How to Recognize Signs of Colic in a Crying Baby

Parents of newborns, especially first-time parents, can be overwhelmed by all of the responsibilities that come with caring for an infant. Add a fussy baby to the mix and even the simplest tasks can seem like a challenge. Experienced parents may be surprised and discouraged when time-tested methods for soothing their new baby fail to yield positive results.

No matter where you fall on the experience scale of parenthood, a colicky infant is a major challenge. But how can you tell the difference between simple fussiness and full-blown colic? While there is official medical consensus, most pediatricians apply the "rule of three" when it comes to diagnosing colic in infants. If your baby:

1. Cries inconsolably for 3 or more hours per day

2. Cries inconsolably on 3 or more days per week

3. Has a pattern of inconsolable crying that lasts 3 weeks or more

Then your baby will most likely be diagnosed with colic. However, as any parent with a newborn understands, three weeks is a long time to wait for a diagnosis, especially when the symptoms involve crying inconsolably for hours at a time.

Therefore, even before you get the official word from your baby's pediatrician, you may want to consider the following symptoms to be a strong indicator of colic:

1. Episodes of inconsolable crying - your baby cries and cannot be soothed with any of the usual methods (feeding, changing, holding, rocking, etc.)

2. Crying that occurs in a predictable pattern - your baby cries after mealtimes, or in the middle of the night on a regular basis, and for an extended duration

It's important to realize that all babies will cry sometimes, and that crying is not necessarily an indication of colic. If, for example, you notice crying that occurs after mealtimes, you may want to consider talking with your doctor about changing your baby's formula, or your diet, to minimize digestive troubles.

Some babies are more temperamental than others, and if your other children were "easy" babies, it may be tempting to label a "fussy" baby as a colicky infant, when that's not the case. Treat this time with your new baby as learning in progress - colic is not a reflection of your parenting skills, and definitely not a reflection of how much your baby cares for you.

Be observant, keep an open mind, and be ready to try new solutions that will help soothe your baby's colic in the long-term.