We all expect a baby to cry.
But none of us expect our baby to cry for hours at a time—nonstop—for days and days on end.
The answer? Probably nothing. If your baby is otherwise healthy, he or she most likely has colic.
Here's the definition: Colic typically starts around 3 weeks and can last until a baby is a few months old.
In most cases, colic will be over by the time your baby is four months old. And in 90 percent of colic cases, the unending crying stops when your baby is about two and a half months old.
But as a parent, it's tough to let your child just cry. You've got to do something.
Even though there's no hard-and-fast reason for why colic happens, there are a lot of theories. Most people blame gas. But, "what I tell people is that, often, babies are not fussy because they're gassy; they're gassy because they're fussy," said Stallworth.
In other words, colicky babies who cry and cry also swallow air, which leads to gas in their tummies.
Still, helping your baby get rid of gas may make him or her more comfortable. You can try Mylicon® or the generic simethicone, available over the counter. "Bicycling" your child's legs and some gentle tummy rubs can help too.
Once breastfeeding is well established, offer your child a pacifier.
Take your child for a walk in the stroller or for a ride in the car (always making sure to use a proper car seat and that your child is strapped inappropriately).
Swaddle your baby, but always make sure you swaddle the legs with the hips bent up and out and knees up. "Don't swaddle your baby with the legs straight down since that could lead to hip dysplasia," said Stallworth, which is a condition where the soft cartilage of the hip socket is damaged, or even dislocated.
Try white noise, but keep the volume low and soothing.
What's not safe to try? Gripe water, herbal remedies or essential oils aren't regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, said Stallworth, which means you don't know what exactly the ingredients are. Some could even have the potential to be toxic, so pediatricians don't recommend them.
Probiotics and fiber supplements are new colic strategies that parents may have read about, but these aren't recommended either and could again be potentially harmful. Chiropracty is also not recommended for babies or toddlers.
Besides gas, parents often wonder if the food their child is eating—breastmilk or formula—may not be agreeing with them and causing colic.
Most of the time, a protein intolerance will have signs such as bloody stool or a bad rash, said Stallworth. Very rarely will crying be the only symptom.
But, it's possible. For babies who are formula fed, parents can try a hypoallergenic formula to see if that makes a difference.
During these few tough months, it's also important to take care of you, said Stallworth.
Colic can especially be hard on single moms or dads. Whatever your situation, arrange to get a break every once in a while from a friend, relative or babysitter. Take the time to relax, and clear your head.
It's a sobering thought, but you never want the stress to get so bad that you do something to your child. "Having support and taking a break is really crucial," said Stallworth.
What If It's Not Colic?
The Children's Hospital of Georgia has the largest team of general pediatricians, adolescent medicine physicians and pediatric specialists in the Augusta area. For more information, visit our website at augustahealth.org/kids or call 706-721-KIDS (5437).