consolable when held and comforted
• Acts normal (happy, contented) between bouts of crying
• The baby is getting enough to eat and is not hungry
• The baby is not sick
• Onset most often before 2 weeks of age
• Usually goes away by 3 months of age (sometimes up to 4 months)

1. What You Should Know:
   • Normal Crying:All babies cry when they are hungry. Also, the normal baby has 1 to 2 hours of crying scattered throughout the day. As long as they are happy and content when they are not crying, this is normal.
   • Colic: Some babies are very hard to comfort. Some babies also cry a lot (over 3 hours per day). If growing normally and have a normal medical exam, the crying is called colic. Remind yourself that colic is due to your baby's temperament. It has nothing to do with your parenting or any medical disease.
   • Here is some care advice that should help both types of crying.
2. Feedings:
   • For formula-fed babies, feed if more than 2 hours since the last feeding. For breast-fed babies, feed if more than 1½ hours since the last feeding.
   • Be careful not to feed your baby every time she cries.
   • Caffeine. If breastfeeding, decrease your caffeine intake. Limit your coffee, tea and energy drinks to 2 servings per day. That's 2 cups or 16 ounces (480 ml).
     
3. Hold and Comfort:
   • Hold and try to calm your baby whenever he cries without a reason. Hold your baby flat to help them relax and go to sleep.
   • Rock your child in a rocking chair, in a cradle or while standing. Many babies calm best with rapid tiny movements like vibrations.
   • Place in a windup swing or vibrating chair.
   • Take for a stroller ride, outdoors or indoors.
   • Do anything else you think may be comforting. Examples are using a pacifier, massage, or warm bath.
   • Caution: Use baby slings carefully before 4 months of age. They have caused suffocation in some babies. (AAP 2010)
4. Swaddle your Baby in a Blanket:
   • Swaddling is the most helpful technique for calming crying babies. It also keeps your baby from waking up with a startle reflex.
   • Use a big square blanket and the "burrito-wrap" technique:
   • Step 1: Have the arms straight at the sides.
   • Step 2: Pull the left side of the blanket over the upper body and tuck.
   • Step 3: Fold the bottom up with the knees a little flexed.
   • Step 4: Pull the right side over the upper body and tuck.
   • Don't cover your baby's head or overheat your baby.
   • Read the book (or view the DVD),"The Happiest Baby on the Block". Both products are authored by Dr. Harvey Karp. It is the best resource on how to calm fussy babies.
5. White Noise:
   • Swaddling works even better when paired with a white noise on a loud volume. Examples are a CD, vacuum cleaner, fan or other constant sound.
   • Keep the white noise on any time your baby is crying.
   • When your baby is awake and not crying, keep your baby unwrapped. Turn off the white noise. Reason: So she can get used to the normal sounds of your home. (For details, view Dr. Karp's DVD.)
6. Cry to Sleep:
   • If you've tried comforting and your baby isn't hungry, put him in the crib. Let your baby cry himself to sleep.
   • For some overtired babies, this is the only answer.
   • Swaddle your baby snugly. Place him on his back in his crib. Turn on some white noise and leave the room.
   • If 3 hours have passed since napping, you know your baby needs to sleep.
7. Encourage Nighttime Sleep (Rather Than Daytime Sleep):
   • Try to keep your child from sleeping too much during the daytime.
   • If your baby has napped 2 hours or longer, gently wake him up. Play with or feed your baby, depending on his needs. This will lessen the amount of time your baby is awake at night.
8. Warning:
   • Never shake a baby. It can cause bleeding on the brain and severe brain damage.
   • Never leave your baby with someone who is immature or has a bad temper.
   • If you are frustrated, put your baby down in a safe place.
   • Call or ask someone to help you.
9. What to Expect:
   • The right technique should start to reduce the crying. You may have to try several things before finding the best method.
   • The crying should start to decrease to about 1 hour per day.
   • Colic gets better after 2 months of age. Most often, it is gone by 3 months.
10. Call Your Doctor If:
    • Your baby starts to look or act abnormal
    • Cries nonstop for more than 2 hours
    • Your child can't be consoled using this advice
    • Your child becomes worse