Colic (Crying Baby < 3 Months Old)

Description / Symptoms

A child < 90 days of age has the sudden onset of unexplained crying. The younger the child, the harder it is to identify the cause of the crying.

Cause

Normal fussy crying that is more frequent / excessive than in other babies. Common causes of new crying: hunger, sleepy, pain, too cold, too hot, clothing too tight.

See More Appropriate Topic (instead of this one)

If age > 3 months old (Not colic), see Crying Child > 3 months old
If any symptoms of an illness, see Fever

Call Your Doctor Now If:

Your child looks or acts very sick
Age < 1 month old and looks or acts sick in any way
Age < 3 months with fever > 100.4°F (38°C) rectally
Low temperature < 96.8°F (36.0°C) rectally
Injury suspected
Vomiting
You are afraid you might hurt your baby or have shaken your baby
Your baby cannot be comforted after trying for > 2 hours

Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours If:

You think your child needs to be seen
Not gaining weight or seems hungry
You are exhausted from all the crying

Call Your Doctor During Weekday Hours If:

You have other questions or concerns
Your baby has never been examined for the colic
Crying began after 1 month of age
Crying occurs 3 or more times per day

Home Care (Read "Call Your Doctor…" first):

Reassurance

Colic is the normal fussy crying seen in healthy babies. It occurs once or twice a day and should respond to comforting. With colic, babies act happy between bouts of crying.

All babies cry when they are hungry. In addition, the average baby has 1 to 2 hours of unexplained crying scattered throughout the day. As long as they are happy and content when they are not crying, this is normal.

Some babies cry excessively (> 2 hours/day) or are very difficult to comfort. If they are growing normally and have a normal medical exam, the crying is called colic.

Remind yourself that colic is part of your baby's "personality" (temperament) and has nothing to do with your parenting or any disease.

Hold and Comfort

Hold and soothe your baby whenever he cries without a reason.

The horizontal position is best for helping a baby relax, settle down, and go to sleep:

Provide a gentle rocking motion in a cradle or rocking chair
Dance with your baby to some slow music
Place in a front pack or sling (which frees the hands of the caregiver)
Place in a wind-up swing or a vibrating chair
Take for a stroller (or buggy) ride — outdoors or indoors

Warm Bath

If crying continues, take a warm bath with your baby.

Feedings

Feed your baby, if more than 2 hours since the last feeding (1½ hours for breast fed).

Cry to Sleep

Put your baby down to sleep, if more than 3 hours have passed since the last nap and you have tried quiet holding for more than 30 minutes.

Some overtired infants need to cry themselves to sleep.

Expected Course

Once you find the right technique, the crying should decrease to 1 hour per day. Colic improves after 2 months of age and is gone by 3 months.

Warning

Never shake a baby. It can cause bleeding on the brain and severe brain damage. Also, never leave your baby with anyone who is immature or has a bad temper.

Call Your Doctor If:

Cries constantly for > 2 hours, using this advice
Cannot be comforted, using this advice
Your child becomes worse or develops any of the "Call Your Doctor…" symptoms

Seattle Children's provides health care for the special needs of children regardless of race, sex, creed, ethnicity or disability. Financial assistance for medically necessary services is based on family income and hospital resources and is provided to children under age 21 whose primary residence is Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho.