Babies cry - it's how they tell us if they're hungry, tired, cold, lonely, frightened or need their nappy changing. Some seem to cry more than others, however, and if they aren't tired, hungry, cold, wet, dirty, frightened of lonely or whatever, and in every other way seem to be well and well cared for, then they probably have colic.

Colic is very common in newborn babies: it is thought to affect around 20% of infants, and it seems to affect boys and girls equally. The condition normally starts about 3-4 weeks of age, and continues for up to 3-4 months. Although it's obviously distressing for the parents to see their baby in apparent distress, colic isn't harmful, and your baby will continue to feed and gain weight normally. There is no evidence that colic has any long term effects.

As colic always improves on its own within a few months, medical treatment is not normally recommended. However, if you find that you are having problems coping then you should contact your GP.

Unfortunately, there is no magic cure for colic. As it can be quite difficult to bear your child crying for hours on end without feeling you are doing anything to gelp, many parents reach for a medical solution and the main brands tried are outlined below. Some of them may work, and if you want to try then it is worth giving them a try (one at a time) for a week or so. There are also some alternative and traditional therapies which may help.

There are also a number of tips and techniques that you may find useful for dealing with a colicky baby: parenting styles, methods of providing comfort, and looking after yourself too. These are outlined below.

REMEMBER that if your baby is crying with colic, you are in no way letting your baby down, or doing anything wrong: it can be useful to remind yourself that this is a common phase which will pass in a few weeks, or months.

In an otherwise healthy, and well-fed baby, symptoms of colic include intense, angry crying, with no means of comforting or placating them, and a baby with colic will typically clench their fists, arch their back or pull their knees up.

Babies with colic often have difficulty sleeping, especially when lying down flat, and sometimes feeding may be disrupted too: feeding is not normally reduced, but it may take longer if the baby is crying persistently. It is also common for babies to pass wind during periods of vigorous crying.

Colic is milder in some babies than in others, and periods of restlessness, in the evenings, may be all that is noticed.

The causes of colic are unknown. Some researchers have suggested that indigestion, or wind, may play a role. Others claim that babies who have colic may, for a few weeks while their gut is maturing, be sensitive to certain substances found in breast, or formula, milk, such as lactose (a natural sugar), or molecules found in cows' milk. Obviously these substances exist in infant formula, which is made from cows milk, and it is also thought that perhaps they may be passed on to the baby through breast feeding too, though colic seems to affect breastfed babies less often. In any case, there is little evidence to support these theories.

Lactose intolerance and cows milk allergies are relatively rare conditions that can cause symptoms similar to those of colic. Some researchers have suggested that some babies may be more sensitive than others, or have a problem 'turning off' their crying response.

Smoking, during pregnancy, doubles the chances of your baby developing colic.

If you suspect that your baby is unwell, or if you are worried that their symptoms may be something other than colic, it is important to see your GP to rule out other possible causes of distress. However, it is important to remember that, as a parent, you know your baby best. Familiarity with your baby's temperament and behaviour can be invaluable in helping you to recognise a more serious problem.

Comforting your baby

There is no single 'best' way of comforting your baby, or reducing the symptoms of colic. Different babies respond to different methods, so you may have to try a few methods to see what works for you. You may find that some of the suggestions outlined below are useful.

• Holding your baby during a crying episode can sometimes help, as can wrapping them snugly in a blanket (swaddling) or 'wearing' them in a sling.
• Prevent your baby from swallowing air by sitting them more upright during feeding.
• If you are breastfeeding or baby is getting breastmilk in a bottle, avoid drinking too much tea, coffee, and other drinks that contain caffeine. Anecdotally, some mothers also report that spicy food, brassicas (sprouts, cabbage etc), citrus fruits and juices, and alcohol can aggravate colic, but there's no evidence to support this so perhaps try eliminating one a week from your diet to see if it provides any relief.
• For bottle fed babies, holes in bottle teats that are too small may cause babies to swallow air along with their feed. 'Fast flow' teats with larger, or several, holes are available and may be a useful alternative.
• If your baby is bottlefed, always burp themafter a feed. To do this, sit your baby upright, or hold them against your shoulder, making sure that you support their neck and head. Gently rub their back and tummy until they burp. They may vomit a small amount of milk when you do this, which is normal.
• If baby is breastfed, and has some trapped wind, try to avoid this in the future by adjusting your feeding position a little, perhaps feeding lying down or trying the 'Biological Nurturing' position ie with mum reclined and baby lying face down across or down mum's body. This seems to cause less air to be swallowed.
• Some evidence suggests that 'over-stimulating' a baby by continually picking them up, and putting them down, may aggravate the crying. Gently comforting your baby in a quiet, darkened room may be more beneficial. If you are satisfied that your baby is not hungry, tired, too hot or cold, or in need of a nappy change, it may help to leave them safely for a short while.
• Babies like movement, so pushing them around in their pram, or pushchair, or going for a drive, can be comforting. Rocking them over your shoulder, or carrying them around the house, perhaps in a sling, may also be helpful.
• Some babies find 'white noise' soothing. This may be the background sound of a washing machine, or a vacuum cleaner.
• Gentle stomach or back rubs, or a warm bath, may also help to relieve colic.

Medical treatment

Colief, Gaviscon, Gripe Water and Infacol

• Simeticone drops eg Infacol (a 50ml bottle is enough for c. 100 feeds) - you could have a one week trial; they are suitable for both breastfed, and bottle fed babies and can be used from birth. They work by helping small trapped gas bubbles in baby's tummy join into bigger bubbles, which your baby can easily bring up as wind, and so helps to relieve pain and discomfort. Given before each feed, it works progressively over several days, to help reduce the frequency and severity of crying attacks associated with colic. Continued usage may help to prevent a further build up of wind. Treatment with simeticone may provide a progressive improvement over several days, so you would see a difference in the frequency and severity of your baby's crying attacks over a period of days.
• Excluding cow's milk protein - for breastfed babies: a one week trial of a dairy-free diet for the mother. For bottle fed babies, a one week trial of hypoallergenic formula, which is a formula designed to reduce the possibility of an allergic response - see our Specialist Formula section
• Lactase drops eg Colief - you could have a one week trial to see if these help: they are suitable for both breastfeeding and bottle fed babies and can be used from birth. They are added to the milk or given mixed with a little milk, before the feed in the case of breastfeeding babies, and the lactase helps to break down the lactose in the milk, for babies with a temporary lactase deficiency.
• Gripe Water ( c. £2 for up to 30 doses) - an old-fashioned remedy containing herbs (dill, fennel, ginger etc) and sodium bicarbonate. The herbs are said to warm the baby's tummy and break down air bubbles while sodium bicarbonate neutralises acid. Gripe water used to contain alcohol. Some experts believe it was the sedative effect of this that made gripe water successful in helping to sooth babies troubled by wind. Alcohol is no longer an ingredient but many parents still swear by gripe water so it may be worth a try. Not suitable for newborn babies.
• Gavsicon Infant acts locally in the stomach to physically prevent the contents of the stomach from flowing back into the food pipe (reflux) and being regurgitated - it is not suitable for treating colic.

If your baby responds to the exclusion of cow's milk protein, or to lactase drops, it does not necessarily mean that they have permanent milk intolerance. In most cases, any milk intolerance is temporary and passes after a month or two. See our pages on Cows Milk Protein Allergy and Lactose Intolerance for more details

Alternative and traditional therapies

Although there are many alternative and traditional therapies for colic, there is little evidence to suggest that they are effective, and some may harm your baby. Some of these therapies are outlined below.

• Some Mums report success with home-made remedies like onion water (boil half an onion in some water and allow to cool, then give a teaspoon three times a day)
• Many babies benefit from simple massage techniques - the tiger tree pose is particularly good, as is the cycling technique. Ask your HV if there are any classes nearby where you can learn the moves.
• Cranial Osteopathy can sometimes help, if baby was born suddenly or had a traumatic delivery, as this seems to stop the plates of the head from aligning properly at birth and mean baby effectively has a whacking great headache! There's a link to help find your local practitioner on the Links page here on Infant Feeding info
• Chiropractic and massage therapy - some people suggest that a series of massages, or chiropractic manipulation of a baby's spine , may be effective therapies against colic. However, detailed medical trials have failed to find any convincing evidence of the benefit of such therapies.
• Dicycloverine - also known as dicyclomine, is a medication that is used to control stomach cramps. Dicycloverine used to be widely used as a treatment for colic, but it is now known to be unsafe for infants because it can cause breathing difficulties, seizures, loss of consciousness, weakening of the muscles, and coma.
• Star anise tea - is a herbal tea that has traditionally been used for the treatment of colic. However, its use is no longer recommended because certain types of star anise are highly toxic and could poison your baby.

Parenting styles

There has been some discussion and research in recent years about whether different parenting styles have an effect on colic: in relatively recent times, parents have been advised to encourage their baby to stick to a fixed eating and sleeping schedule. However, another approach, which has now come to be known as 'infant-demand' parenting, is where babies are fed, or held, as and when they want it - that is, on demand.

A study that compared the two approaches, found that each one has its own benefits and disadvantages. Babies who were brought up using a routine centered approach cried more over a 24 hour period, but slept better during the night. Babies who were brought up using the child centred 'infant-demand' parenting cried less over a 24 hour period, but woke more often during the night.

Carrying baby upright in a sling and close to Mum's body can be very soothing, and can help if baby has a sore tummy or mild reflux, too.

Looking after yourself

If your baby has colic, it is important that you do not forget about your own well-being.

Coping with a colicky baby can be HARD WORK, and it is common for parents to sometimes feel depressed, angry or helpless. You may find that the tips outlined below are useful.

• If you feel that you cannot cope with your baby's crying, it is best to put the baby down somewhere safe and take a few minutes as a 'time-out'.
• Ask friends and family for support: every new parent needs a break sometimes, even if it's just an hour and whether you just rest, or you get out and do something on your own, it can help you to cope better with things.
• Sleep when your baby sleeps, if you can.
• Try to get out to post natal groups or similar locallty to meet other parents with babies of the same age for support and advice.

Talking with other people about your problems can often help. CRY-SIS is a support group which provides help and advice to families with babies who cry excessively and have problems sleeping.