Baby has gas pains and screams at night — colic?

That sounds like colic — and you're not alone!

In a nutshell: Legs pulled up, red face, and hours of crying in the evening with a 6-week-old baby — that's the classic picture of colic. The good news: it passes, usually by the 3rd-4th month.

What is colic?

• The rule of threes: More than 3 hours of crying, on more than 3 days/week, for more than 3 weeks
• Affects about 20% of all babies — you are NOT to blame!
• The exact cause is still not fully understood today
• Likely a combination of an immature digestive system, overstimulation, and difficulty self-regulating

What helps RIGHT NOW

1. Colic hold — baby face-down on your forearm, head in the crook of your arm
2. Warm cherry pit pillow on the belly (not too hot! — test on your wrist)
3. Belly massage in a clockwise direction, with warm caraway oil
4. Swaddling — the snugness soothes many babies
5. White noise — hair dryer, range hood, app (loud! 65-70 dB)
6. Bicycle motion — gently press baby's legs toward the belly and move in a cycling motion

Medical options (after consulting your doctor)

• Caraway suppositories (Carum carvi) — herbal, often well-tolerated
• Simethicone drops (Sab Simplex, Lefax) — break up gas bubbles
• Probiotics (L. reuteri) — studies show effectiveness for some babies
• Osteopathy — can help with birth-related tension

When to see your pediatrician

• If there's weight loss or poor weight gain
• If there's blood in stool or severe vomiting
• When YOU reach your limit — that is NOT a failure!

The most important message

It is NOT your fault. Colic is not a result of improper feeding or bad parenting. When you reach your limit: place baby safely down, leave the room, take a deep breath. And get help — cry baby clinic, midwife, family.

This information does not replace medical advice.