Colic

Baby's First Year Milestones Slideshow

• Colic Overview
• Colic Causes
• Colic Symptoms
• When to Seek Medical Care
• Exams and Tests
• Colic Treatment
• Self-Care at Home
• Medical Treatment
• Next Steps
• Outlook
• Synonyms and Keywords
• Authors and Editors
• Related colic articles:
  Colic - on WebMD
  Colic - on MedicineNet

Colic Overview

Doctors have yet to discover the causes of infant colic, described as excessive crying in an otherwise healthy baby. A fussy, crying, colicky baby is inconsolable, and the crying is not due to hunger or pain.

Medical experts define colic as crying lasting more than 3 hours a day, 3 times a week. A baby may establish a daily pattern of crying, such as early morning or evening. For new parents, this situation can be extremely frustrating. The condition affects up to 20% of newborns.