Relax, your little one could just be suffering from a condition called colic.

Colic is a condition when your child could be experiencing severe discomfort in her abdomen while digesting foods. This could cause her to cry continuously for hours.

Colic usually affects babies during the third and fourth month. This is when she develops healthy suckling habits.

You know that your baby colicky when:

• She cries continuously for hours
• She curls herself into a ball and tightens her fingers into a tight fist
• She passes gas
• She starts to get cranky sometime in the evening and she could continue crying till morning
• She will continue to take her feed as normal
• She will be active, except for her restlessness during those hours.

Be sure to visit your doctor, all the same.

Why Does It Happen?

Colic is usually caused by a baby's immature digestive tract, which tends to make food pass through either very fast or very slowly.

Colic can also be the result of increased gas in your baby's tummy.

If you are a first time mother, you are more likely to have a colic baby. Your increased stress and anxiety could affect your baby. However, remember that this is normal, so don't blame yourself.

Also, if your child is bottle-fed at this early stage, chances are, she will be colicky. So whether you are feeding her formula or cow's milk, she could have allergies and become colicky.

What to Remember

Get family members to help you with your baby. You need your rest after all.

It is okay to leave your child alone for a while when he begins to feel irritable and starts crying. Once your child's digestive tract and system mature, this problem will automatically fade away. But if this condition continues even after four months, it could be some cause for concern. You should see your pediatrician immediately.

Tips to Calm Your Colicky Baby

Carry her around. Your baby could feel relieved if she is continuously moving. You could also keep her in an infant swing.

Put some pressure on her stomach once she begins to feel irritable. For example, put your baby, tummy down, on your knees and sway her for a while.

If your baby starts crying, it is possible that she is hungry. Don't worry about over feeding her, because she will spit out any extra.

(With inputs from Dr. Priti Parikh, Pediatrician, Mumbai)

Find out more on: 10 Tricks to Calm a Crying Baby