Your baby cries for hours on end for no apparent reason, tucking those tiny knees close to the stomach as if in severe pain. To make matters worse, the attacks often occur in the evening, when you're most tired and your patience thin. Nothing seems to stop the crying of a colicky infant, not feeding, changing diapers or cuddling. Usually it begins after an infant is two weeks old and ends by the fourth month. The cause of colic remains a mystery, says Dr. Ken Wible, chief of General Pediatrics at Children's Mercy.
Some pediatricians think it's because of an underdeveloped digestive tract.
Others blame it on food allergies, abdominal gas, not enough sleep or oversensitivity to a busy and noisy home. It could be a combination of these factors. Once in awhile, colic may be an early sign of a serious medical problem. It's important to check with your baby's doctor to be sure you're coping with colic and not a more serious medical problem. If breast feeding, watch your intake of caffeine and stop eating milk products on a one-week trial period.