Reducing Colic in Babies
By Chris Woolston Babies are born to cry. The average infant cries about two hours each day -- enough to announce every wet diaper and hunger pain. And no matter how careful, loving, and attentive parents may be, a baby just might decide to make crying her number-one pastime. If your baby cries more than three hours a day at least three days each week, she's not just fussy -- she's colicky. Colic is the term for excessive, unexplained crying. The majority of babies with colic do most of their wailing in the evening. The high-pitched, piercing scream seems perfectly designed to get a parent's attention. Colicky babies emphasize their discomfort by pulling their legs up to their stomach and clenching their fists. They look like little balls of agony. The crying may be heartbreaking, but it's rarely anything to worry about. Colic usually disappears within a few months. So hang on: Peace, quiet, and a good night's sleep aren't that far away. What causes colic? You...