Strategies for Coping with Colic

Coping with colic is one of the first great challenges for new parents. When a baby cries constantly, day and night, it's jarring on the nerves and on your emotions. Keeping your sanity and your optimism during this time can be a challenge.

What's Causing that Crying?
Doctors don't know the exact cause of colic. Theories range from difficulty digesting food to environmental allergies to pain associated with spinal cord growth. Colic is defined as three or more periods of extended crying that happen at least three times a day for at least three weeks. Most babies outgrow colic by the age of three months, though it can persist until the age of nine months.

If your baby keeps crying and there's nothing you can do to stop it, make an appointment with your doctor to be sure there are no medical reasons, such as an injury or developmental problem. It's a good idea to keep a diary of the times when your baby cries and how long the crying lasts. Try to record what you and the baby were doing just before the crying began. This information will help your doctor find possible causes of the crying.

What to Do
If the diagnosis is colic, the main thing you'll need is patience while you wait for it to pass and perspective on what you can and cannot do.

• Check your diet. If there's a history of food allergies in your family, talk to your doctor about dietary changes. Avoiding certain foods may help to control colic. This can be a challenge for breastfeeding mothers, because of their nutritional needs. Don't eliminate any healthy foods unless you've got a plan to replace the nutrients you need.
• Hold your baby. Babies love to be held. It's comforting for them. If you know when a bout of crying will begin, try heading it off by picking up your baby and holding him for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Let your baby cry it out. If you know the crying is caused by colic, you can try to ignore it until the spell passes.
• Keep your emotions in check. Don't worry about your baby's development if she's been cleared by a doctor. Colic occurs in one out of every four babies, and there's no evidence that it leads to developmental or emotional problems down the road. Don't feel guilty about being unable to help, either. Offer your baby your comfort and love and know that this period will pass.
• Take a break. If the crying gets to be too much for you, have your spouse or a relative watch the baby for a few hours and get out of the house. Go see a movie or visit sympathetic friends.

What Not to Do
Never try to stop a baby's crying by hitting, shaking or covering the baby's mouth. You can cause permanent injuries or death by handling your baby roughly. If the crying is more than you can handle, or if sleepless nights are wearing you down, tell your doctor immediately. Violence against babies often occurs when parents or caregivers get frustrated by constant crying. If you're feeling anything other than love for your baby while she's crying, have someone else tend to her.