Colic is the medical term used to define excessive and frequent crying in an otherwise healthy infant that lasts for more than three hours a day for more than three days a week for at least a period of three weeks.
Colic is a common condition, affecting about one in five babies. Despite this, the underlying cause of colic is still unclear.
If your baby is suffering from colic while they may appear to be in distress the condition itself is not harmful. Your baby will continue to feed and gain weight normally and there is no evidence to suggest that colic has any long-term effects on a baby’s health.
Your baby may be diagnosed with colic if:
- He has frequent bouts of intense and persistent crying
- He pulls his legs up to his stomach and arches his back while crying
- Most crying bouts take place in the evening or late afternoon.
Colic usually appears a few weeks after birth and carries on until the baby is around three or four months.
