In plain words
Colic is a term for crying that is long, intense, and hard to soothe in a baby who is otherwise healthy and growing. It usually starts in the first few weeks, often peaks around six weeks, and eases by three to four months. Many families describe a pattern of crying in the late afternoon or evening, sometimes called the . The cause is not known, and no single test finds it. A mother may feel worn out, worried, or guilty while it lasts. Colic is a description of the crying, so your provider will also check for other causes if the crying changes or comes with other signs. Support and breaks help many families get through it.
The deeper version
Infant colic is defined by the Wessel rule of crying more than three hours per day, on more than three days per week, for more than three weeks, in an otherwise well infant. Crying peaks around six weeks and typically resolves by three to four months (Barr 2014). Proposed mechanisms include altered gut microbiota with reduced diversity and increased Proteobacteria (de Weerth and colleagues, Pediatrics 2013), low-grade intestinal inflammation, altered motility, and carbohydrate or protein intolerance, including in a subset. Trials of , dietary changes, and parental interventions have shown mixed or small effects. Differentiating colic from other causes of crying, such as , infection, or , is a standard clinical task.
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What mothers here say about colic
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Sources
- Wessel MA et al. — Paroxysmal fussing in infancy, sometimes called colic. Pediatrics 1954
- American Academy of Pediatrics — Clinical report on evaluation and management of infant crying, 2016