Colic is a condition that occurs among infants fairly frequently. About one out of five babies can develop colic, although the severity of each case can vary.

The main way to tell if a child has colic is by the frequency and duration of his or her crying. Babies with colic are healthy, well-fed infants with no reason to cry; yet they cry loudly and seem to be in pain because they clench their fists, arch their backs, and flex their abdominal muscles. One way to tell if an infant has colic as opposed to just being fussy is by the rule of threes – A child that cries for three or more hours a day on three or more days per week for at least three consecutive weeks probably has colic.

If you suspect that your little one may have colic, it is important to discuss this with your medical professional to get a definitive diagnosis and ensure that it is not a more serious condition.

Colic – normal and usually temporary

It is important for parents of infants to remember that colic is a normal and temporary condition. Colic does not reflect any health problems or illnesses in an infant, and although the crying fits are painful to watch, the infant will not suffer in either development or growth.

Additionally, colic is temporary. Children generally outgrow colic around three months of age, although some continue to exhibit symptoms until six months. As the cause of colic is not fully understood, it is hard to explain why the condition passes on its own, but fortunately for parents who are raising a colicky infant, it does!

Despite the incredible progress in medicine and science over the past hundred years or more, the causes of colic remain something of a mystery. It is not a new condition, but there has yet to be a definite answer as to what causes colic and why one child develops the condition while others do not.

Estimates vary on the actual number of infants who are affected by colic, but generally range between 15 and 25% of all babies. Experts disagree on the single cause of this condition, but common explanations for colic include the following areas.

Causes of colic to look for:

Indigestion or gas.

Gas can be extremely painful for infants, so one explanation for the cause of colic is that the infant is crying due to the buildup of gas in their digestive system.

Immaturity of the baby’s digestive system.

One way of explaining the indigestion or gas is that the infant’s digestive system is so new that it cannot process the formula or milk that it is given. This immaturity leads to gas, indigestion, and pain, causing colic.

Allergies or intolerance.

A third potential cause of colic is that the baby has allergies or cannot tolerate certain compounds or foods.

Temperament.

Finally, some people think that colic is a reflection of a baby’s very sensitive temperament, and that they develop better self control as they get older than enables them to control their crying.

The actual cause of colic may be any one of these or a combination of them, but understanding what may cause the crying that indicate colic is a smart way to evaluate possible ways of treating it.