If your baby cries excessively, but otherwise healthy and feeding well, it is quite possible that he has colic.
Your baby may be diagnosed with colic if:
- He has frequent bouts of inconsolable crying
- He pulls his legs up to his tummy and arches his back when crying
- His bouts of crying occur most often in the late afternoon or evening
Why does my baby cry so much?
The truth is, all babies cry. Some babies cry a little while other babies seem to cry a lot. At the peak of their crying, colicky babies cry inconsolably more often and for longer than other babies. However, as the weeks go on, their crying is the same as other babies. There is no known reason as to why some babies cry so much more than others. Colic is just as common in breasted babies as it is in babies who are formula fed. It also affects girls and boys equally. You should rest assured however, that your baby is not in pan and he isn’t crying because of anything you’re doing or not doing.
Your baby could be crying persistently because:
- His gut is still maturing, so indigestion and wind are temporarily causing a problem
- His nervous system and brain are still maturing and he has to learn how to stop crying once he has started
- He simply needs a cuddle. Babies that have less physical contact from birth (less than at least 10 hours a day whether awake, feeding or sleeping) tend to cry and fuss more.
Find out more about how to soothe a baby with colic
