Baby colic: Encyclopedia - Baby colic

Baby colic

Baby colic is a medical condition in which an otherwise healthy baby cries incessantly without any apparent reason (such as hunger or loneliness).

A common rule of thumb is to consider a baby "colicky" if it cries intensely more than three days a week, for more than three hours, for more than three weeks in a month.

Baby colic - Causes

There is not yet any generally acceptable explanation for colic. Some doctors claim that it is a combination of a baby's sensitive temperament, the environment and his immature nervous system, which make him cry easily and then not being able to control it, while others believe that it originates in problems in the baby's digestive system, specifically because of the build up of gas which can not be released. New studies at the Colic Clinic at Brown University demonstrate that nearly half of babies with colic have mild gastroesophageal reflux. It is also possible that some cases may be the result of lactose intolerance.[1]

Baby colic - Treatment

After having ruled out other possibilities, doctors diagnose the condition as colic. Not much can be done, except for taking temporary measures to calming the baby (giving him a pacifier, taking him to a quiet environment, rocking him, and so forth).

While medications can be given for colic, generally this is discouraged without specific advice from a doctor. In such cases simethicone is often prescribed.

Colic generally stops about three months after birth.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Baby colic", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki