Doctors are not sure what causes it but they say it does not harm the baby. It does send parents with frayed nerves on a desperate search for colic remedies. What is colic? As any parent who has had a baby with colic will tell you, it's a condition that causes a baby to cry for long periods of time, sometimes hours a day for days on end. Tales of dealing with baby colic are always a big part of any parent's "war stories."

Every baby cries of course, but those who are healthy and cry continuously for no apparent reason (they're not hungry or wet) may have colic. It affects one in five babies, whether male or female, first-born or not. Colic normally appears early in a baby's life, at the two to four-week stage and can continue for three months or more. Many parents are amazed that it suddenly stops at the three-month mark.

Cause Not Known

Doctors are not sure what causes colic but they do have some theories. For years medical science thought the condition was related to the baby's digestive system, but there has been no evidence produced to show that to be the case. While a baby experiencing gas may cry, tests have not shown colic to be due to gastrointestinal p roblems.

Perhaps a more plausible theory is that a baby's temperament and its immature nervous system play a role. Different temperaments may cause babies to react differently to the environment, with some babies reacting to normal stimulation or changes in the daily routine by crying. Then, once the crying starts, the baby can't stop, due to its immature nervous system.

Continuous Crying Over Long Periods

Instead of talking about colic symptoms, it's more accurate to discuss one symptom - continuous crying over long periods. Although it can occur at any time of day, it is usually worse in the evening. Doctors do not believe infant colic is caused by pain, even though a baby with colic may appear to be in pain.

Babies with colic may lift their head, bring their legs up to their tummy, get red in the face and pass wind. Some babies will not eat when they have colic. Baby also won't sleep because he's crying too much. This means long nights for everyone!

Normally colic is not co nsidered to be serious. Babies with colic continue to gain weight and to eat. The main adverse effect of colic is the stress it creates for other family members.

A colic baby does not require medical treatment. However, you may wish to seek medical advice and to have the baby examined to make sure there is nothing else going on. Before visiting your doctor make sure all other possible causes of crying are eliminated, such as hunger, tiredness, lack of cuddling, startling due to a sudden noise, being undressed (some babies don't like the feeling of air on their skin), being too hot or too cold, and being in pain from another cause, such as a diaper rash.

Continue to: What you should do for Finding Better Colic Remedy

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Won't the Crying Ever Stop? Living with Baby Colic

Cause Not Known

Continuous Crying Over Long Periods

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