What exactly is colic?

About 20 per cent of all babies develop colic, a catch-all phrase for uncontrollable crying in an otherwise healthy baby. A baby with colic cries or fusses for more than three hours a day, for more than three days in one week. It occurs with equal frequency among first- and later-born children, and in boys and girls.

It's hard to know who finds colic harder, a parent or a baby. A colicky baby is obviously in distress, uncomfortable, and can't soothe himself. But a parent can be just as upset - listening to a baby's cry for hours on end is enough to drive you to tears of your own. 

How can I tell if my baby has colic?

Why do some babies get colic?

Scientists have been trying to answer that question for more than 50 years. It's often blamed on the baby's immature digestive system. In fact, the word colic comes from a Greek word, kolikos, which roughly translates as "colon." There is also some science to back this up. For instance, a newborn's digestive tract contains very few enzymes or digestive juices, which break down food substances. Or, according to some, a child's still-developing nervous system simply tenses up. Others subscribe to the theory that the baby is tired or overstimulated, and that colic is his way of blocking everything out so he can sleep. Babies who are exposed to smoke are also more likely to develop colic.

Is colic serious?

Not really -- apart from the household tension it creates. However, it is wise to seek assurance from your doctor or health visitor that the root of your child's prolonged crying isn't a hernia or other medical problem. 

I've heard colic is caused by the mother's diet. Is this true?

Both formula and breast milk can be linked to a baby's colic.

Occasionally breastfed babies become colicky because of something in their mother's diet. Some mums find that if they stop drinking cow's milk and other dairy products, the situation improves. If you're breastfeeding, try cutting out dairy products for a few days to see if that makes a difference. If your baby's colic improves, you have your culprit. If not, don't give up hope -- and at least you won't need to deprive yourself of butter and milk.

Some breastfed babies seem to be bothered if mum indulges in a lot of spicy food, wheat products, or cruciferous vegetables. Again, to test if these foods are making your baby uncomfortable, avoid eating cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, garlic, caffeine, alcohol, and other irritants for a few days. If your baby seems better, reintroduce the foods into your diet, one at a time, allowing a few days between reintroductions. It should be fairly easy to pinpoint which one is causing your baby problems: if he starts fussing again after a food is reintroduced, then you'll know that's the offending substance. You'll have to abstain from it until your baby outgrows his sensitivity, which usually at around 3 months, but that's a small price to pay for a happy child.

If your baby is bottle-fed, you might try switching formulas to see if that's the irritant. And whether you're feeding your baby formula or breast milk, make sure that you're burping him during and after feedings - it helps relieve the pressure that builds up when he swallows air.

Will all that crying hurt my child?