Colic is a term used to describe uncontrollable crying of a healthy baby. If your baby is 5 months old and cries for hours at a time then chances are she is colicky. Colic is not a disease and it won’t cause your baby long term harm but it is a tough thing to go through for both yourself and the baby.

Colic usually shows up around the 2nd or 3rd week of life. Babies often cry when they need change of nappies or when they are hungry but when they cry inconsolably at about the same time during the day – most often during the evening or late afternoon, then you can be sure that colic is the culprit. Babies who are colicky usually have enlarged bellies and they usually extend or pull up their legs and passes gas when they cry. Also, some babies tend to get red in the face and their feet are usually very cold. In general, most babies which have colic appear uncomfortable and in pain.

Thankfully, colic tends to go away on your baby’s 3rd or 4th month. By the 5th month, your baby should be over it. Yes, that’s a long way to go and taking care of a colicky baby can be stressful, which is why you will need to take regular breaks to keep yourself in the best condition. You can have your partner take over while you go for a walk to let loose. Some mothers even cry just to relieve the tension.

It is believed that breastfed babies can become colicky because of their mother’s diet. Dairy products, especially milk, cheese and yogurt are just some of the main causes of colic. Other suspects are spicy food, nuts, strawberries, vegetables like cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower, garlic, coffee and alcohol. To see which of these foods are causing colic, try to avoid them all for a few days and then reintroduce one food at a time with an interval of at least two days for reintroductions. If your baby starts being fussy again after you eat a certain food, then you’ve discovered the culprit. You will need to abstain from this food until your baby outgrows her sensitivity.

Some people also believe that colic can be caused by wrong formula milk. This doesn’t usually happen but it is still best to see a doctor and try switching formula or your doctor might suggest a milk-free and lactose-free milk supplement. For bottle-fed babies, you should try to reduce the amount of air that your baby swallows. Curved bottles or bottles with collapsible and disposable liners will probably work best for you. Also, make sure to burp your baby after feeding. Some babies tend to stop crying when they’re wrapped snugly in a blanket or when they hear rhythmic sounds like the vacuum, and dryer. If you want to help your baby sleep, bring her to the part of your home which has the least stimulation. Noise, bright lights and a lot of people can aggravate the situation so try to avoid these.