It usually starts before the infant is four weeks old and stops by the time the infant is three to four months old. The pain of colic is usually not associated with illness or hunger, and is not relieved by feeding. The cause of colic is unknown. However one common theory is that it is caused by swallowing large amounts of air, which gets trapped in the digestive system, resulting in pain and bloating. A colic attack usually happens once or twice a day and can last for one to two hours.
Symptoms usually begin in the late afternoon or early evening with sudden, intense prolonged crying.
In addition, the infant's belly often looks tense and bloated, and his or her face may become very red. There are other causes of abdominal pain in infants besides colic. So, if your baby is acting colicky and has not been already diagnosed with colic, it is important to have your doctor evaluate the symptoms to make sure that they are not being caused by another illness or condition. If your baby has already been diagnosed with colic, there are some things you can try to calm him or her during attacks. Some experts suggest extra burping after feeding the baby and massaging his or her abdomen may help relieve symptoms.