Understanding Colic
What is it? Excessive crying in healthy babies under 3 months old (3-5 hours daily). Affects about 1 in 5 babies and peaks at 4-6 weeks, then gradually improves.
Common Patterns:
- True colic: Intense crying, hard to comfort, normal between episodes
- Normal crying: Brief episodes from identifiable causes (hunger, discomfort)
- Overfeeding: Crying with bloated stomach after frequent feeds
- Medical causes: Signs of illness, poor feeding, or abnormal behavior
Common Signs to Monitor
✅ Normal Colic:
- Crying 3-5 hours daily, often late afternoon/evening
- Baby acts normal and happy between crying episodes
- Started around 2-4 weeks of age
- Gaining weight and feeding well
⚠️ Watch For:
- Baby acting sick or abnormal between crying
- Poor feeding or not gaining weight appropriately
- Excessive spitting up with poor weight gain
- High-pitched, unusual crying different from normal
How to Treat at Home
Feeding Guidelines:
- Wait 2-2.5 hours between feeds to avoid overfeeding
- If breastfeeding: limit caffeine to <300mg daily
- If baby seems hungry: feed if >1.5 hours since last breastfeed or >2 hours since bottle
Calming Techniques:
- Movement: Hold close and walk, rock in chair, stroller rides
- Swaddling: Wrap in thin blanket for sleep (arms out after 2 months)
- White noise: Continuous low sounds during crying (turn off when calm)
- Position: Hold on side/stomach while awake (back for sleep)
- Soothing: Gentle back rubs, pacifier, warm bath
When Baby Won't Stop Crying:
- If crying >2 hours since last nap, baby may be overtired
- Swaddle, place on back in crib, turn on white noise, leave room
- Let baby fuss until falls asleep - sometimes only solution for overtired babies
Safety Reminders:
- Never shake baby - can cause brain damage or death
- If frustrated: place baby in safe crib, take 10-15 minute break
- Return only when you feel calm
When to Contact Poppins
📱 Contact us again when:
- Baby can't be consoled using recommended techniques
- Concerns about feeding difficulties or weight gain
- Colic seems to be getting worse instead of better
- Questions about specific calming strategies
When to Visit Your Pediatrician
🩺 Go to an in-person appointment when:
- Baby starts acting sick or abnormal between crying episodes
- Excessive spitting up with poor weight gain (possible reflux)
- Colic not improving by 8-10 weeks of age
- Extreme caregiver stress or thoughts of harming baby
When to Go to the ER
🚨 Seek immediate emergency care if your child is:
- Baby has fever (any fever under 2 months is emergency)
- ⚠️at this age, ≥100.4°F is considered a fever
- Baby appears seriously ill or has difficulty breathing
- High-pitched, shrill crying very different from usual cry
We'll check in with you 24 hours after your contact. If your gut tells you something is wrong, don't hesitate to reach out.
