July 6, 2009

Font Size
A
A
A


Colic

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.



Next: Colic Causes »

Printer-Friendly Format  |  Email to a Friend

Parenting and Pregnancy

Get tips for baby and you.

Are You Depressed? Take the Quiz

Overscheduled Families Overscheduled Families
Do you run your kids from one activity to another, day after day? If so, you should take a minute to watch.See more WebMD Videos »


Read What Your Physician is Reading on eMedicine

Colic »

Colic is commonly described as a behavioral syndrome characterized by excessive, paroxysmal crying. Colic is most likely to occur in the evenings, and it occurs without any identifiable cause.

Read More on eMedicine »

Adult Skin Problems Slideshow

Search Medical Dictionary