Doctors usually diagnose infant colic based on the "rules of three." Your baby's crying: Totals at least three hours a day. Occurs at least three days a week. Persists for at least three weeks in a row.
The most commonly accepted definition of colic, which originated in 1954,4 describes using the “rule of three”: crying for more than three hours per day, for more than three days per week, and for more than three weeks in an infant that is well-fed and otherwise healthy.
The fussy periods became known as The Three Cs – Clinginess, Crankiness and Crying, and a key part of understanding the Wonder Weeks. Preceding each Leap, and lasting from only a day or two, to as long as several weeks, these fussy periods reflect the changes occurring within your baby's brain.
Take a stress break. Ask a friend or relative to watch the baby while you walk, bathe, and calm yourself so you can better handle crying. A colic support group can help you cope until your baby outgrows crying. (And they all do!)
Parenting a young child can be tough. The 3-3-3 rule is a mindfulness technique that's simple enough for young children and it asks them to name three things they can see, identify three sounds they can hear, and move three different parts of their bodies.
If your child wakes up in the middle of the night, repeat this process to help them go back to sleep. On the second day, allow your baby to cry for five minutes initially, then 10 minutes, and then 12 minutes. On the third day, begin at 10 minutes, then 12 minutes, and then 15 minutes.
A last resort: Let your baby cry herself to sleep.
She needs you to minimize outside stimuli while she tries to find her own way into sleep. Wrap her up and place her stomach down in her crib.
Colic usually starts when babies are about 3 weeks old. It gets worse when they are between 4 and 6 weeks old. Most of the time, colicky babies get better after they are 6 weeks old, and are completely fine by the time they are 12 weeks old.
A healthy baby may have colic if he or she cries or is fussy for several hours a day, for no obvious reason. Colicky babies often cry from 6 p.m. to midnight. Colicky crying is louder, more high-pitched, and more urgent sounding than regular crying. Colicky babies can be very hard to calm down.
Parents around the world have invented all kinds of variations on the calming womb-like sensations that I've dubbed the 5 S's: Swaddle, Side-Stomach Position, Shush, Swing, and Suck.
One reason colicky babies can fuss more at night, he explains, is that serotonin levels peak in the evening. This imbalance, the theory goes, naturally resolves when babies start making melatonin, which relaxes intestinal muscles.
Symptoms of colic in babies
The crying spells can occur around the clock, although they often become worse in the early evening.
The peak onset of colic occurs at age 6–8 weeks and it usually resolves by age 10–12 weeks. A comprehensive history and examination should be performed to rule out red flags such as abdominal distension, fever, poor feeding and lethargy.
It typically occurs daily between 5:00 pm and 11:00 pm. It can last a few minutes to a couple of hours. For most babies, the witching hour starts to occur around 2-3 weeks and peaks at 6 weeks.
Colic can stop gradually or suddenly, or flare up and down until it eventually disappears. Symptoms will usually pass within a few weeks (or months, in some cases)!
Infacol works by helping the small trapped gas bubbles join into bigger bubbles, which your baby can easily bring up as wind – helping to relieve their pain and discomfort. Clinically proven Infacol is the UK's No. 1 selling treatment for wind, infant colic and griping pain.
What Causes Colic? Doctors aren't sure what causes colic. It may be due to digestion problems or a sensitivity to something in the baby's formula or that a nursing mom is eating. Or it might be from a baby trying to get used to the sights and sounds of being out in the world.
Change your baby's position: Sit them up if they have been lying down, or hold them face-out if they have been facing your chest. Hold your baby near low, rhythmic noises, like the sound of the washing machine or a recording of a heartbeat. The steady hum of a fan or a white noise machine can also be soothing.
Colic is not caused by pain or illness. If you think your baby is crying because he or she is hurt or sick, call your doctor. Colic is not your fault or your baby's fault. It doesn't mean that you are a bad parent or that anything is wrong with your baby.
When fed too much, a baby may also swallow air. This can produce gas, increase discomfort in the belly, and lead to crying. An overfed baby also may spit up more than usual and have loose stools. Although crying from discomfort is not colic, it can make crying more frequent and more intense in an already colicky baby.
How Much Is The Baby Bonus? If your child was born or adopted before 1 July 2013, the baby bonus is $5,000. If your child was born or adopted on or after 1 July 2013, or you became eligible for the baby bonus during this timeframe, the payment is either $5,000 or $3,000 depending on your situation.
Have you heard of the Four Day Rule? It is a simple way to test if Baby has an allergic reaction or digestive issue from a certain food. You simply introduce one food at a time every four days. For example, if you introduce bananas on Monday, then wait until Friday to introduce the next food.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends giving your baby “one new food at a time, and wait at least 2 to 3 days before starting another. After each new food, watch for any allergic reactions such as diarrhea, rash, or vomiting” (3).