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


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 »

Medical Dictionary