Crying and colic
Crying due to colic may be intense and brief or last for hours and is not generally pacified by the usual remedies.
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The term colic describes recurrent bouts of unexplained crying usually in the late afternoon or evening, but can be at any time. The baby's face is red and she draws her legs up.
All sorts of causes have been put forward, such as overfeeding, underfeeding, wind in the bowel, being picked up too much or too little, indigestion and tension. It has always struck me that tension is the most likely cause. You're busy in the evening and it's likely that your baby picks up on the tension and responds by crying.
As your baby is likely to cry every night for 12 weeks I'm against using any medicine to forestall it. Of course try to soothe your baby, but don't expect her to respond readily. Try to take comfort from the fact that these colicky spells come only at night and usually only last for three months. Colic generally stops without you doing anything and is rarely serious.
New Babycare
Copyright © 2009 Dorling Kindersley
Text copyright © 2009 Miriam Stoppard
Posted 03.11.2010
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